The Lord God is offering gushing springs of living water to all who attend our second Diocesan Eucharistic Congress

 

A pastoral letter by Bishop John W. YantaAug. 6, 2006 - Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

God is glorified and delighted that our Diocese of Amarillo will be celebrating our Second Diocesan Eucharistic Congress Friday evening and Saturday, August 25th and 26th in the Amarillo Civic Center. An awesome grace!

The Eucharist is the heart and center of our Catholic Faith. The Church describes the Eucharist as the “source and summit” of our faith.

The Eucharist and the divine plan of salvation

“Where does the Eucharist fit in the divine plan of salvation? The Eucharist was foreshadowed in the Old Covenant above all in the annual Passover meal celebrated every year by the Jews with unleavened bread to commemorate their hasty, liberating departure from Egypt. Jesus foretold it in his teaching and he instituted it when he celebrated the Last Supper with his apostles in a Passover meal.

The Church, faithful to the command of her Lord, ‘Do this in memory of me’ (1 Corinthians 11:24), has always celebrated the Eucharist, especially on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus” (#276 Compendium – Catechism of the Catholic Church).

The liturgical action called the Eucharist is also known traditionally as the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

For us Catholics enjoying the fullness of Christ’s teachings, Sunday Mass is the heart of our life in Jesus Christ.

A hard saying. It takes a strong faith to believe in the Eucharist. “Then many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’

“Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, ‘Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

‘It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.’

“Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, ‘For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.’

“As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.

“Jesus then said to the Twelve, ‘Do you also want to leave?’

“Simon Peter answered him, ‘Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God’” (John 6:60-69).

Disbelief in the Eucharist is the main reason some Catholics leave the faith, but the Eucharist is also the main reason fallen away Catholics return to the faith.

The Catechism explains: “The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: ‘This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?’

“The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. ‘Will you also go away?’: the Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only He has ‘the words of eternal life’ and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself” (CCC #1336, John 6:60, John 6:67. John 6:68).

Eucharistic Congresses. The Church Universal led by the pope schedules an International Eucharistic Congress every four years, e.g. Rome 2000, Guadalajara 2004, and Quebec 2008.

We, here in the diocese of Amarillo, had a gloriously fruitful Eucharistic Congress in 2002. Now, four years later, we are having our second. The Lord willing, a tradition has begun, and the third diocesan Eucharistic Congress will be celebrated in 2010.

In Unity with Jesus, through the Eucharist. Our theme is “In Unity with Jesus through the Eucharist.” We see all the disunity in the world, from domestic fights to nations at war, from the existence of rich first world countries to the disparity and reality of poor fifth world countries, from our food-throwing-away cultures to starving-to-death cultures, and we can get to the moon technology to the world’s inability to eradicate poverty and starvation.

And, the great scandal we Christians give to non-Christians, i.e. the ceaseless and ever increasing number of separate, new, un-tethered churches distancing themselves from the Church founded by Jesus Christ and its teachings.

Jesus’s best teaching. Jesus left his best teaching (and most difficult to believe) for the last: the Holy Eucharist. The manna of the Old Testament and multiplication of loaves and fishes is all necessary prelude chosen by God.

Jesus is the only way to unity; his truth and teaching, all of it, bring us to unity; and witnessing to his unique life brings unity.

“The Eucharist is the very sacrifice of the Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus which he instituted to perpetuate the sacrifice of the cross throughout the ages until his return in glory.

Thus he entrusted to his Church this memorial of his death and Resurrection. It is s a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet, in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us” (#271 Compendium – Catechism of the Catholic Church).

The Real Presence. “Jesus Christ is present in the Eucharist in a unique and incomparable way. He is present in a true, real and substantial way, with his Body and Blood, with his Soul and Divinity. In the Eucharist therefore, there is present in a sacramental way, that is, under the Eucharistic species of bread and wine, Christ whole and entire, God and Man” (#282 Compendium Catechism of the Catholic Church).

Opening & closing Masses. Our Congress opens on Friday evening at 6 p.m. with 4 separate Masses: in English (Archbishop Gomez, San Antonio); Spanish (Bishop Ramón Calderón, Linares, Mexico); Vietnamese (Bishop Dominic Luong, Orange, California); and a Pre-Vatican II Latin Mass (myself, Bishop John W. Yanta with Bishop Álvaro Corrada, S.J., Tyler, homilist).

The closing Mass of the Eucharistic Congress begins at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the Arena of the Amarillo Civic Center; main celebrant, Renato Cardinal Martino, Rome. There will be perpetual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in a special chapel.

All Masses have been cancelled on Saturday evening, Aug. 26 in order that all the priests have an opportunity to attend the Eucharistic Congress.

Speakers, workshops and grace. There will be educational and formational speakers on the Eucharist and a variety of interesting subjects, i.e. a Holy Hour, Eucharistic chapel, a concert by Tony Melendez who has performed before millions including Pope John Paul II, over 30 exhibitors, confession opportunities available, liturgy of the hours prayer, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, seeing old friends, making new friends, and meeting the hierarchy and wonderful speakers.

And above all: you will feel the springs of grace welling up within you, the presence of the Holy Spirit, and the joy of being Catholic, fully Christian, and strengthened by the Holy Eucharist containing the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ.

There will be workshops in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and for youth. There is something for the whole family including age appropriate catechesis for the children, kindergarten through 5th grade (Catechesis of the Good Shepherd).

Plenary Indulgence. A plenary indulgence may be gained as well as a partial indulgence. (If your faith doesn’t get excited about indulgences, please see the Catechism #1471-3, 1498, and the Glossary.)

