Dear Friends,

Over the past several months, Pope Francis has been reminding the Church again and again about the importance of Eucharistic adoration—especially the silence of adoration. Why is silence so critical? Because it is the sacred space where the Holy Spirit works within us individually and among us as the Body of Christ. In August, the pope noted, “Filling with tenderness the wounds and voids produced by sin in man and society, begins by getting down on one’s knees before Jesus in the Consecrated Host, and remaining there for a long time.” 

On October 29, during the closing Mass of the first session of the Synod on Synodality, Pope Francis spoke once more about the importance of Eucharistic adoration and how it leads us to serve our brothers and sisters. He used the phrase “to adore and to serve: we love God through adoration and service.” 

This week, our bishops have been gathered in Baltimore for their annual General Assembly, discussing matters important to the life of the Church and the needs of the world, including the National Eucharistic Revival. I’ll share highlights from Bishop Cozzens next week!

On November 11, I had the joy of being in Milwaukee, WI, for their Inheritance Young Adult Conference, which was completely focused on the Eucharist. When I tell you that over 200 young adults were not only present but profoundly open to an encounter with Jesus Christ, it is no exaggeration. Every time I visited the Adoration Chapel (which was open throughout the day), it was packed with young men and women on their knees, and joyful enthusiasm literally resonated down the halls. 

Later in the evening, after a beautiful Mass celebrated by Fr. Sean Grismer from the Diocese of Rockford, the assembly was invited into a period of Eucharistic adoration. Fr. Grismer led a meditation on the Gospel story of the woman at the well (Jn 4:4–42) and invited all of us to open our hearts to the life-giving water Jesus offers us. As the meditation closed, Father invited us to come to the foot of the altar to be near Jesus. Moments later, I sensed a wave of grace wash over me as dozens of young adults rushed to be close to Jesus, hidden under the appearance of bread. Remaining on their knees, they reverently sang in prayer and praise of the God who truly sets us free and fills us with the waters of new life.

I left Milwaukee late that night very tired, yet so full of hope and joy! There are young people in our Church who really do love Jesus and really do want to be his disciples—who are thirsting to live Eucharistic lives. 

Let’s pray especially for our young people as we continue to live this Revival. This week, let us together ask the Holy Spirit to help us identify a young person we can personally reach out to with a word of encouragement as they seek to follow the Lord Jesus! 

In Jesus,

Sister Alicia Torres, F.E.

MANAGING EDITOR

PS: The Pulse, Episode 9, “On Fire for Christ”, is live on YouTube! 

INSPIRED BY THE EUCHARIST

Thanksgiving as a Catholic

I have always considered Thanksgiving to be one of the most generally wholesome national holidays that we celebrate. When Abraham Lincoln instituted the national holiday, he called on his “fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens.”… But the practice of stopping to give thanks as a people is part of the earliest traditions of European families settling in what would eventually become the United States… Read the rest of Zachary Keith’s reflection—a perfect way to prepare for Thanksgiving this year! Read in Spanish.

How Do You Become a Disciple of Jesus?

Becoming Jesus’ disciple begins with an encounter, and the Eucharist is the most powerful way we can experience the living Christ today. Bishop Andrew Cozzens shares what he believes is the heart of Christianity and the reason why Jesus left us his Real Presence in the Eucharist. “This is really the great gift of the Eucharist: it’s the encounter that never ends. It’s the encounter that keeps transforming us.” Watch this inspiring, short video from Bishop Cozzens today! 

Christ the King Is Lord of the Living and the Dead

By Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J.

“When I look at the Eucharist, I think about my parents. And I believe that they are adoring him, face to face, in heaven. I never feel closer to them than when I’m adoring him.”

An older Jesuit said these words during a retreat at White House Jesuit Retreat in St. Louis. It was shortly before Benediction, and I was helping him with the candles and incense. Fr. Jim is in his upper 80s. I imagine that he will reach heaven before me, since he is both older than I and holier!

I often think about Fr. Jim’s words when I’m celebrating Mass. Sometimes when I hold up the Host, I recall my own deceased grandparents and great-grandparents. In faith, I pray that they, too, are gazing upon the Lord in adoration. 

