Back in 1981, “Celebration Time” was Kool and the Gang’s No. 1 hit song, their only No. 1 hit. According to Wikipedia, some of the lyrics were based on the Quran. Ronald Bell, the group’s saxophonist, said the idea was brainstormed when he read how the angels rejoiced and sang praises to God when Adam was created.
If the angels rejoicing could inspire one man to write a hit song, then our celebration of life as Catholics knowing we can partake of the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord every day – our joy, our love, the promise of eternal life – should heal and save our broken world. Unfortunately, we are just like those at the church of Ephesus who left their first love (Rev 2:1-7). We also have left our first love, the Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.
According to Pew Research, only one-third of all Catholics truly believe in Transubstantiation. June 19, 2022, was the start date of the National Eucharistic Revival, an outreach fortification from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops responding to the needs of the Church. Some Catholics may question the purpose of this revival – is it really necessary? Quoting from eucharisticrevival.org, the revival’s official website, “Our world is hurting. We all need healing, yet many of us are separated from the very source of our strength. Jesus Christ invites us to return to the source and summit of our faith in the celebration of the Eucharist. The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to this great mystery here in the United States by helping us renew our worship of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist.”
The second phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Year of Parish Revival, has been designated to start this year on June 11, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi), and go through July 17, 2024. Yes, it is a time to celebrate the very Presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament we receive at Mass. But do you truly believe?
The next time you are at Mass, look around you. According to the Pew Research statistics, two-thirds of those sitting in front of you or behind you do not believe in the Real Presence. They have forgotten what Jesus said in John 6:51: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”
What can a parish do to restore, enlighten, motivate and instruct parishioners to a deeper faith in the Living Eucharist? The National Eucharistic Revival (NER) gives some pointers, and I suggest that all parishes in our diocese should dig deeper. It’s time for believers to take a stand and celebrate what they believe by sharing with those who don’t. Teach, preach, wear Eucharistic shirts and pins, put bumper stickers on your car. You never know who is following you! 1 Peter 3:15: “... sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts. Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.”
The NER website instructs us to “foster Eucharistic devotion, strengthen liturgical life through faithful celebration of the Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, missions, resources, preaching, and organic movements of the Holy Spirit.” Brothers and sisters, the Catechism of the Catholic Church 941 states: “The laity can also feel called, or be in fact called, to cooperate with their pastors in the service of the ecclesial community, for the sake of its growth and life. This can be done through the exercise of different kinds of ministries according to the grace and charisms which the Lord has been pleased to bestow on them.”
St. Angela of Foligno gave us these words to relish: “If we paused for a moment to consider attentively what takes place in this Sacrament, I am sure that the thought of Christ’s love for us would transform the coldness of our hearts into a fire of love and gratitude.” On Sunday, June 11, let’s celebrate the Eucharist together, even though we are miles apart!
Bobby Speers is an author who lives in Hickory and is a member of St. Aloysius Parish.