It's About Time for a Eucharistic Revival!

Sherry Hayes-Pierce discusses how a revival is needed to help our family and friends come to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

I will be one of tens of thousands of Catholics gathering to be a part of our Church history this week. It’s been more than 80 years since the last Eucharistic Congress. In those eight decades, fewer Catholics believe in the True Presence of our Lord in the Body and Blood we eat and drink during Communion each Sunday. This is a tenet of our faith: no matter what is changing around us, belief in the True Presence of Christ always remains the same. 

Why is now the time for a Eucharistic Revival? 

So many Catholic moms and grandmoms want the next generation to embrace the faith that they were raised in. They’ve watched their kids and grandkids stop going to Church for a litany of reasons including that they don’t feel welcome, the homilies don’t inspire them, the music isn’t good, and other things. Last Lent I participated in Dynamic Catholic’s 33 Days of Eucharistic Glory as part of my journey to Easter. Something that Matthew Kelly said really resonated with me: “Those who believe don’t leave.” He explained that those who believe in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist don’t leave — because they know going to Mass is the only place that you can receive the Body and Blood of Christ.  

If you truly believed that Jesus is present in your body after receiving Him in Communion at Mass, how differently would you live your life? If more Catholics believed that, they would truly be the hands and feet of Christ. They would want to become beacons of light and hope in a world that seems so dark and dire. They wouldn’t miss Mass, because they need the Eucharist like they need air to breathe.

We need to be saints

Now is the time because we need to be the saints that our beloved Saint John Paul II invited us to be. The Eucharistic Congress created tracks for Encounter, Empowerment, and Renewal. They created specific sessions designed for families, young adults, and clergy to spark action.  

Blessed Carlo Acutis was designated as a patron and intercessor for the Eucharistic Congress. There will be an exhibit of the miracles cataloged by this teenager who had such a strong devotion to the Eucharist, he was using his gifts in using technology to glorify the Lord. At the Congress, there will also be relics of this holy young man for the faithful to venerate. As a person who may not be so young, but also uses gifts in technology to glorify the Lord with my life, I will venerate his relics for sure!  

He will be canonized a saint next year and serves as a model to believe in the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist.  

How do we make them believe?  

Take a page from Blessed Carlo Acutis: use technology. Seeing is believing! One of the sessions I signed up for is about answering Saint John Paul II’s call to digital evangelization. We can create videos that explain how the gift of Jesus’ presence that He shares with us at every Mass first happened at the Last Supper. God the Father made us, and just as the apostle Thomas didn’t believe in the Resurrection until he touched Jesus' wounds, so many need something tangible to believe. If you can, visit the Eucharistic Miracles exhibit to see real examples of Jesus in the Eucharist. Learn about the life of Saint Faustina, who had a deep devotion to the Eucharist.  

Pray the Litany of the Eucharist in Adoration, listen to the I Am Here podcast to hear miracles of the Eucharist happening now, or create a ministry within your parish to pray for conversion of hearts of unbelievers.  

Do you believe?

Share how you learned how to believe and tips for what you do or did to catechize your family members.  

Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2024 Sherry Hayes-Peirce
Images: Canva; Jbribeiro1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons