Catholic Church

What You’re Probably Missing About The Eucharist

/ chicoinematt

By: Edalat Hope from Virtue Books

In 2019, the Catholic world was shaken to its core.

A study found that the majority of Catholics believed that the Eucharist was just a symbol. Despite there being errors in the research, the warning bells were loud enough. And the Church took notice.

Since then, we’ve seen something beautiful flourish. Last year, the National Eucharistic Congress was held in the United States. Eucharistic processions happened around the world. And here in Sydney, our Archbishop is leading a procession expected to draw over 20,000 people.

This is amazing progress. But even still…

We’re still missing something.

The early Church had such a rich and beautiful belief about the Eucharist. It was deeper, more transformative, and more profound than what many people hold to. Yet today, much of it has been forgotten by us. 

A true ‘Eucharistic Revival’ must revive this truth. And that is what we want to do today.

The Eucharist Is Love Himself

To understand Jesus in the Eucharist, you have to understand who God really is.

Scripture gives us two big claims;

  1. “God is Triune.” 
  2. “God is Love.” 

These two claims baffle many Christians. Personally, it took me years to understand what it meant. But once I did, the Eucharist made a lot more sense. 

Here’s what I realised; if you think about love, what do you need for it to exist? 

Well, obviously you need a lover. But this lover needs someone to also adore, ‘the beloved’. And then both of them can love each other deeply. 

God is like this.

  • The Father is the Lover. 
  • The Son is the Beloved. 
  • The Holy Spirit is the Love between them.

Yet, they all fully possess the same nature.

This Eucharist that you are receiving isn’t just Jesus. It’s Love Himself. And when you receive it worthily, you are swept up into this divine exchange of love.

A Mystery Lost in Translation

But for us English speakers we run into a problem.

Our language is inadequate. We say we ‘love’ chocolate, our friends, and God, we are all using the same word. To the Greek New Testament writers, that would have been unthinkable.

The Gospel writers use a very specific type of love when talking about God:

Agape.

Agape is not just love. But it is a total, sacrificial, self-emptying love. The kind of love that doesn’t hold anything back. 

This is the love God is.

You see this love most clearly on the cross. And we can also see that in the Eucharist.

“This is my body, given for you.” (Luke 22:19)

“My blood, which is poured out for you.” (Luke 22:20)

The Eucharist is more than simply a ritual. It’s Jesus pouring himself out specifically for you.

You Are What You Eat

Many Catholics just stop at level one:

“Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.”

Whilst that’s true, for the early Church there was more to it than just that. It was about transformation. It was about becoming like God. A process they called theosis.

When you receive the host, you’re not just receiving Christ. Christ is receiving you. You are giving yourselves to each other. 

This is the self-sacrificial love that I was talking about before. And the more we partake in this love, the more we become like the God who is Love itself. We become like cleaned mirrors that clearly reflect the likeness of God. (Gen 1:26)

This is the very point of the Eucharist… and even the Incarnation. The great St Athanasius went as far as to say that “God became man so that Man might become like God.”

The Eucharist is something that consumes you with God’s love. And there is no one who knew any of this better than St Ignatius of Antioch.

The Man Who Became the Eucharist

St Ignatius of Antioch was one of the most famous and earliest Christians. As a bishop, he couldn’t stand when people said that the Eucharist was just symbolic. 

“They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins… They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans 6:2–7:1).

This is what many faithful Catholics agree with and even use in apologetics.

However, St Ignatius of Antioch’s love for the Eucharist doesn’t end there. In the year 107 AD, he was arrested for his faith and sent to Rome to be massacred. 

Honestly, what the Romans did to St Ignatius should send shivers down your spine. But he wasn’t paralysed by fear. He knew that he would eventually be torn to pieces by hungry lions and… looked forward to it.

It wasn’t because he hated life. But because Christ had offered himself, and this was Ignatius’ opportunity to love him in return. This was a masterclass in theosis.

He became like the Eucharist.

“Suffer me to be the food of wild beasts, which are the means of my making my way to God. God’s wheat I am, and by the teeth of wild beasts I am to be ground that I may prove Christ’s pure bread.” (St. Ignatius, Epistle to the Romans 4.1)

This is what the Eucharist received well does to you. It fills you with a love so deep that not even death can overcome it. St Ignatius’ love is beautiful and an example to us all, but you’re probably thinking…

What about us now?

There aren’t too many lions in the US or Australia. And martyrdom isn’t that common anymore. But that doesn’t mean you’re off the hook.

