The
question was raised to Goodnews about new forms of liturgical outreach.
The increase of Eucharistic Adoration during Charismatic conferences
and the growth of Youth2000 seem to be signs of our times. How is
the Holy Spirit guiding the use of the Eucharist in new ways in our
day?
"New" can be a misleading word. "Jesus Christ is the
same yesterday, today and forever" (Heb 13.8), yet there is always
an inexhaustible newness for us to discover in Him. The same can be
said of the Sacraments.
The Mysteries (Sacraments) were revealed only to the initiated
There does seem to be a change in emphases over the ages. In the
early Church, although there was no lack of evangelisation, the "Mysteries"
(Sacraments) were revealed only to the initiated. The RCIA programme
today re-captures a sense of that process of revealing the sacraments
step-by-step to catechumens. Adult converts usually have an advantage
of appreciation and understanding of the Sacraments compared with
most cradle Catholics.
When Christendom was established throughout Europe, the emphasis
on the objective working of the Sacraments deepened. When heresies
arose, practices like Corpus Christi processions and 40 hours of Eucharistic
Adoration increased. These events had a reverent and perhaps triumphant
note to them, the kind of "pomp and circumstance" one would
expect for a King. The liturgy was transcendent but perhaps distant
at times.
The newness Pope John Paul II seems to be speaking of is an emphasis
on a personal relationship with Christ
Now we are in a time of the new evangelisation. We find ourselves
in a pagan, "post Christian" culture, not able to take faith
in God for granted, much less His working through the Sacraments.
The newness that Pope John Paul II seems to be speaking of, is an
emphasis on a personal relationship with Christ. This personal, relational
emphasis applies also to what may be called "Eucharistic outreach".
The objective Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is experienced
in a personal/subjective way
The effect of a Youth2000 weekend in a young person's life is primarily
that the objective Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is experienced
in a personal, (subjective) way. This is not something that was planned
or designed, but is a work of God that we have observed over and over
again in doing these sort of 40 Hours retreats for young people. It
is not the kind of programme that "should" work for young
people, according to most theories of what young people desire. There
is often a temptation to change to a more recreational weekend and
pressure sometimes derails the whole thing. But Eucharistic Adoration
does in fact work; that it, it usually brings about a profound encounter
with Christ. Young and old alike are evangelised by the presence of
Christ.
I recall a girl in Denver who didn't particularly want to be at the
Youth2000 weekend. After the procession with Jesus (in the Blessed
Sacrament) she was simply walking around among the crowd saying "He's
here! He's really here!' She was touched and indeed she looked a bit
"touched!" I've seen this happen in the lives of thousands
of young people, not because of a great programme or sales pitch,
but because Jesus makes it happen when He's given the chance.
Being touched by Christ interiorly and healed on a emotional or other
level especially tends to happen with the exterior touch of Christ.
Many of you readers will have been "touched" by the Lord
through the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Eucharistic outreach of
Youth2000 or similar event often brings about that fundamental awakening
for people that God is real and personally interested in us. Some
of you have probably experienced a Eucharistic procession where you
are invited to touch the veil wrapped around the monstrance containing
the Body of Christ. In this way people are encouraged to identify
with the woman with the flow of blood who was instantly healed when
she touched the garment of Christ (Lk 8:43-48). The objective truth
is that the same Lord Jesus is really present in the Eucharist. Our
subjective openness and increase in faith is aided by these encounters.
Most of the healing that happens now, and which I believe is most
needed, is on the level of emotional wounds from family conflicts.
Most of the healing that happens now, and which I believe is most
needed, is on the level of emotional wounds from family conflicts
The
Sacrament of Reconciliation is also extremely helpful in this new
evangelisation. By its very nature it is a sacramental outreach of
Christ for forgiveness, freedom and healing. If there is a newness
to the experience of this sacrament today it is perhaps that it is
not treated so much as a mechanical process of sin destruction but
rather as a personal encounter with Our Father in Heaven who is merciful.
The objective fact of forgiveness hasn't changed, but again the personal
element is heightened.
I once read a definition of evangelisation as 'helping someone to
understand their experience in the light of the revelation of Jesus
Christ". Reconciliation involves this listening and then bringing
the light of Christ and His healing power into that area of someone's
life where He is most needed. It is the most powerful and personal
place of evangelisation.
This sacramental outreach involves a co-operation of laity and clergy.
I was greatly moved by a weekend of evangelisation at St Patrick's
Church in Soho in London last December. Teams of lay people of all
ages were going out into the streets bustling with Christmas shoppers
and inviting them into the Church to pray before the exposed Blessed
Sacrament or to talk to a priest. It was a great example of the different
parts of the Body working together and making use of the fullness
of what the Church has to offer. It certainly bore fruit, particularly
for lapsed Catholics who received a greater gift than they had ever
expected on their shopping day!
Thanks be to God for the gifts He has given us in the Sacraments.
May we open them up and use them to their fullest for the conversion
of hearts and the glory of His Name.
