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Back to This Week in our Parish What is the Year of the Eucharist? The Year of the Eucharist is a special invitation by Pope John Paul II to all Catholics to celebrate the great gift and mystery of the Holy Eucharist. This extraordinary year is an opportunity for all of us to appreciate this special means of communion with our Savior, to receive it faithfully and to reflect on its meaning for ourselves, our parish community, and the entire Church.
”As two pieces of wax fused together make one, so
he who receives holy communion is so united with Christ that Christ is in him
and he is in Christ.” From
time to time the Vatican designates a particular year for the Church to devote
herself especially to celebrating some important aspect of the Catholic faith.
This becomes an opportunity for celebrations in parishes and dioceses throughout
the world to deepen our knowledge and our faith. Following in this tradition,
Pope John Paul II announced a Year of the Eucharist on the feast of Corpus
Christi (the Body of Christ) in June 2004. For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you
proclaim the death of the Lord
Why devote a whole year to a focus on the Eucharist? The Eucharistic is the summit of our faith, in which the entire story of our salvation is made real in a miraculous and powerful way. The Roman Missal calls Holy Eucharist the “Sacred Banquet, in which Christ received; the memory of his Passion is renewed; the mind is filled with grace; and a pledge of future glory is given unto us.” Yet how often do we have a moment to reflect on this priceless gift? Even in Mass we can become distracted, and what is miraculous and precious becomes routine. This is why the Church invites us to spend this year deepening our love for what God has given us, His Son, Jesus, who we receive into our hearts. For one year, in the Mass, in our reading, in our faith formation classes, and in the quiet of our own hearts, we can pay closer attention to this gift. “If you have received worthily, you are what you have received.” – St. Augustine What is the Year of the Eucharist? Indeed we do! For every Mass we are witnesses to a miracle. The Eucharist is not a symbol of Our Lord; the bread and wine actually become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. At the altar, He truly come to us, again and again, in His real presence. Christ Himself instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper as a “memorial of His death and resurrection; a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bind of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, n.7). The Eucharist calls us to memorialize Christ’s passion and death on the Cross, the sacrifice in which he won for us our salvation and eternity with the Father. It is also a tremendous sign of our unity as believers. We call it Holy Communion because when we approach the altar, we are acknowledging our unity with Christ, His Church, and one another. “The culmination of the Mass is not the consecration, but communion”. – St. Maximilian Kolbe Yet these word can only partially express a mystery that is beyond words: “ If you understood him, it would not be God,” writes St. Augustine. So, too, with the Eucharist. Through the Year of the Eucharist, the Church calls us to plumb this mystery more and more deeply – not just when we come together for the Mass, but in every situation of life. “Every consecrated Host is made to burn itself with love in a Human Heart.” – St. John Vianney
What special events will mark the year? In addition to the global events that form the beginning and end of the year, individual dioceses and parishes are scheduling their own special observances. A number are hosting congresses or conferences where Catholics can gather to learn more about the Eucharist and to celebrate it together. Many Marishes are organizing Eucharistic processions for the Feast of Corpus Christi (May 25, 2005) or at other times. In this centuries – old Catholic tradition, the faithful form a kind of “parade” to honor the Body and Blood of Christ, singing Eucharistic hymns as they march in a church or other public setting as a testimony of their faith. Churches are celebrating Expostion and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. During Exposition, Catholics spend time praying and worshiping the Lord in the Eucharist while the Host is exposed on the altar. Throughout the year, faith formation programs in numerous parishes are presenting classes, study groups, and seminars to help Catholics of all ages learn more about the Eucharist.
Catholics are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities to join with others in deepening their faith and understanding of the Eucharist. “In one day the Eucharist will make you produce more for the glory of God than a whole lifetime without it.” – St. Peter Julian Eymard
In what other ways can I celebrate the Year of the Eucharist? AT MASSWhen we recognize that Jesus Himself is present in the Blessed Sacrament, we come to realize that participating every week at Sunday Mass (or Saturday vigil Mass) is more than an obligation. It is a privilege! SPIRITUAL COMMUNIONWhen we desire to receive Jesus in the Eucharist but are unable to do so, we may make what is called a “spiritual communion.” Wherever we may be, we need only ask the Lord to come into our hearts and renew His life within us. We can then spend a few moments in prayer and praise, and then resolve to receive Communion as soon as possible. BEFORE THE TABERNACLEJesus is present in the Host reserved in the Tabernacle. We can take timeout regularly to visit a church and talk to Him there. Make it a “Holy Hour”. ADORATION CHAPELMany churches provide a place where the Blessed Sacrament remains exposed for prayer and adoration every day – sometimes even around the clock (the latter is known as perpetual adoration”). This arrangement provides an excellent and ongoing opportunity to draw close to Jesus in His Eucharistic presence outside of Mass. If possible, sign up for a regular time to visit the church or chapel. LEARNING AND TEACHINGAbundant resources are available for study. Ask pastors or directors of religious education for suggestions about literature, recordings, broadcasts, and internet sites that teach about the Eucharist. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDEFinally, keep in mind that the word “Eucharist” literally means “thanksgiving”. In Holy Communion, as Jesus gives Himself to us, we give ourselves to Him as well in gratitude. His sacrifice on the Cross – presented on the altar – takes away the sins of the world and makes possible for us a life of intimate union with God. “The time you spend with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is the best time you will spend on earth. Each moment you spend with Jesus will deepen your union with Him and make your soul everlasting more glorious and beautiful in heaven, and will help bring about everlasting peace on earth. – Blessed Teresa of Calcuta (Mother Teresa)
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