The Eucharist still calls you to the same love. To become a living sacrifice, even in your everyday life. 

“Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.” (Romans 12:1)

There are millions of ways to live this out. But here are just a few ideas to get you started

  • Work with diligence 
  • Choose to forgive and offer your resentment to God
  • Pray with your whole heart
  • Offer your Sundays to God
  • Practice a consecration to St Joseph or Mary (or even both!)
  • Give some of your time, money, and talents to charity and the Church
  • Discern whether religious life (eg. being a nun or priest) is worthwhile for you
  • Be honest with people about your failings
  • Go to Confession and offer your sins to God

In short, give everything to God and hold nothing back. You were made to be a total self-gift.

This Corpus Christi, when you march down in the procession, be proud. Be proud that our Eucharistic Lord gives himself wholly to you. But also be proud that God allows you to offer yourself to him.

And in the end, you can truly be called a “good and faithful servant”. (Matt 25:23)

References and Further Study

Augustine. “On the Trinity”. Augustine: On the Trinity: On the Trinity Books 8-15. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2008

Ignatius of Antioch. “The Epistles of St Ignatius of Antioch”. The Epistles of St Clement of Rome and St Ignatius of Antioch. New Jersey, Paulist Press International, 1946

“Wasting Your Life”. Fulton Sheen: Family Retreat, hosted by Ven. Fulton Sheen.

“Something’s Missing from the Eucharistic Revival” Youtube, uploaded by Breaking In The Habit, 17 Jan. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHBSVJPPyrs

Smith, G.A, “Just one-third of U.S. Catholics agree with their church that Eucharist is body, blood of Christ.” 5 Aug. 2019, https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/08/05/transubstantiation-eucharist-u-s-catholics/

McKeown, J., “New study suggests more than two-thirds of Catholics believe the Eucharist is truly Jesus.” https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258013/new-study-suggests-more-than-two-thirds-of-catholics-believe-the-eucharist-is-truly-jesus

About Our Guest Blogger

Edalat Hope is a Catholic blog writer for ‘Virtue Books and Gifts’, an apostolate dedicated to deepening the love of God across Australia and beyond. His aim is to help make accessible the classic spiritual works and practices that have formed saints for generations. https://www.virtuebooks.com.au

Thank you for sharing!

A 949 Word Interview with an Ambrosian Rite Catholic

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed @churchofambrose from Instagram via phone call on April 11th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.

Tell me about your faith journey.

I was born and raised Catholic. During my teenage years I became lukewarm, I moved to university and during the initial years my faith struggled. Slowly, but surely the Lord called me back to the faith in a deeper way. I was fundamentally unhappy for a while before I found God again. I want people to experience it.

The Ambrosian Rite is largely unknown outside of Milan. It is a local church, there’s practically one diocese (Milan). 

The Ambrosian Rite dates back to at least the 4th century with connections to St. Ambrose himself. What sparked your passion for preserving this ancient liturgical tradition through digitization?

I think the Ambrosian Rite is one of the most unique rites. It is very intrinsic in our culture. This rite starts from (most likely) the old Roman Rite. Bl. Cardinal Schuster (1880-1954) said that Saint Ambrose took the rite from Rome and slightly modified it. This is probably only partially true, however the Ambrosian Rite is the oldest Western Rite still alive today. Our Lent is the same Lent that Gregory the Great would have followed. It’s so interesting and cool that this rite is preserved. This is how Saints Augustine and Ambrose followed. It feels like I’m going back centuries; it’s very inspiring.

(For example during the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays of Lent, instead of the “Gloria” we sing the “Divinae Pacis”. This chant is older than the edict of Milan (313 AD))

For readers unfamiliar with the Ambrosian Rite, what are the most distinctive elements that set it apart from the more familiar Roman Rite celebrated in most Catholic churches?

In general the thing that people notice the most is the thurible. In the Roman Rite there’s a cap on top of it. We don’t have a cap on it and it’s spun in a 360 degree motion. It is spun to form the shape of the cross.

(At the start of the Mass the altar is incensed. You can remove this and add the text at the bottom)
(Another particular difference, is the incensation of the Tabernacle which is done kneeling at the start of every High Mass.)

The other thing people notice is the chants. It’s very hard to explain, it’s just very different.

