NATIONAL EUCHARISTIC CONGRESS   July 17-21, 2024

  "FOR THE GREATER GLORY OF GOD"

EUCHARISTIC REVIVAL

Bishop Joseph Hanefedt weekly email 7/22/24

When I entered seminary formation as a college student, one of the requirements was to study the classical languages of Latin and Greek. Not having studied even Spanish in High School, I was quickly challenged to learn them both. Though Greek entailed learning an entirely new alphabet, I found it easier to grasp than Latin, especially in figuring out the structure of a sentence. After college seminary, I continued on to what we called “major seminary” in Rome, where there are Latin inscriptions on everything that is ancient, and on some things not so ancient. There, I attended the Pontifical Gregorian University run by the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits. To their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, is attributed the origin of the phrase, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, "for the greater glory of God,” or “AMDG” for short. (Actually, the full phrase is: “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam inque hominum salutem or "for the greater glory of God and the salvation of humanity." I found myself thinking of “AMDG” over and over again during the Eucharistic Congress which concluded yesterday morning in Indianapolis, with a most glorious Eucharistic Liturgy – for the greater glory of God!  

For more than two years the Church in this country has been focusing on a Eucharistic Revival. This culminated at the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis over the course of the past 5 days. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, appointed by Pope Francis as his personal representative to the Eucharistic Congress, was celebrant and homilist for the closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress. Cardinal Tagle, former Archbishop of Manila in the Philippines, is currently serving as the Pro-Prefect for the Section of Evangelization of the Dicastery for Evangelization in Rome.  

I cannot begin to describe what a tremendously powerful, overwhelming, inspiring and encouraging event this was. Over 60,000 people from all across this country and others from around the world registered to participate in some or all of this National Eucharistic Congress, the last of which was held 83 years ago in these United States. I was so pleased to know that over 40 people from the Diocese of Grand Island also attended. Ask any of them and they, too, will be at a loss for words to try and describe the events in which they participated at this great gathering of faith.  

People attended this 10th National Eucharistic Congress for various reasons, but the point of it all was, back to our Latin, “Ad maiorem Dei gloriam,” for the greater glory of God! In fact, that is the first purpose of every Mass – to offer infinite praise and glory to God! Every Mass is a return to the Sacred Mysteries by which we have been redeemed – saved by the precious body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. When people say they, “don’t get anything out of going to Mass on Sunday,” I want to shout and say to them, “Are you kidding me?” At every Mass we are united with one another, with those in purgatory, and those already in heaven, to hear God’s holy word, to receive his precious Body and Blood, and to be sent on mission to proclaim the saving power of God!  

Yes, we go to Mass on Sunday because the Lord commands us to “keep holy the Sabbath day,” but there is so much more to it than simply an obligation.  Every Mass is for the greater glory of God and our sanctification as individuals and as a community of believers. In every Mass we receive the Lord’s instruction to us through the Sacred Scriptures. Paul says in Romans 10:17: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”  Then, having listened to God’s word, we offer ourselves, our lives, our works of charity, our stewardship, and the gifts of bread and wine and so much more, for the praise and glory of God. 

Following the consecration of bread and wine, we enter into the most intimate act of receiving Holy Communion. In receiving the Eucharist, we are drawn into a most intimate union with Our Lord and Savior, who loves us and delights in us, and whose mercy is greater than any of our sins.  In receiving HIM, we are also united with everyone else at that Mass, and every other Mass throughout the world, in an intimate bond of faith and charity. The Eucharist enables us to “love one another as He has loved us!”  

If you go to Mass simply out of an obligation, next Sunday, go with a new purpose: “for the greater glory of God!” Notice what happens when you open yourself up to His saving word!  Notice what you experience when you make an intentional offering of yourself to the Lord along with the gifts of bread and wine on the altar. Notice what you experience when you pledge to trust him and surrender to his will for you. Then, notice what happens in your thoughts, feelings, and desires when you receive Holy Communion. This is what the Lord wants to bring to each of us as a personal revival of Eucharistic faith! Yet there’s more!  

At the conclusion of the Mass yesterday in Indianapolis, the entire membership of the Church was commissioned with the challenge to now become Eucharistic Missionaries, to bring our faith in and love for the Eucharist to the world in the ordinary events of our daily lives. At the end of every Mass, this commission is repeated: “Go forth, the Mass is ended.” Jesus sends each one of us out on mission with the experience of his saving love and mercy, to invite all people to be converted to a life that exists “for the greater glory of God.” My friends, do not be afraid of transformed, not as one more thing on your “to-do” list.  Notice your heart’s desire for an ever more authentic life as a Catholic and ask for the grace to receive the Lord’s transforming love for you.  He will lead you in what is next. 
 
Most of this must be done in the ordinary witness of our lives – that we live NOT for ourselves – not for wealth, pleasure, honor or power – but for the honor and praise of our God.  My friends, this is what needs to be REVIVED in each of us – the conviction that the meaning of life is “for the greater glory of God” and that when we live for him – when we “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness,” all that we truly need will be provided for us as well!