Articles on the Eucharist

The Eucharist Explained

Arlington Catholic Herald Special Feature

The Catechism of the Catholic Church calls the Eucharist “the source and summit of the Christian life.” The Arlington diocese, in preparation for its 50th anniversary, is marking this year with the theme “Remember,” reflecting on the Eucharist and Christ’s words during the Last Supper: “Do this in remembrance of me.” The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops recently launched a multiyear Eucharistic revival.

Archbishop Emeritus Chaput: Eucharist provides antidote for materialistic world

Arlington Catholic Herald

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, archbishop emeritus of Philadelphia, delivered remarks to a crowd of nearly 1,000 at the Diocesan Eucharistic Symposium at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Oct. 22.

From his homily: “When we celebrate Mass together, Jesus is present among us at the altar, offering himself — body and soul, humanity and divinity — to the father as he did on Calvary. You and I are invited to have the privilege of offering ourselves with him,” he said. “As a part of this, we’re enabled to be part of the self-giving of Jesus.”

The Eucharist makes us pro-life

by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

"Our responsibility to care for every human life is not a uniquely Christian vocation but also a human one. As Catholics, we have a particular awareness of this duty.

"When, at the Last Supper, Christ commanded, 'Do this in remembrance of me,' he left a memorial of his saving Death and Resurrection. That command reminds us daily of his sacrificial love for every life."

The science of Eucharistic miracles

by Steve Hemler and Lee Granger

"The Catholic Church has consistently held that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. However, over half of Catholics do not accept this teaching. In order to dispel doubts, God has provided many instances throughout church history where the consecrated bread and/or wine have become human flesh and blood."

CNS photo, Chaz Muth

How to pray during Eucharistic Adoration using the A.C.T.S. method

with Sister Mary Sheila

A meditation given by Sister Mary Sheila as she gives helpful tips on how to pray during Eucharistic Adoration using the A.C.T.S. method.

Eucharist leaves an effect on us: Food for the journey

Fr. Steven G. Oetjen

"Unlike everything else in this world which passes away, we can live forever by eating that bread from heaven. We journey through this passing world, nourished by food from an eternal world — food that makes us immortal, too."

First Communion and the life of faith

by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

"To our young people who are celebrating their First Communion this year, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. You have prepared yourselves for this powerful moment through prayer to our loving God and study of our faith in Jesus, our Savior.

"Within this sacred gift, you receive Jesus Christ himself. He is truly and really present. When you receive Holy Communion, Jesus helps you to grow strong in faith, hope and love. Treasure this gift and be Christ living in the world by loving and forgiving your friends, your family members and anyone who offends you. Share the peace of Christ by always imitating him in the way you treat others."

Eucharistic revival called ‘a movement’ that gets to core of Catholic faith

Catholic News Service

The U.S. Catholic Church’s three-year eucharistic revival about to get underway “is not a program but a movement” that is an invitation to the faithful from God to go on mission and be compelling witnesses of our faith, said Tim Glemkowski, the newly named executive director of the National Eucharistic Congress.

Purified and strengthened for the Lenten journey

Bishop Michael F. Burbidge

As you may be aware, this year is the first of two preparatory years, culminating in our 2024 Golden Jubilee celebration. The theme for this year is “Do this in remembrance of me,” which focuses on the Eucharist.

This year of the Eucharist draws our attention to the reality that every time we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we are renewed in the covenant we enter into through Baptism.

Eucharistic Preachers seek to inspire the faithful to encounter Jesus

Catholic News Service

The National Eucharistic Preachers are part of a new initiative under the National Eucharistic Revival being organized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

“The 58 priests will be inviting people to pray for the revival, pray that each one of us would grow closer to Jesus and the Eucharist through the revival,” said Father Jorge Torres, a priest of the Diocese of Orlando, Florida, working as a specialist for the revival at the bishops’ conference.