(The ambrosian chants were introduced by Saint Ambrose himself in the 4th century. For the first time in the Church’s history, non-psalmic hymns were included in liturgical celebrations. Ambrose, personally composed many hymns, including “Aeterne rerum conditor”, “Deus creator omnium”, “Iam surgit hora tertia”, and “Intende qui regis Israel”. The most famous hymn is obviously the “Te Deum”, which was composed together with Saint Augustine after Augustine’s baptism. I highly suggest the reader listen to the Ambrosian Version of the “Te Deum”.
Despite the modifications it underwent over the centuries, Ambrosian chant is considered the oldest surviving body of Western liturgical music.)

And the Offertory is done before the Credo (and it is much longer). We have lots of prefaces (one for each day) and some of them are very old and date back to St. Ambrose. 

(there are other differences but these ones are the most noticed by first time visitors)

Your mission focuses on digitizing the Traditional Ambrosian Rite. What are the greatest challenges you’ve faced in translating manuscripts and liturgical books that are many centuries old into accessible digital formats?

The Ambrosian Rite was heavily attacked from its beginning. Most of the original manuscripts are gone. When it comes to more recent things, I have been looking for breviaries and missals. It is very difficult to find these items. There are subtle differences that are easy to miss. It is difficult to find where things originated from. 

The Ambrosian liturgical calendar has some fascinating differences, including six Sundays of Advent rather than four. Which seasonal celebrations in the Ambrosian tradition do you find most spiritually enriching?

Our Ordinary Time is limited compared to the Roman Rite. It is only during a few weeks of the year, and differences in color. We have a different hue of purple (morello). During the Lenten period we use black during the weekdays because it’s also a penitential color not just for mourning. Saturday and Sundays are less penitential during Lent, so morello is used.

(Red is the Eucharistic color instead of the Roman Rite white, so the feast of the Corpus Domini (Corpus Christi in the Roman Rite) is in Red not white in the Ambrosian rite)

Who are saints particularly honored in the Ambrosian Rite?

Ambrose (of course being our Rite’s namesake). 

Charles Borromeo is our second patron saint. He is the one who reformed the Archbishop of Milan. He had a huge role in the Council of Trent. In Milan he was the first one to create a seminary. He is also the patron saint of seminaries. 

We care about our bishops and martyrs. In the Eucharist Prayer we ask for intercession for most of the archbishops and martyrs.

(I’ll send a picture of the Comunicantes with the Ambrosian Saints and Martyrs)

Looking to the future, how do you see traditional liturgical forms like the Ambrosian Rite contributing to the spiritual renewal of the Church in an increasingly digital age?

I’m noticing many young people are more interested in the traditional liturgies. The church where I attend is always full. You might find a seat if you go five minutes early, but not likely. There’s a huge emphasis on the parish. It’s kind of like the dynamic between the Traditional Latin Rite Mass and the Novus Ordo Mass (in the Roman Rite).

Where can my audience find more of your work?
On my Instagram page @churchofambrose.

Thank you for sharing!

The Church’s Birthday: What Pentecost Teaches Us About the Holy Spirit

/ chicoinematt

Every year, fifty days after Easter, the Church throws a birthday party of sorts. But this isn’t the kind of birthday where you blow out candles or awkwardly sing “Happy Birthday.” Pentecost marks something far more profound: the moment the Church was born through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Pentecost

The Upper Room: Where It All Began

Imagine the scene. The Apostles and Mary are gathered together in the Upper Room. They’re praying, waiting, wondering what comes next. Jesus had promised them a Helper—the Holy Spirit—but they probably didn’t fully grasp what that meant. Then, suddenly, a mighty wind fills the room, tongues of fire descend, and everything changes (Acts 2:1-4).

This wasn’t some private mystical experience. The Spirit’s arrival empowered the Apostles to speak in different languages, proclaiming the Gospel to people from every corner of the known world. What began as a small, frightened group of disciples instantly became a bold, Spirit-filled Church ready to take the Good News to the ends of the earth.

Pentecost: The Anti-Babel

To understand the full meaning of Pentecost, it helps to look backward—all the way to the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11). At Babel, humanity’s pride led them to build a tower to heaven, thinking they could reach God on their own terms. God confused their language, scattering them across the earth.

Pentecost reverses Babel. Instead of division, we see unity. Instead of prideful self-reliance, we witness humble reception of God’s gift. The Holy Spirit unites people of every nation, not by erasing their differences, but by enabling them to hear and understand the Gospel in their own language. Everything at Pentecost points back to this truth: all good things—especially unity—come from God.

The Church’s Distinguishing Marks Revealed

Pentecost gives us the Church’s “baby picture.” Even in her earliest moments, we can see her essential features.

