A Radical Proposal for the USCCB’s Eucharistic Revival

Fr. John A. Perricone, Ph.D., is an adjunct professor of philosophy at Iona College in New Rochelle, New York. His articles have appeared in St. John’s Law Review, The Latin Mass, New Oxford Review, and The Journal of Catholic Legal Studies. Ominous. It is the only word that can adequately describe the 2020 Pew Research Study. It polled Catholics on their belief in the Real Presence of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Almost 70 percent surveyed said no. Chilling, but not surprising. Even a casual glance at parishioners receiving Holy Communion in most Catholic parishes reveals a nonchalance that is telling.  One need not …

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Indian Catholics block cathedral Mass over liturgy dispute

Cathedral administrator Fr. Antony Puthuvelil was seeking to introduce the new ‘uniform mode’ of the Syro-Malabar Church’s Eucharistic liturgy. Priests opposed to the change are reportedly preparing to engage in continuous adoration at the cathedral until plans to introduce the new liturgical form are withdrawn. Bridget commented: “Seems like that would be a great opportunity to discern the will of God if any of them are willing to ask “what do You want me to do Lord” instead of asking “please do what we want and we won’t leave until you do it”. A newly appointed Indian Catholic cathedral administrator …

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Adorers of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus: ‘The Eucharist Is Like a Magnet’

Adoration is the heart of the community of Tyburn. (Courtesy of Tyburn Convent) In Person |  Feb. 1, 2020 Adorers of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus: ‘The Eucharist Is Like a Magnet’ Meet the London community dedicated to perpetual prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. K.V. Turley LONDON — Tyburn Convent is situated in the heart of London, at the end of the busiest shopping street in Europe, Oxford Street, and facing the city’s Hyde Park. There is endless noise from the never-ending throng that passes the front of the convent, where, paradoxically, a special peace reigns inside its walls. The name “Tyburn” is …

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The Cup of Salvation: Where Does Altar Wine Come From?

Producers of sacramental altar wines are a select group. When at the request of his Mother Mary, Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding at Cana, it was the finest of all wines. And it was the purest wine of all when, at the Last Supper, he “took a cup … saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins’” (Matthew 26:27-28). The wine had to be the purest from the vine because earlier Our Lord also said, “For my …

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The Bread of Heaven: Where Do Communion Hosts Come From?

These sisters bake altar bread — the Communion hosts that will be consecrated at Masses every day. These sisters bake altar bread — the Communion hosts that will be consecrated at Masses every day. When the sisters at the Monastery of the Sacred Passion in Erlanger, Kentucky, walk into their bakery several days a week, they are going to work at one of the most important physical labors in the Church. The cloistered sisters more than 745 miles north in Westfield, Vermont, and those 542 miles west in Clyde, Missouri, and others in a handful of monasteries from Brooklyn to …

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How can I explain transubstantiation?

Father Cal Christiansen is pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Mountlake Terrace Q: The other day I was trying to explain the eucharistic doctrine of transubstantiation to a coworker who is not Catholic, and I’m afraid she was more confused by the end of our conversation than when we started! How can I explain this doctrine to non-Catholics in a way that they can understand? A: When the disciples sat down with Jesus at the Last Supper, they were preparing to celebrate the Jewish Passover with him. Jesus, however, had something more in mind. “While they were eating, Jesus …

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Liturgy and Sacraments

What is the Sacred Liturgy? The sacred liturgy is the true worship of God, enacted by Jesus Christ and his body, the Church, through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a shared ‘public work’ (leitourgia) with ceremonies, rites and formulas established by Scripture and Tradition. Why does the Church have liturgy? The Church has liturgy in obedience to the will of God, most clearly expressed by Christ’s command, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). As the true worship of God, the Church’s liturgy follows the ceremonies, rites and formulas established by Scripture and Tradition where the will of God is revealed. Liturgy involves common …

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The Eucharist

The Eucharist is a sacrifice, a presence and a food. As a sacrifice it makes present Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary for our salvation. As a presence, it is Jesus Christ himself under the appearances of bread and wine. As a food, it is the nourishment of our souls by which we share in God’s own life. The Eucharist as Sacrifice Uniquely among the sacraments, the Eucharist is also a sacrifice, the sacrifice of Christ himself. Sacrifices offer something up to God to honour him, to thank him, to gain communion with him and to make expiation for sin. The Eucharistic sacrifice of Christ achieves all of …

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5 Incredible Eucharistic Miracles from the last 25 Years

As Catholics, we believe that the bread and wine used in the Mass become the body and blood of Christ. It’s a bold claim, especially considering it still looks, feels, smells and tastes just like bread and wine. Theology and scripture put aside, some of the most compelling pieces of evidence are when the Eucharist has quite literally changed into Jesus’ body and blood. It’s happened throughout history but as we can often be sceptical of events that happened long ago here we have compiled a list of Eucharist miracles, all of which happened in the last 25 years! For …

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