When Teaching On The  Real Presence Is Clear, Young People Respond

 

 

04/13/2006 Bishop Robert Vasa

BEND — It has often been said of retreats that more good can be done with a bit of quiet time before our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament than with lots and lots of words. Despite the fact that I do believe this, it is still very difficult to stop using lots and lots of words.

Over this weekend, which in many ways was a weekend with lots of words, I also experienced the fact that there are things more important than words. I thought about the lack of wordiness, for instance, of our own Blessed Mother. The longest “speech” she gave, which is a hymn of praise to God, is the Magnificat.

Other than that she said precious little. We know she “treasured” many words in her heart, but long speeches were not a part of her life. In fact, the only words of advice that I am aware of coming from her are found in John’s account of the wedding feast at Cana. There she simply informs the Lord, “They have no more wine,” and then proceeds to the waiters, whom she advises, “Do whatever He tells you.”

I thought about the beautiful simplicity and faithfulness of these few words as I tried to address a group of young people in our first Diocesan Youth 2000 Retreat at Pendleton this weekend. I can tell you, and the youth will attest, I was not as brief as Mary. My hope is that the words I used found some resonance in their hearts and that in that abundance of words they were able to ferret out at least a few which will prove spiritually helpful and beneficial.

In many ways, though, my conviction that more good can be done by a few moments of silent prayer before our Lord is a source of great consolation to me. In a sense, the pressure to speak “significant words” is diminished because those words pale in comparison to what the Lord does. The strength of the Youth 2000 Retreats rests on the fact that the Retreat is centered, both figuratively and literally, on the Lord.

Gathering on Friday night, we found in the center of the gymnasium a pyramid of votive lights with a small platform at the top. It was not immediately clear how this pyramid was to be used, but after the celebration of Mass, that pyramid, in the center of the gymnasium and in the center of the youth gathered around, became the throne of our Blessed Eucharistic Lord.

Every talk during the retreat was then given in that same space with the “enmonstranced” Lord being the highlighted center of attention. Throughout Friday night and into Saturday morning exposition and adoration continued. Throughout the day on Saturday, exposition and adoration continued. Throughout Saturday night and into Sunday morning, exposition and adoration continued.

The young people knew that the gym was a “sacred space,” and they did an amazingly good job of recognizing and respecting that sacredness. There was a clear explanation of the need to focus attention on the Lord and to be extremely cognizant on His Presence. At the same time, the expectation of the retreat directors about the appropriate conduct and reverence in the Presence of the Lord was made quite clear.

It is not at all surprising when the teaching on the Real Presence is clear and when expectations are likewise clear, that our young people respond better than even they think they can.

Certainly they were not all involved in Perpetual Adoration for the entire time, but the Lord was available to them. Likewise available was the presence of the Lord in the Sacrament of Confession. Throughout the entire time, at least two priests were available for confession, and that availability was mentioned frequently. There was not necessarily a mad rush to stand in line for confession, but throughout the day, one or two young people would drift over in that direction and avail themselves of this opportunity of grace.

I could not stay for the end of the retreat, and I have not yet had a final report, but I am most confident that with the Presence of the Lord and the availability for confession, many good things must have happened for these young people. I did not stay for the end, not because of a lack of interest, but because I also had to get to Condon, Arlington and Fossil for the weekend Masses. I had dinner in Condon when I arrived on Saturday night; I had brunch at Arlington after Sunday morning 8 a.m. Mass; I had coffee and the availability of coffee cake after 10:30 Mass at Condon and I had a great potluck dinner, including sauerkraut, after the 1 p.m. Mass at Fossil.

After all that eating, I got to drive to The Dalles for the three-hour FaithWorks presentation on the encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, before driving home to Bend. Thus, I completed the weekend tour at around 11:30 p.m. As you can imagine, I did talk at each Mass, and I did try to visit with a few folks after Mass and at the meal gatherings, and the three hours of FaithWorks is largely a nonstop discourse.

By the time the weekend was over, I was more than ready for the solitude and privacy of my own home, which, as you know, is the place owned by the diocese where I am allowed to live. There in the privacy of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, I needed simply to put all the events of the weekend into His most capable and loving hands. There I recognize once again that while the travels and activities and talks and words may be necessary, the real truth is that more authentic good can be accomplished by a few moments before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament than by lots and lots of activities.

It is in the Lord’s Presence that we can hear the simultaneous words of both Jesus and Mary. One says, “Come to me all you who labor and are heavily burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” The other simply says, “Do whatever He tells you!” I trust that the Lord is also saying, “Go out into the whole world (or least to the various parishes of the diocese) and proclaim the Good News.”

It is a struggle for any of us, in this very busy and active world, to find the proper balance between activity and adoration, between talking and listening, between doing and being but it is clear, judging from the response of the young people to the opportunity for adoration, that there is a most definite need for a greater focus on the contemplative dimension to which the Lord calls us. Mary treasured all these things in her heart and says, “Do whatever He tells you.” May we do both as she does and as she says.