  • Charismatic: The Church is filled with the Holy Spirit’s gifts. Tongues, preaching, healing—all flow from the Spirit’s power.
  • Trinitarian: The Spirit’s descent reveals the full work of the Trinity—sent by the Father and the Son (Acts 2:33-36).
  • Marian: Mary is present at Pentecost, just as she was present at Jesus’ conception. The Spirit overshadows both Mary and the Church, birthing Christ and His Body.
  • Apostolic and Petrine: The Apostles, led by Peter, proclaim the first great homily of the Church, explaining how Christ fulfills the Scriptures. Peter’s leadership demonstrates his unique role (Matthew 16:17-20).
  • Sacramental: Peter calls the people to repent and be baptized, receiving forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39).
  • Catholic: Though the first converts were Jews, they came from every nation, foreshadowing the Church’s universal mission.

Always in a Situation of Pentecost

Pentecost isn’t simply a historical event to be remembered; it’s the Church’s ongoing reality. Saint John Paul II captured this beautifully: “The Church of Christ is always, so to speak, in a situation of Pentecost: she is always gathered in the Upper Room in prayer, and at the same time, driven by the powerful wind of the Spirit, she is always on the streets preaching” (June 8, 2003).

The same Spirit that empowered Peter and the Apostles is alive and active today. The Church’s mission continues, proclaiming Christ to every nation and generation. Even now, the Holy Spirit unites us across languages, cultures, and continents as one Body in Christ.

Pentecost, Holiness, and Mission

Saint Pope John Paul II often spoke of how holiness fuels mission. The Spirit doesn’t just empower us to preach; He sanctifies us to live holy lives. As John Paul II said, each saint is “a masterpiece of the Holy Spirit.” Holiness isn’t a luxury for a select few but the ordinary path of every Christian, made possible by the Spirit working in us.

This holiness starts in prayer, continues in the sacraments, and grows through charity and humility. As the Holy Spirit moves us closer to Christ, our witness naturally overflows into mission, just as it did for the Apostles on Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit: The Hidden Gift That Makes All Things New

The Holy Spirit remains somewhat mysterious. We cannot see Him, but His effects are undeniable. Like the wind, we hear His movement and feel His presence. He empowers the Church, guides her into truth, convicts hearts, comforts the suffering, and strengthens the weak.

Pentecost reminds us that the Church’s strength never comes from programs, popularity, or human wisdom. It comes from God’s Spirit. What began in the Upper Room now radiates to the entire world—and continues today in every parish, family, and soul open to His presence.

So this Pentecost, as we celebrate the Church’s birthday, may we echo the prayer of Saint John XXIII that John Paul II often repeated:

“O Holy Spirit, Paraclete, perfect in us the work begun by Jesus… Let everything in us be on a grand scale: the search for truth and the devotion to it, and readiness for self-sacrifice, even to the cross and death.”

Come, Holy Spirit, come.

Thank you for sharing!

When Jesus Ascended to Heaven (And Why It Matters to You)

/ chicoinematt

Every year, right around the time you’re just starting to forget what you gave up for Lent, the Church presents us with the glorious mystery of the Ascension of Jesus. It tends to occur quietly—a pivotal event between Easter and Pentecost—and before you know it, Christ has ascended.

But what is the Ascension? And why should a regular Catholic (someone who’s just trying to make it to Sunday Mass without a coffee spill or toddler meltdown) care?

Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense if you’ve ever experienced spiritual dryness, stared into the sky for answers, or just wondered, “Wait—where did Jesus go?”

So… What Is the Ascension?

    Picture the final scene in a superhero movie—but instead of a cape, Jesus has nail marks, and instead of vanishing into space, He ascends bodily into heaven in front of His friends.

    According to Acts 1:9, “He was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight.” That’s it. No fireballs, no angels playing trumpets (yet). Just Jesus, entering into glory, concluding His visible earthly ministry.

    This wasn’t a mere disappearing act, but the completion of His mission. After rising from the dead and spending forty days preparing the disciples, Jesus returned to the Father—not to leave us, but to be with us in a new and profound way.

    The Awkward In-Between

      Let’s be honest: if I saw someone float into the sky, my next move would not be theological reflection. It would probably be asking, “Now what?”

      That’s where the disciples were. For ten days between the Ascension and Pentecost, they were in limbo. Jesus was gone (visibly). The Holy Spirit hadn’t arrived (yet). No wonder they just stood there looking up until an angel basically said, “Why are you staring? He’ll be back.” (Acts 1:11, paraphrased.)

