Lucas Oil Stadium was abuzz with hushed voices as Mass began for the final time. From the pulpit of the main platform, with pilgrims, priests, cardinals, bishops, and religious looking on, Cardinal Tagle gave what would be the final homily of the Congress at the Closing Mass.
“Faith and conviction are our gifts to Jesus, who gives himself to us.” Cardinal Tagle got closer to his microphone and began gesturing with his hands: “So I ask you, dear brothers and sisters, will you stay with Jesus?”
In response to his question, over 60,000 pilgrims who attended the Congress shouted “YES!”
The Cardinal, who served as Pope Francis’ envoy to the Congress and is the Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization, spoke about the future.
He continued: “Those who choose to stay with Jesus will be sent by Jesus. The gift of his presence and love for us will be our gift to people. We should not keep Jesus to ourselves. That is not discipleship. That is selfishness. The gift we have received, we should give as a gift.”
From the very beginning, the 10th National Eucharistic Congress has been about renewal. A renewal of faith and missionary zeal for the Real Presence in the Eucharist; The Source and Summit of the Catholic faith – a belief that has dropped drastically in recent years. But this renewal was just the beginning and the mission is not contained to the Congress alone.
“The 10th National Eucharistic Congress and the Pilgrimage that precedes it are the high-water mark moments of the National Eucharistic Revival,” says Tim Glemkowski, CEO of the National Eucharistic Congress. “For us, this comes at the beginning of year three of that three-year initiative of the Church – sending us out on a year of mission!”
As pilgrims inside Lucas Oil Stadium shouted “YES” to the Cardinal’s question about staying with Jesus, one of the Congress’ objectives became intimately visible: “Encounter.”
Glemkowski over email provided two words when asked about the overall mission of the Congress. Encounter was one of them. Encountering Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, “We want all who participate in the Congress to Encounter Jesus, in the Eucharist, as the answer to every question and longing of their heart.”
As pilgrims shouted “YES” to the Cardinal’s question, one of the objectives became intimately visible
But the second word was “Mission,” and it points to the long-lasting impacts of this period of revival within the church – After the encounter, according to Glemkoski, it’s time for the Holy Spirit to step in and “ignite a new season of mission and fruitfulness in the Church in the United States.”
Collectively, the National Eucharistic Congress was about an encounter with the Blessed Sacrament in the hopes that with increased Eucharistic Encounters will come an increased zeal for Eucharistic missionary discipleship within the church in America.
As the Church comes off a high point of Encounter through the Congress (and it WAS a high point – there is something incredibly heartening about 60,000 people coming together to worship Christ in the Eucharist), the next step is to prepare our hearts to allow the Holy Spirit to tell us our Mission.
We can continue to prepare through regular Eucharistic interactions – such as Adoration and Mass – then, after we’ve professed our faith in His Real Presence, we need to go out into the world in missionary discipleship to share the ‘best kept secret’ of our faith. A ‘secret’ that isn’t really a secret at all – just the overwhelming love of Christ through which the rest of our faith makes sense.
“Dear friends, when the priest or deacon says the ‘Mass is ended, go in the peace of Christ.’ Please go! Go! Go! Do not spend the whole day drinking coffee with Monsignor, or with Father,” Cardinal Tagle said as chuckles rang out in the stadium, “Go! Go! Go! And what you have heard, touched, and tasted, you must share with others.”
“Go! Go! Go! And what you have heard, touched, and tasted, you must share with others.”
“We have received the gift of Jesus. Let us go to proclaim Jesus zealously and joyfully for the life of the world. ■
Join in on the conversation with a FAMIGLIA subscription!
Comments are restricted to subscribers. Simply subscribe now or login to join the conversation and join the community!