On a sweltering July 17, 2024 evening in Indianapolis’ cavernous Lucas Oil Stadium – home to the NFL Colts – 50,000 faith-filled Catholics dropped to their knees in unison. The most holy Blessed Sacrament, exposed in an exquisite four-foot, 20-pound, papally-blessed golden monstrance had entered the arena and Eucharistic Adoration was about to begin.
No one else – no sports superstar, no singer or songstress, no pop idol or public figure – could do what Jesus Christ did: instantly silence a brimming sports coliseum and knock tens of thousands of people to their knees. But that’s exactly what True Love does … it knocks us to our knees!
Our family had made the pilgrimage from Edmonton to Indianapolis for the historic five-day 10th National Eucharistic Congress in the U.S., the first such gathering in 83 years. We spent the prior six months preparing ourselves spiritually for the journey by engaging in Eucharist-centered family catechesis, journaling and prayer.
We wanted to prepare our hearts and minds to obtain the fullness of what might be received during our sacred expedition stateside. Our eldest, Zach, an elementary education student at the University of Alberta and aspiring Catholic school teacher, recounts, “Seeing so many other Catholics’ love for the Blessed Sacrament was extremely powerful and strengthened my own love for Jesus in the Eucharist.”
In every conceivable way, it was pure gift to partake in all the elements of so extraordinary an occasion – daily Masses, confession, world-class preaching and teaching, praise and worship, awe-inspiring exhibits, and more.
All of this, in addition to an utterly spectacular mile-long Eucharistic Procession that zigzagged through the heart of downtown Indianapolis, literally flooding the streets as far as the eye could see, with joyful pilgrims processing shoulder-to-shoulder and proudly proclaiming Christ as our Eucharistic King!
The incomparable Archbishop Fulton Sheen once said, “The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white host.” Truly, in that humble wafer of consecrated bread, Jesus – Love Incarnate – is really present: body, blood, soul and divinity.
For the past 25 years I’ve offered talks, workshops and retreats on the importance of placing this Great Love – the Eucharist – at the very center of our Catholic lives. And, during an unforgettable week in Indianapolis I was reminded once again of the greatest reason why I love – and am eternally grateful for – being Catholic: the Eucharist!
Formation for Eucharistic Worship is one of the three Pastoral Priorities that will inform and permeate all initiatives and events in the Archdiocese and our Catholic community over the next three years from 2024 to 2027. The Pastoral Priorities will officially be launched at the parish level on September 14-15 and throughout the diocese at the Archbishop’s Dinner on Oct. 4.
Dr. Troy Davies is a father and husband whose family attends St. John the Evangelist Parish. He serves as the CEO of Catholic Social Services and is currently in diaconal formation for the Archdiocese of Edmonton. Click here for more information on the permanent diaconate program
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Related:
National Congress aims to place Christ in the Eucharist at the centre of our lives
National Eucharistic Congress: Go proclaim the Real Presence of Jesus!