LITURGY

Br. Basil Piette and Br. Benedict Maria in procession (Image: Hansen)

With liturgical practice so important to the life of the monastic community, The Current has established this monthly column to consider this central element. For this publication year, we will turn to the center of the center, the source and summit, which is the Holy Eucharist. This focus is inspired by the eucharistic renewal advancing within the church, proposed and supported by Pope Francis and the American bishops. Brother Benedict Maria, in the midst of seminary studies in preparation for the priesthood, has had a kind of front row seat in this renewal. His experience has provided the catalyst for our series. As the seminary progresses in preparing its candidates for their sacramental role, the fortuitous occurrence of the eucharistic renewal offers a unique opportunity. “It is not part of our program as such,” Br. Benedict says, “but many of our members have been involved with it.” His own involvement has prompted The Current to turn its attention the Eucharist for this publication year.

Bishop Andrew Cozzens, chairman of the Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis, is heading up the American renewal efforts, which kicked off on the feast of Corpus Christi in 2022. In his invitational video on the USCCB website, he states, “It is our mission to renew the church by kindling in God’s people a living relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. We want everyone to encounter the love of Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist and to experience the life-changing effects of that love. We want to see a movement of Catholics across the United States that are healed, converted, formed, and unified by an encounter with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist and then sent out on mission for the life of the world.” The renewal has been strengthened by the support of Pope Francis, who this past June (2023) met a group led by Bishop Cozzens, blessing a monstrance to be used for the U.S. National Eucharistic Congress in 2024. The Holy Father spoke of the great gift Jesus offers of himself in the Eucharist, by which believers are nourished and consoled. He noted the unfortunate reality that today many Catholics, “believe that the Eucharist is more a symbol than the reality of the Lord's presence and love.” But, “it is more than a symbol; it is the real and loving presence of the Lord.” (reported by C. Wooden, Catholic News Service)