For Catholics, our faithful departed relatives are never far from us, especially in the Eucharist. As priests, we are asked to celebrate funeral liturgies and memorial Masses on the anniversary of someone’s death. November is a special month when we honor the dead and pray for them. We’re all encouraged to visit cemeteries. Many parishes display images of deceased relatives near the altar. Mexicans observe el Día de los Muertos: the Day of the Dead. It’s a celebration, a time of gratitude, and a prayer. “Lord, for your faithful people, life is changed, not ended” (Preface I, Mass for the Dead).

When we gaze at Christ in the Eucharist, we know that he gazes back at us with great love. We also know that the saints adore him face to face. When I pray the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I), I recite the names of many saints: “Peter and Paul… Linus, Cletus, Clement… Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy.” I envision them surrounding the altar as I preside, joining their voices and prayers with mine. With the Church in heaven, the Church on earth sings to the Lamb: “Holy, holy, holy Lord!”

This month, let us feel close to our family members who have gone before us. At Mass, we pray, we trust, and we hope that they, too, gaze upon our Lord in adoration. “Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.”

Fr. Joe Laramie, S.J. is the National Director of the Apostleship of Prayer. He serves as a National Eucharistic Preacher and the author of two books on the Sacred Heart. Learn more here!

This essay is part of our bi-monthly offering from priests, for priests!

A Mom’s Encounter with Merciful Love

By Nell O’Leary

“Start thinking about which commandments you have broken,” I said to my kids as their eyes darted accusingly around in the car: “Did I yell at my brother or sister? Did I take Halloween candy without asking? Did I neglect my chores and homework?”

But what they really needed to hear, and what I really needed to say, went beyond my litany of their (probable) sins to jostle their memory. I shifted in my seat again, “So I go to confession too. Here’s my same examination of conscience: did I yell at my sons and/or daughters? Did I overindulge in Halloween candy? Did I complain about cleaning up?”

The car erupted into giggles and interjections, “Yes, Mom, you did ALL OF THESE THINGS!!” My mouth softened into a smile and a sigh. 

“And I need to ask you for forgiveness when I’m short-tempered, right? Confession is a chance to say everything to Jesus, without holding back.”

“Hold back on my gummy bears!” the kindergartener called out. 

After another group giggle, we finished the drive to our parish on that gloomy, frosty, early winter afternoon. I thought about acknowledging and owning up to my wrong-doings, my sins, and taking that list to the confessional to apologize to Jesus for not trusting in his mercy enough, for not loving him enough to quit my impatience, my gluttony, or my sloth. How I need his help to be vulnerable! 

When we stepped into church for confession, we knelt down on both knees before entering the pew because there was Our Lord and God, Jesus Christ truly present, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. As we gazed upon the Eucharist in the monstrance on the altar, we truly beheld our Mighty King and Just Judge in the most vulnerable and intimate appearance: a small circular bread, ready to feed our needy bodies with his own. 

The encounter of Jesus’ mercy in the confessional opened the rusty doors of my heart to his presence in the Blessed Sacrament. Out of mercy flows love. I can be more present to his presence, more available for this encounter, once I have emptied myself of all my sorrows and separations from him. Our vulnerability builds with practice: let him heal you; let him love you. 

Bringing It Home

• When was the last time you went to receive Jesus’ healing love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation? What was that experience like for you? Spend a little time with Jesus talking about it.
• Look up confession times near you or make an appointment. How different will your encounter be with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament after you’ve made a good confession? Now is your chance to find out!

Nell O’Leary is a writer, speaker, and lover of chai tea and early morning Holy Hours who lives in Saint Paul, Minnesota with her husband and five children. Learn more.

MORE FOR YOU

Do This in Remembrance of Me: A Step-by-Step Walk through the Mass

Continuing now with the individual parts of the Eucharistic Prayer, we come to a really action-packed moment: the Epiclesis. What is the “Epiclesis”? How do we even pronounce it?  (A common pronunciation is Epp-eh-clee-sis). Charles Belmonte teaches, “In the Epiclesis, the priest requests God the Father to send the Holy Spirit so that the bread and wine offered may become Christ’s Body and Blood and so we may be able to celebrate the Eucharistic mystery, and to make all the effects of the sacrament operative in us… That is a lot of action for a few quick words… Read the rest of Fr. Luke’s column here! Read in Spanish.

“To love is to adore...”

Didn’t you love Pope Francis’ words on Eucharistic Adoration in the newsletter intro this week? Read Cardinal Sean O’Malley’s reflection and the full text of Our Holy Father’s homily from the closing Mass of the Synod here today!

The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic Adoration.

—Pope Saint John Paul II