Preparation of heart and mind. When the Church has a Eucharistic Congress, she asks that there be an extensive catechesis (teaching) for all the faithful in a preparation of mind and heart. This year B of the Sunday Bible readings gives us the five Sundays of Jesus’ teaching on the Eucharist as found in John 6 with the exception of the Transfiguration this year which prepared Peter, James, and John for the Last Supper, His suffering, death, and resurrection.

By Divine Providence, our closing Mass will be the 5th Sunday whose Gospel is John 6:60-69. The Eucharist is still a hard saying for many today. We need faithful Catholic Christians – no wishy-washy Christians nor Catholics embracing relativism. Pope Benedict XVI has spoken about the dictatorship of relativism (We can’t pick and choose what we want from God’s Law).

Overflowing love and grace. Yes, the Lord God in his overflowing love for each of us is offering gushing springs of living water to all who attend our second Diocesan Eucharistic Congress!

We ask St. Peter Julian Eymard (feast Aug. 2), who dedicated his life and ministry to the Holy Eucharist, to intercede for our Eucharistic Congress as he promoted the Eucharist in his lifetime (1811-1868).

Your prayers, sacrifices, and promotional encouragement are very much needed and appreciated. May our Eucharistic Congress glorify the Lord! Mary Our Lady of the Holy Eucharist, pray for us!

Sincerely in Christ,

Most Rev. John W. Yanta
Bishop of Amarillo
Observations by Bishop John W. Yanta
International Eucharistic Congresses Origin and Development

In the Beginning, Eucharistic congresses began during the second half of the 19th century in France. This was thanks to the incentive taken by a lay-woman, Emilie Tamisier (1834 - 1910), who under the inspiration of St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868), called the “Apostle of the Eucharist”, organized the first International Eucharistic Congress at Lille.

This undertaking, in which she was assisted by other lay persons, priests and bishops, received the blessing of Pope Leo XIII. The theme of this congress was “The Eucharist Saves the World.” It was believed in fact that a renewal of faith in the presence of Christ in the Eucharist would provide the remedy for ignorance and religious indifference.

Lively faith in the Real Presence Inspired First Congresses
The first congresses were inspired by a lively faith in the Real Presence of the person of Jesus Christ in the sacrament of the Eucharist. As a consequence, Eucharistic worship was expressed particularly in solemn adoration and in grand processions intended to celebrate the triumph of the Eucharist.

Following the decrees of Pope St Pius X on frequent communion, Sacra Tridentina Synodus (1905), and on the communion of children, Quam singularis (1910), the preparation and celebration of congresses were occasions for fostering the frequent communion of adults and the first communion of children.

International Scope Focusing on Re-evangelization
During the pontificate of Pius XI Eucharistic congresses became international in that they began to be celebrated in turn in all the continents.

They thus took on a missionary dimension and were focused on “reevangelization” (an expression used for the grass-roots preparation at the Congress of Manila in 1937).

Beginning with the 37th Congress celebrated at Munich in 1960, International Eucharistic Congresses came to be called statio orbis (following the proposal of the well-known liturgist Josef Jungmann, SJ), with the celebration of the Eucharist seen as the center and summit of all the various expressions and forms of Eucharistic devotion.

Later, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium of 1963, the instruction Eucharisticum Mysterium of 1967 (n. 67) and in a particular way the Roman Ritual De sacra communione et de cultu mysterii eucaristici extra Missam of 1973 (nn. 109-112), explained the new image and pointed out the criteria to be observed in the preparation and celebration of Eucharistic congresses, which from that time on gave attention to the problems of the contemporary world, to ecumenism and also in their preparation to inter-religious dialogue.


1. What is a Eucharistic Congress?
Eucharistic Congress should be considered according to the Roman Ritual De comunione et de cultu mysterii eucaristici extra missam (1973) n. 109, “as a gathering (statio) to which a local church invites the other churches of the same region or of the same nation or of the whole world.”

2. Who can convoke a Eucharistic Congress?
The Holy Father convokes an International Eucharistic Congress at the place proposed by a local Ordinary (Bishop) or by an Episcopal Conference. Even Bishops can convoke diocesan or national Eucharistic Congresses in their dioceses or respective countries.

The Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresses encourage, among other objectives, the celebration of national, diocesan, inter-diocesan and parish Eucharistic Congresses, which can possibly have an ecumenical and inter-religious dimension.

3. What are the ends or purposes of the Eucharistic Congress?
With the support of episcopal conferences and local bishops, national and diocesan delegates – and national committees, where set up – engage in fostering or taking those initiatives that, in accordance with the Church’s present norms, have the scope of increasing understanding and participation in the Eucharistic Mystery in all its aspects: from the celebration to worship extra missam (outside of Mass; e.g., adoration of the Real Presence in Adoration), so that its influence permeates the whole of personal and social living.

4. What are the essential features that constitute the celebration of a Eucharistic Congress?
The Roman Ritual points out in No. 112 that the center of every Eucharistic Congress is the celebration of the Eucharist, the source and summit of the whole Christian life. The celebration of the Word of God and talks can contribute to examining the various aspects of the Eucharistic Mystery – aspects that are suggested by the theme of the Congress. The possibility of praying in common and of adoring the Blessed Sacrament in designated churches contributes to interiorizing these themes. Finally, Eucharistic processions can help to express a public and ritual dimension to the faith in the Eucharist, which is celebrated, reflected upon and re-affirmed during the Congress.

5. How long does a Eucharistic Congress last?
According to needs, resources and circumstances, a Eucharistic Congress can take place for a day or last for many days. When resources are limited, many dioceses can unite in a common celebration to employ their resources in the most effective manner.

I, Bishop Yanta, wish to thank all who are promoting our Eucharistic Congress 2006. Upon an anticipated fruitful, gracefilled Congress this year, we will prepare in prayer and plans with the Holy Spirit for our Eucharistic Congress 2010.