The Eucharist - the core to being a Catholic

by Joanne Pohland

At a recent Council of Catholic Women gathering, the question was asked, “Why are you a Catholic today?” The answer came, “I am a Catholic today because of the Eucharist.” This answer is one that may come from many Catholics, because the Eucharist is at the very core of what it means to be a Catholic. The Eucharist is central to all we are and all we do. The very heart of the Eucharist is the making present of the great and salvific event of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Diocesan moderator, Fr. Gene Lozinski gave a beautiful talk on the Eucharist at the Minneapolis/St. Paul Province Conference this past June in Willmar, MN. His reflection was entitled “The Eucharist: One Body, One Spirit in Christ.” He very clearly delineated what the Vatican documents, scripture, the Eucharistic Prayers, as well as Pope John Paul’s recent encyclical on the Eucharist and his other writings teach us about the true meaning of the Eucharist. He also included a brief understanding of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as well as Intercommunion. The text for this talk can be found at the New Ulm Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Web site (www.nudccw.org). Look under “Transcripts of Requested Talks; The Eucharist: One Body, One Spirit in Christ.”

This fall, four of the six CCW regions invited Fr. Lozinski to speak on the Eucharist at the Fall Gatherings. In these talks, he reminded us that Jesus has made God visible here on earth. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. That is why the celebration of the Eucharist is so vital to our lives. The Mass sums up everything we believe. At communion, we become united with Christ. We are thus filled up and then compelled to reach out and love others.

The Council of Catholic Women is a network of women who can work together in fulfilling Jesus’ commandment to love one another as He has loved us. How comforting it is for us to know that if we immerse ourselves in the gift Christ gave us, his very body and blood in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we will be filled and then not only encouraged but also compelled to reach out to love and serve others. How wise it is, then, for our councils to begin our activities or meetings with prayer and even Mass. We will then be enriched to fulfill our task to show people how to live. Because we have the life of God within us, we can teach the world how to live.

Pope John Paul II has declared the Year of the Eucharist to begin on October 10, 2004. How fortuitous it is that our moderator has already helped so many of us begin to prepare for this momentous time. May each Council do all they can this year to help all women, and indeed all parishioners, to deepen their understanding of, and their devotion to, the Holy Eucharist in the coming year. In doing so, we will build up the Kingdom of God.

Joanne Pohland is from Glencoe, MN, and is the DCCW President.