Eucharistic Devotion: The Heart of Catholic Faith (Fr. T J. Puliyan, MSFS)

One of the major distinguishing factors of a Catholic from all other Christian denominations is the devotion to the Eucharist. Catholics perceive Jesus’s real presence with His body, blood, soul, and divinity in the Eucharist. In contrast, other Christian denominations see it as a mere symbolic presence. Catholics believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life.

They also believe that it is the powerhouse of their daily lives where they experience the living presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It is all because Jesus said, “Take and eat this is my body, take and drink this is my blood” Mt 26:27-28.

St. Francis de Sales, one of the doctors of the church, said, “Eucharist is the Sun that illumines all the other Sacraments.” Therefore, he encourages all the faithful to spend at least an hour during our regular day and two hours during our busy days Infront of the blessed Sacrament. Here, he is trying to make us understand the importance of the Eucharist in our day-to-day life, even amid our busy schedules. St. Teresa of Calcutta used to spend a minimum of an hour every day in front of the Blessed Sacrament, as she considered it as her spiritual food and nourishment. From the Blessed Eucharist, she received the spiritual and physical strength to carry out her mission and ministry in India and worldwide.

The 10th National Eucharistic Congress held in Indianapolis, Indiana, from July 17-21, was a breathtaking and heart-moving spiritual experience for anyone who attended it. It clearly proclaimed that Eucharistic devotion is at the heart of Catholicism. More than 50,000 people from across the United States came under the same roof to acknowledge the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. There were hundreds of seminarians from different dioceses, about 2,500 religious sisters, 1,700 priests, 200 bishops, and 6 Cardinals, including the Holy Father Pope Francis delegate in Rome. The 9th National Eucharistic Congress was held in Minneapolis in 1941, and the 10th occurred after a gap of 83 years. The 11th one will be held in 2033, though the place is not finalized.

The 10th Eucharistic Congress was a wake-up call for all Catholics all over the United States to stand up for what they believe, teach what they believe, and profess what they believe. We had several outstanding speakers from all aspects of Catholicism, including clergy, religious, and those in leadership positions in the church. It was an incredible experience to have more than 50,000 people representing more than 70 million Catholics of the United States, under the same roof, focusing on the Blessed Sacrament, praising and worshipping the Eucharistic Lord.

The adoration held in the Lucas Oil Stadium was a moving experience. The Eucharist, which was celebrated in the stadium and other locations with hundreds of priests, was a spiritual movement for all Catholics gathered in the stadium. The most profound experience was the Eucharistic procession held in the city of Indianapolis, where thousands of faithful, religious, priests, and hundreds of bishops participated. The faith of the ordinary lay faithful manifested during the procession was a source of motivation and inspiration for all those who attended this great event in the history of the US Catholic Church.

Eucharistic devotion, especially the 10th National Eucharist Congress, invited all Catholics to become Eucharistic People. Eucharist in Greek means Thanksgiving; we are called to live our lives as a thanksgiving celebration on a daily life. It is also an expression of Jesus’ willingness to be broken for the humanity. Every celebration of the Eucharist is an act of transforming our lives through the act of Transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.