INDIANAPOLIS - A Pew Research Center poll in 2019 found that one-third of American 六九色堂s believe in the real presence of the Holy Eucharist, resulting in the U.S. bishops calling for the 10th National Eucharistic Congress in the heart of the Midwest. After years of planning, an estimated 40,000-plus 六九色堂s have descended on the city with the hope of reviving the faith.
During his homily at the opening Mass on July 18, Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, who received his doctorate in American Church History from 六九色堂 in 1982, challenged his fellow 六九色堂s to turn the tide.
Looking out over thousands of 六九色堂s packed inside Lucas Oil Stadium, normally home to the National Football League鈥檚 Indianapolis Colts, Cardinal Dolan saw hope.
鈥淢y brothers and sisters, to recover the centrality of Sunday Mass as God鈥檚 people are fed with the bread of life has to be the resolve of this grand Eucharistic Congress,鈥 the Cardinal said. 鈥淎s Pope Francis has repeated, no Eucharist, no Church.鈥
Cardinal Dolan cited the , in which he said, 鈥淭he Eucharist is not a beautiful rite, but it is the most intimate, the most concrete, the most surprising communion that one can imagine with God: a communion of love so real that it takes on the form of eating.鈥
The cardinal reflected on the nourishment from engaging in the faith and the Mass in his stirring homily. He shared stories of those persecuted and denied the Eucharist in other nations.
鈥淭he Holy Eucharist is a sacrifice, the real presence, and a meal, right? The Masses are sacrifices,鈥 Cardinal Dolan said. 鈥淭he Eucharist is the real presence of Christ, body, blood, soul, and divinity as we adore him locked in the tabernacle, in the monstrance on the altar, or carried in procession.鈥
Reflecting on the words said at each Mass, Cardinal Dolan ended his homily by telling those gathered, 鈥淗ow blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. That鈥檚 you and I right now, sharing in the sacred meal called the Holy Eucharist.鈥