What’s Next?
It is true that the National Eucharistic Congress has come and gone, but the revival is far from done on our part. There is more! Here are ways we can keep the flame of this renewal burning in our hearts:
Reflect on the Gift of the Revival
Let’s remember that this revival was Jesus’ gift to us. While we can cooperate with His grace, that is continuously being poured out on us, we should never think of the Eucharistic Revival as a result of what we did. It was all through Him, with Him, and for Him!
Keep a Spirit of Repentance
We need to keep a spirit of repentance. This is not only about seeking the forgiveness of our sins, but a renewal in our thinking. Each day of this month of August, spend time with the Lord in your parish or a church near you. Bring to the Lord the following question, “What has this revival renewed in me?” and each day ask Jesus in the Eucharist “What do you want me to do with this renewed understanding? How can I put this renewed understanding at the service of others?” Other good questions for reflection are: “What do I think about Jesus?”, “About His Real Presence in the Eucharist?”, “About my role as a Eucharistic missionary?” and “Do I see time with Him as a priority or as something secondary?” Let’s allow the Holy Spirit to bring renewal in any area of our minds that needs transformation.
Walk with One
Join the “Walk with One” initiative. Pray about someone God is calling you to intentionally journey with. Perhaps you can invite this person to coffee or dinner and prudently begin an open dialogue about faith. For more on “Walk with One”, click here.
Act with Intention
You may be asking yourself why do more than you are already doing? Maybe there is something you need to remove from your spiritual life to make room for something else. Perhaps there is nothing you should change, but just to grow in intentionality. Praying the Mass with intention, praying the rosary with intention, reaching out to friends and family with intention, are all important parts of living out our faith fruitfully. This revival has showed us that we are all called to a relationship with Jesus truly present in the Eucharist, and that empowered by the Eucharist, the Lord can bring transformation to our lives and to the lives of others. If you are still not motivated to grow as a disciple, just look at the headlines again. This world needs hope, needs change, needs Jesus. Let’s be His instruments, let’s live as a Eucharistic people.
Become an Eucharistic Missionary
Along with a fervent prayer and sacramental life, we need to be formed and equipped to be Eucharistic missionaries for these times. Adoration of Our Lord Jesus present in the Eucharist is linked to our presence at Mass on Sundays. Our presence at Mass leads to time in Adoration. These two pillars of the Eucharistic Revival are first and foremost. If we are to be effective Eucharistic Missionaries, then we must fall on our knees before Him in Adoration and in the celebration of Holy Mass each Sunday.
Prayer for the Revival
My God, I believe, I adore, I hope and I love You! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, nor adore, nor hope, nor love You.
Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and indifference by which He is offended. And, through the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of You the conversion of sinners.
Our Lady of Fatima
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Bruno