The Holy Spirit is Here
A Young Adult Shares His Unforgettable Experience at the National Eucharistic Congress
A Young Adult Shares His Unforgettable Experience at the National Eucharistic Congress
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From July 17th - 21st, my fiancée and I had the privilege of attending the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. What we witnessed there, what God did, was nothing short of miraculous.
From July 17th - 21st, my fiancée and I had the privilege of attending the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. What we witnessed there, what God did, was nothing short of miraculous.
It was certainly a new Pentecost. Thousands of religious brothers and sisters, priests, and laity from all walks of life adored and consumed the true Body of Christ at liturgies from various rites of Catholicism during the Congress. Dozens of Catholic speakers exhorted the throngs of pilgrims, preaching the Gospel and the truth of our Eucharistic Lord with passion and strength. The sea of people was so dense at times that the temperature would increase a few degrees if you stood too long in one spot. While walking from place to place, groups of pilgrims would often break out into chant or songs of praise.
There were so many young Catholics too, full of energy and zeal for Christ. Each day I’d look out into the crowds of the faithful, whether it was in Lucas Oil Stadium or the streets of Indianapolis and think to myself: “The Holy Spirit is here. The Bride of Christ is truly alive!”
More than 60,000 pilgrims traveled to Indianapolis that week, and about 53,000 pilgrims walked with Jesus in procession through the streets of the city on July 20th. Words will never be able to express the physical sensation of oneness and communion with Christ and His church that I felt during those days.
Suddenly, referring to the Church as the “Body of Christ” made more sense to me than it ever had my entire life.
This body of people was moving, worshipping, and living as one. I was brimming with excitement and joy just contemplating it all.
This Congress marks a turning point in the history of the Church in the United States. Rather than being the “end” of the National Eucharistic Revival, this is really a beginning. God, the Creator of all things, is physical. Tangible. Flesh and Blood. Alive.
And He is here, on earth, in the Eucharist.
We cannot remain unchanged by the reality of the Eucharist. It is not a symbol or a metaphor. It is truly the Body and Blood of Christ, as our Lord himself says: “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink” (John 6:55). This fact demands a response. We must allow ourselves to be totally transformed by His Body, His Blood, and His sacrificial love given to us freely on the cross.
I am reminded of a question asked by St. Isaac Jogues, one of the North American Martyrs, in one of his letters to his religious superior just before his death. It’s a question that I think all of us should ask ourselves in relation to the Eucharist:
“When shall I begin to give myself completely to Him who has given Himself to me without reserve?”
As the Bride of Christ and His missionaries, we must now go out, be sent, and tell all nations about the reality of our Lord. We must be bold, courageous, and heroic. We must persevere in the face of fear, embarrassment, persecution, and all the attacks of Satan. We must follow the example of the apostles and the saints, who gave up their lives for this reality and all it entails. The truth must be shared.
