X
GO

HERALD ARTICLES
Head of Eucharistic Revival exhorts faithful to ‘live a eucharistic life’
Deacon Rick Bauer

Head of Eucharistic Revival exhorts faithful to ‘live a eucharistic life’

by Deacon Rick Bauer

COLORADO SPRINGS. On Jan. 7, priests and deacons from the Diocese of Colorado Springs gathered for a day of inspiration, reflection, discussion, and prayer. Co-led by Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chairman of the  Evangelization and Catechesis Committee for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and Bishop James Golka, the morning activities at St. Gabriel Parish featured an extensive reflection on the Eucharist by Bishop Cozzens, including a detailed plan for the three-year Eucharistic Revival that he has been tasked with organizing.

The National Eucharistic Revival is a three-year initiative sponsored by the USCCB to inspire and prepare the People of God to be formed, healed, converted, united, and sent out to a hurting and hungry world through a renewed encounter with Jesus in the Eucharist — the source and summit of our Catholic faith. The revival officially launched in June 2022, and its milestone event will be a National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, that will take place July 17-21, 2024. The National Eucharistic Revival and National Eucharistic Congress are a direct response to the Holy Father’s call for a “pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are” so that the Church in the United States might be “permanently in a state of mission” (“Evangelii Gaudium,” No. 25). For more information on details of the activities and detailed planning, visit the National Eucharistic Revival website at https://www.eucharisticrevival.org/.

Plans include a Year One (2022-2023) Diocesan Revival, a Year Two (2023-2024) devoted to Parish Revival, and the final Year Three (2024-2025) featuring the National Eucharistic Congress and Missionary Sending. The goal is to prepare all the faithful to go out to the entire nation as “eucharistic missionaries” filled with the flame of divine charity among them.

Bishop Cozzens observed that “the Eucharistic Revival is a movement, not a program, and is meant to provide the faithful to fall deeper in love with Jesus in the Eucharist, and to be equipped to share that love with others.”

Bishop Cozzens, a native of Denver, was ordained to the priesthood in 1997, named an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis in 2013, and in 2021, Pope Francis appointed him Bishop of Crookston, Minnesota.

His presentation to diocesan clergy on Jan. 7 was titled “Living a Eucharistic Life” and focused on the Eucharist as the life, ministry, worship, revival, and Jesus’ plan for the healing of the world.

Bishop Cozzens stressed that clergy should view all suffering in their ministry like St. Paul did — a way to participate in the Paschal mystery, making an offering of the priest’s life. Citing the late Pope Benedict’s 2003 book “God Is Near Us,” Bishop Cozzens read: “Anyone who repeatedly exposes himself to [the Eucharist] and confides in it will be changed. You cannot walk constantly with the Lord, cannot ever anew pronounce these tremendous words ‘This is my Body and my Blood,’ you cannot touch the Body of the Lord again and again, without being changed and being led by him . . . in the long run there are only really two possibilities: either to shake off the Eucharist, with the enormous demands and power it sets up in life, or to surrender to it, to hold fast to it. Anyone who holds fast to the Lord will not be abandoned by him . . . he will never be denied his light.” (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, “God is Near Us,” p. 126).

(Deacon Rick Bauer is content editor at the Augustine Institute and serves at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Colorado Springs.)

Previous Article Healing workshop set for Jan. 26-28 at The Antlers
Next Article Revive Alive, Jan. 20, 2023
Print
342 Rate this article:
No rating

Deacon Rick BauerDeacon Rick Bauer

Other posts by Deacon Rick Bauer
Contact author
Please login or register to post comments.

Contact author

x
HERALD HEADLINES

FEATURED MOVIE REVIEW: Creed III

By John Mulderig/OSV News

John Mulderig 0 72 Article rating: No rating

NEW YORK. Four and a half decades on from the bicentennial year in which it premiered, the “Rocky” franchise is still a cinematic gift that keeps on giving. Thus “Creed III” (PG-13, United Artists), the ninth film in the series, is a thinking-person’s sports drama that will appeal even to those with no particular interest in well-choreographed slugfests.

THE CATHOLIC REVIEW: Diving Deeper Into the Lenten Season - Book recommendations to help adults and children grow in their faith

by Deacon Rick Bauer

Deacon Rick Bauer 0 36 Article rating: No rating

February and March are the months when we participate in the discipline of Lent. Fasting, praying, giving alms, confession, adoration — all good activities anytime — find even more purpose when we observe them in Lent. Though we are deep into Lent at this writing, there may be some ways that we can invest even more in our observances, and sometimes a good book can direct our thoughts.

BLESSINGS IN BLOOM: Shamrocks

By Kerry Peetz

Kerry Peetz 0 66 Article rating: No rating

Oh, the luck of the Irish! They say there are two kinds of people in the world: the Irish, and those who wish they were. But whatever our Catholic heritage, we all have gotten to experience a little St. Patrick, Emerald Isle magic, shamrocks, and corned beef (thanks to the blessed dispensation) on March 17.

Revive Alive! The Eucharistic Revival in the Diocese of Colorado Springs

Linda Oppelt 0 38 Article rating: No rating

"To prepare for worthy reception of this sacrament, the faithful should observe the fast required in their Church. (Cf. Code of Canon Law, canon 919) Bodily demeanor (gestures, clothing) ought to convey the respect, solemnity, and joy of this moment when Christ becomes our guest.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1387.

RSS
1345678910Last