The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church

Earlier this year, on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney inaugurated a Year of the Eucharist in the Diocese of Paterson. The purpose of this year is to foster devotion, catechesis, and appreciation for the great gift of the Eucharist in the Church for the world. In November 2021, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) approved the document The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church, which was developed by the Com­mittee on Doctrine of the USCCB. The publication of this document providentially coincided with the diocese’s inauguration of the Year of the Eucharist.

The document begins recalling the moving scene of Pope Francis walking alone through an empty St. Peter’s Square in the pouring rain on March 27, 2020. The Holy Father was going to lead the world in prayer in the time of crisis that the world was encountering at the very onset of the global pandemic. The prayer was for the whole world. Nobody was excluded. All people were united in the struggle and suffering that was caused by COVID-19. The pandemic did not distinguish between Christian, Jew, Muslim, or any other faith tradition or lack thereof. Pope Francis came to pray before the Blessed Sacrament who is the salvation of all the world. The Holy Father was reminding us, that just as Jesus was present on the turbulent waters of the Sea of Galilee, he is present among us today in the different crises of our lives.

The global pandemic affected us physically, emotionally, socially, economically, and spiritually. For some, they “have had their faith and their desire for the Eucharist strengthened.” Yet, for others, “having lived without Mass for so long, may have become discouraged or accustomed to life without the Eucharist.” Perhaps as the pandemic lingers in the world, we experience a crisis in understanding and appreciation of Eucharist. The USCCB has published this document, which can be found online, in order to help us re-encounter the presence of Christ in our lives. The document is divided into two sections: The Gift and Our Response. The first section is further divided into three parts: The Sacrifice of Christ, The Real Presence of Christ, and Communion with Christ and the Church. The second section is further divided into four parts: Thanks­giving and Worship, Trans­for­mation in Christ, Conversion, and Food for the Journey. For the next seven weeks of Easter, guest columnists from through­out the diocese will offer reflections on each part of this document. I invite you to read the document and use these reflections as an aid to your own prayer and a way to bring you to encounter the Eucharistic Lord.

The document concludes in this way: “We have offered these reflections on the Eucharistic faith and practice of the Church as a starting point. There is much more that could be said, but what is most important is that we enter more deeply by faith and love into this great Mystery of Mysteries. Let us all ask the Lord to call us into a time of Eucharistic renewal, a time of prayer and reflection, of acts of charity and sincere repentance. The Lord is with us in the Eucharistic Mystery celebrated in our parishes and missions, in our beautiful cathedrals, and in our poorest chapels. He is present and he draws near to us, so that we can draw nearer to him. The Lord is generous to us with his grace; and so we, by his grace, should always humbly ask him to give us what we need.” As we continue this Year of the Eucharist let us draw near to him who desires to be near to us.