The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative of the USCCB to re-enkindle a personal relationship with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. Just as the disciples were sent forth, Catholics, strengthened by encountering Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament are sent for mission "for the life of the world." (National Eucharistic Revival Vision Statement)
In this first year, dedicated to diocesan renewal, each diocese will offer events meant to encourage devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and provide resources to support Catholics in being Eucharistic missionaries to the world.
The Heart of the Revival newsletter, an online resource of the USCCB, includes numerous articles that provide powerful testimony on the importance of the Eucharist in transforming lives, healing hurts of the heart, fostering vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and inspiring future saints. It is a privilege for me to serve on the editorial board of the newsletter.
In a recent article, Father Luke Spannagel, a National Eucharistic Preacher from the Diocese of Peoria, IL, recalled his family's commitment to attending Sunday Mass together and described it as the highlight of the family's week. You may want to take some time this week to reflect on the importance of the Mass and Eucharistic devotion to you or to your family when you were growing up.
Whether at Mass or in quiet adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, spending time with Jesus brings peace to our hearts. In the words of Saint Augustine, "when we believe ourselves to be alone, He is there. He hears us and He loves us." Knowing that we are loved enables us to share His love with others.
As Sisters in of the Holy Family of Nazareth, we are blessed by the graces of daily Eucharistic liturgy and having the Blessed Sacrament present in each of our convents. Mother Foundress impressed upon her daughters past and present, the importance of Eucharistic devotion being the life blood of our ministries.
A very beautiful image I have of Mother Foundress, which is gleaned from her writings, is of her kneeling in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. In this moment she is asking Jesus to protect each of us, her spiritual daughters. In prayer before the Eucharistic Lord, she felt especially close to the Sisters, despite any physical distance between them. In one of her letters, she writes that "in Jesus are the hearts of all those who are near and dear to us." Do not be afraid! We are never alone!
Continued blessings through our Eucharistic Lord.
To learn more about the National Eucharistic Revival, visit www.eucharisticrevival.org.
