The Holy Father has asked us during the Jubilee of Mercy to reflect on God’s mercy, and to put mercy into practice in our daily lives. Our Eucharistic Congress this year has given us the perfect opportunity to celebrate God’s mercy as a diocesan family.
We can say that the most merciful act in the history of the world is celebrated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The most merciful act in the history of the world is Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection for our salvation, and at every Mass that same sacrifice of Jesus is offered again. God the Father had mercy on the whole human race by sending us Jesus, and through Jesus’ sacrifice He mercifully saves us from our sins and gives us new life in His grace. The Sacrifice of the Eucharist makes present for us that most merciful act in the history of the world.
Why do we have the Eucharistic Congress? The purpose of the Eucharistic Congress is to celebrate our faith in the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, to affirm our Catholic faith in His Real Presence. A strong and genuine Eucharistic faith means a strong and vibrant Church. There’s an important connection between our Eucharistic faith and the vitality of the Church. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once wrote that the more lively the Eucharistic faith of the People of God is, the more deeply will the People of God share in the life of the Church and be committed to her mission.
The Eucharistic faith of the People of God is that Jesus is truly, really and substantially present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in the Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine. He is our merciful Lord. Jesus nourishes us on His mercy in the Eucharist so that we in turn can go forth to nourish others with our works of mercy. The Eucharistic Congress is about deepening our amazement at Our Lord’s Real Presence, professing our faith in love, and energizing us for the good works of charity and mercy.
Our just completed Eucharistic Congress is now in the hands of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will multiply as He sees fit the fruits of the Congress in all the parishes and schools of the diocese. Through those parishioners who were blessed to participate in the Congress, the Holy Spirit will extend His blessings throughout the diocese. May the mercy of God the Father and the love of Jesus which we celebrate at each Mass continue to build up the faith and holiness of our parish families and the whole diocesan family.
Bishop Peter J. Jugis is the Bishop of Charlotte.