Within six months of our formation, the Society for Eucharistic Adoration presented the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in January, 1994, with a proposal for a Eucharistic Year and an Encyclical on the Eucharist. This request was supported by letters from many sections of the Church including His Eminence Cardinal O'Connor, Archbishop of New York; Most Rev. BJ Hickey, Archbishop of Perth, Australia; Bishop Manning, Bishop of Armidale, Australia; Abbot Donal McGlynn, Cistercian Abbey, Scotland; Mother Teresa of Calcutta; Tyburn Convent, London; Christendom College, Virginia, USA; Helen Hull Hitchcock, Women for Faith and Family, St. Louis MO, USA.
This proposal had the support of Pope John Paul II. He proclaimed the year 2000 as the Great Jubilee Eucharistic Year and published the Encyclical 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' in 2003.
In June 2000, some of our members had the great privilege of attending the 47th International Eucharistic Congress in Rome for the Great Jubilee Eucharistic Year 2000. The Congress was solemnly opened by Pope John Paul II.
Throughout the
week-long festivities, there were liturgical celebrations and public
catechetical sessions. Many of the parish churches in Rome were open for
extended hours of adoration with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
At the height of the Eucharistic Congress was the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Body and Blood of Christ, celebrated in the Vatican City on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday. This was an unforgettable experience for our members and for all who attended. Mass was celebrated in the Square of the Basilica of St John Lateran by the Holy Father, with 38 Cardinals, over 200 Bishops, more than 1,000 priests and thousands of faithful from all over the world.
With an estimated 80,000 others, our members took part in the solemn Procession of the Blessed Sacrament from St John Lateran to the Basilica of St Mary Major as we carried lighted candles, sang hymns and praises in various languages. In the shops and residential windows, red sanctuary candles flickered brightly and people stood respectfully as the Blessed Sacrament passed by.
The Eucharistic Congress provided a spectacular opportunity for our members and for thousands of faithful Catholics from all over the world to give witness to their belief and love for the Eucharistic Lord. Many of them filed devoutly through the Holy Doors at the major basilica in Rome, winning Jubilee graces and plenary indulgences for themselves and their deceased relatives and friends.
Throughout the eight days of the Congress, there were Masses attended by participants, daily discourses by various Cardinals, testimonies by priests and lay people, and all day/all night adoration in the churches of Guadalajara. On Monday October 11th, delegates from all continents, including Australia's Archbishop Hickey, gave a report on Eucharistic Faith in their own land. On Thursday October 14th, the Eucharistic Procession through the streets of Guadalajara drew 1.5 million people. During the Procession there was continuous loud and exuberant praise of the Eucharistic Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Amidst cries of “Viva Cristo Rey!” (Long live Christ the King!”), “Long live Christ in the Most Holy Sacrament”.and “Viva!”, the Australians walked in procession, feeling tremendously proud to be Catholics taking part in this public celebration honouring our Eucharistic King.
At a Youth Gathering on Saturday October 16th, more than 25,000 young people attended Mass, followed by all night adoration of the Blessed Eucharist. This enormous gathering of young Mexicans was characterised by a joyful love and a desire to witness to the marvellous presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.
At the closing Mass of the Congress on Sunday October 17th, attended by 85,000 people, the Holy Father was present by satellite from St Peter’s Basilica in Rome. During Benediction, the Holy Father gave a short but extremely moving homily. He also announced Quebec, Canada, as the venue for the next International Eucharistic Congress, to be held in 2008.
On October 19th Cardinal Jozef Tomko, the papal legate to the International Eucharistic Congress, presented seven recommendations for the living of the Eucharistic Year:
1. Emphasize the importance of Sunday Mass.
2. Emphasize the feast and procession of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of Christ).
3. Emphasize Eucharistic adoration in all its forms, including nocturnal adoration.
4. Emphasize the importance of frequent and worthy Communion, coupled with the sacrament of reconciliation.
5. Encourage the spirit of mission, which stems from the Eucharist.
6. Share one's table and Mass with the poor, in the service of charity. Combine spiritual commitment with the need of the poor.
7. Renew faith, sacrifice, communion and service in the Eucharist, as a sign for the Catholic Church and the world.
Those who attended the Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara can truly say: “We have seen Your Face, Lord!” The face of the Lord in Mexico is incarnated in a vibrant, living Church, full of faith, hope and love.