It was Him upon Whom the entire five days were focused. He who created the holy excitement. Our God, our humble Lord and Savior, the Creator of the Universe, came out of hiding, strode out of the tabernacle, mightily manifesting Himself.
By Peggy Stanton
“I’ve been to a lot of these big events,” said one National Eucharistic Congress pilgrim, “and they have been great, but this one feels different. Something is happening here.”
It took a little time before pilgrims to the Congress could identify the chief ingredient that made five days in Indianapolis in July such an awesome event and, may I say, this is one of the few times that much over-used word “awesome” substantially fits the fact. Actually, it is too small. “Monumental” is more exact.
Noted author, speaker, and theologian Dr. Scott Hahn, who normally has no trouble describing things, declared the National Eucharistic Congress “indescribable.” There was, he claimed, a “supernatural surrealistic” quality about it. He was amazed how “anointed” the Congress was.
Amen to all of those descriptions.
All about the One
Why was it so different? Only One was the main Attraction. Not the Pope; not Bl. Carlo Acutis; not Bishop Robert Barron or another equally celebrated Catholic speaker. Not even the Blessed Mother. Only her Son, which is the way she likes it. They were all there; but as happily supporting players to the King.
It was Him upon Whom the entire five days were focused. He who created the holy excitement. Our God, our humble Lord and Savior, the Creator of the Universe, came out of hiding, strode out of the tabernacle, mightily manifesting Himself.
How blessed were the 50-60,000 pilgrims to witness Him in all His Eucharistic magnificence, encased in a brilliant, large gold monstrance, the only One visible in the center of a darkened Lucas Oil Stadium with spotlights forming radiant streams of light flowing over Him and the altar where He rested. On stone-cold floors, thousands descended to their knees and bowed before their King; even tiny children. Interspersed with the silent worship were hymns sung with reverent but lustily enthusiastic lungs.
Even without the drama, in a crowded hallway, seemingly out of nowhere, and totally unexpectedly, there He was, minus the previous night’s grandeur — merely being transported in His gold, circular carriage. It was as if the Shepherd was strolling through the flock to see how His sheep were faring, and we all spontaneously fell to our knees in the hallway of a sports arena.
Urban procession
Saturday afternoon, on downtown Indianapolis city streets, thousands lined the curbs, steps, bannisters, bridges, windows and railings to see the King of Kings, escorted by his court of bishops, archbishops, hundreds of priests, nuns, lay religious orders and Indianapolis police on bicycles. And as He came by, people on the street knelt.
At the conclusion of the procession, the Lord was placed high on a World War Memorial overlooking a park packed with people for the ceremonial Benediction.
But it wasn’t over. A few hours later, again in Lucas Oil Stadium, the festivities resumed. There was joyous music; arms in the air, praising and worshiping. Th ere were inspiring speeches from some of the most celebrated presenters in the Catholic world, from Bishop Barron to The Chosen Jesus, Jonathan Roumie; all of whom received arena roof-raising applause.
The Real Jesus
Nothing, however, compared to the reception for the real Jesus. When at last He appeared, the arena went dark and the crowd became utterly silent, moving again to their knees as He was carried under rays of brilliant light to the altar, center stage. The thousands of pilgrims, who were stacked in rows, to the stadium ceiling, remained on their knees, alternately singing meditative hymns and worshiping in silence for over a half hour.
I have never experienced anything quite like it.
Suddenly this thought came to me; is this what Heaven — so vividly depicted by the Apostle John — is like?
I looked and behold, a great multitude, which no man could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne, and before the lamb, clothed, in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb!” (Rev 7:9-10)
During this historic Congress, Jesus’ Real Presence was also acknowledged by definition rather than demotion. However reverently intended, merely referring to the Eucharistic Lord as “the” Blessed Sacrament or “the Eucharist” conveys an image of an “it” rather than “Him.” Who wants to adore an “it”? Pagans, yes. Christians, no. We hunger to worship HIM.
Getting it
Dear clergy, if you wish us to recognize the Real Presence, describe the reality. It’s Him! It’s not an It! It’s Him!
Happily, the bishops promoting the National Eucharistic Revival seem to be getting the point. Th e Eucharistic pilgrimages dramatically emphasized Our Lord’s actual Presence. Pilgrims were told they were “On the road with Jesus” or walking with the Eucharistic Lord just as the Apostles traveled with the visibly human Lord, 2,000 years ago.
Father Mike Schmitz spoke some of the sentences I will most remember. He stressed the need for repentance. “Th ere is no love, no revival, without repentance.” He said love was more needed than knowledge. “Knowledge can make you great. But only love can make you a saint.”
Peggy Stanton is the author of From the White House to the White Cross: Confessions of a TV News Correspondent and The Order of Malta Minutes with the Catechism: A Pocket Guide to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, both from Marian Press.
Photos by IG/eucharistic_revival and K. Dobbs/Diocese of Springfield.
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