Last week, the bishops of the United States gathered in Baltimore for our annual fall meeting. It is always important when those called to be shepherds of the Church gather to pray, discern, converse and teach. But in view of the numerous challenges to faith and society that are so present at this time, that in-person gathering was particularly anticipated by many.

 

As always, many different topics are raised and handled in that assembly. Some were of greater, some of lesser importance. But there was one dominant theme throughout last week’s meeting. That was the Eucharist and its importance in the Church and in our lives as Catholics.

 

The bishops underscored the importance of the Eucharist in our meeting by beginning the first morning not by diving into procedures and business. Instead, we gathered for eucharistic adoration, for the sacrament of confession, and for Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament. In short, as bishops we started by joining with each other in the sacramental and true presence of the Lord for a whole morning before getting down to business.

 

The importance of the Eucharist was further underscored by two items discussed by the bishops. Those were the approval of a document called, “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church,” and the plans for the undertaking of a program of Eucharistic Revival in the United States over the coming years.

 

The document on the Eucharist in the life of the Church was first proposed following a recent study that revealed that the majority of Catholics interviewed said they do not believe that the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. At best, many said they understand and believe it to be symbolic only, and so a mere memorial.

 

The document issued last week first recalls that the Eucharist is a gift for the world coming from God. It reminds us that Jesus Himself told us this gift is His flesh and blood under the signs of bread and wine and that that gift is actually what makes us the Church. We are further reminded that our response to this gift is to give thanks and worship, and to allow ourselves, through the Eucharist, to enter into communion with Him and form but one body in Him. (CCC 1329)

 

Because in our time the faith for many has become an abstraction and remote from daily living, belief in the Eucharist has also weakened. In light of that, the bishops also discussed and voted to begin a program of eucharistic revival among the faithful. For the next three years there will be a special emphasis on renewing faith in the Eucharist. That will entail strengthening those who already believe and inviting anew those whose faith is challenged or who have left the Church.

 

We might well begin our own personal eucharistic revival this coming Sunday — the first Sunday of Advent, and the beginning of a new Church liturgical year. With Advent we begin our preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. 

 

In the document on the Eucharist just issued, the bishops recall simply, “In the Eucharist, with the eyes of faith we see before us Jesus Christ, who, in the Incarnation became flesh …” (N. 19). The reality that the baby held by Mary was the Son of God begins the reality of Jesus in the Eucharist. Our Advent and Christmas faith celebrates our eucharistic faith as well.

 

Let’s truly make 2022 to be a year for each of us that is centered on the Eucharist and its deep significance in our lives as Catholics. May God give us the faith to see Him, recognize Him and receive Him worthily in such a great gift!