      And maybe you’re in a spiritual “in-between” season too—where God feels distant, prayer feels like a voicemail, and hope feels like something for holier people. But take heart: even the Apostles had to wait.

      Jesus Didn’t Abandon Us (He Elevated Us)

        We tend to think of Jesus’ Ascension as Him “leaving.” But here’s the reality: He didn’t leave to abandon us. He ascended to draw us upward, to elevate our humanity. As the Catechism states, Christ’s humanity entered into divine glory (CCC 659)—and He brought our humanity with Him.

        Jesus didn’t just open the door to heaven; He held it open and propped it with His resurrected body. He is seated at the right hand of the Father—interceding for us, advocating for us, and sending us the gift of grace, the very life of God, like a fountain of divine love.

        What We’ve Got While He’s “Gone”

          Jesus didn’t abandon the Church. He left us tools for the mission:

          • The Eucharist – He may not walk beside us as He did in Galilee, but He’s still with us—body, blood, soul, and divinity—under the humble appearances of bread and wine.
          • The Holy Spirit – The Ascension sets the stage for Pentecost. Jesus says, “It is better for you that I go, so that the Advocate will come to you” (John 16:7). That Advocate? The Holy Spirit, who doesn’t just walk with us—He dwells in us.
          • His Mother – The Apostles didn’t wait alone. Mary was with them, just as she is with us. She’s the one who reminds us to keep praying, offering us her example of faith and interceding on our behalf.

          Why It Matters (a Lot)

          Christ the King meme
          Jesus is the King of the Universe. He sits at the right hand of God the Father.

            The Ascension isn’t just a cool theological event buried in Acts 1. It’s a promise rooted in the Paschal Mystery.

            • That Jesus reigns in glory. (His kingship is not of this world, but transforms our understanding of authority and service.)
            • That we have an intercessor who understands human pain. (He kept His scars.)
            • That our future isn’t down here forever. (Heaven is real—and He’s preparing a place for us.)
            • That the Church has work to do. (“Go and make disciples of all nations”—and perhaps even your neighbor who thinks you’re weird for praying the Rosary.)

            When You Feel Spiritually Stuck Between Clouds

            Prayer
            Pray unceasingly, even when you don’t feel God’s presence.

              If you’re like me, the Ascension might feel less like a mountaintop and more like a foggy plateau. You believe, but it feels dry. You show up to Mass, but you feel… meh. Good news: the Apostles were right there too. And what did they do?

              They prayed. Waiting became their act of faith. In community, they stayed together. And through it all, they trusted that the One who rose and ascended hadn’t left them alone.

              You don’t need to feel extraordinary to be called to holiness. We are all called to holiness, and we strive towards it through God’s grace and our commitment to virtue. You just need to keep looking up—because the same Jesus who ascended will come again in glory.

              TL;DR — The Simple Catholic Version

              Jesus ascended to heaven. Not to ditch us, but to elevate us. He’s still with us—especially in the Eucharist. He sent the Holy Spirit to guide us. He gave us His Mother to encourage us. And He’s coming back. Until then: don’t just stare at the sky. Live as people of faith—because heaven is real.

              Want to go deeper? Crack open Acts 1 and John 14. Or better yet, swing by Adoration. Jesus may have ascended—but He hasn’t left the tabernacle.

              And if you’re feeling stuck in the in-between, you’re not alone. God is with you. Always.

              Thank you for sharing!

              The Legacy Continues: Pope Leo XIV and the Echoes of Leo XIII’s Teachings

              / chicoinematt

              In the storied halls of the Vatican, a new chapter in the Catholic Church’s history began on May 8, 2025. On this historic day, the College of Cardinals elected Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as Pope Leo XIV—the first pope from the United States. His selection of the name “Leo” draws an intentional connection to the papal legacy of Leo XIII, whose influential encyclicals continue to shape Catholic social teaching more than a century later.

              A New Leo 🦁 for Modern Times

              Standing before the faithful in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Leo XIV carried himself with quiet confidence. He blessed the gathered crowd, saying, “Peace be with you all!” in fluent Italian.
              His traditional papal garments hinted at a subtle shift in presentation. Yet he still conveyed the warmth and accessibility of recent pontificates.

              Born in Chicago on September 14, 1955, Pope Leo XIV brings a unique background to the papacy. His journey to the Chair of St. Peter included extensive experience in both North and South America, combining academic credentials with pastoral work across multiple continents. As an Augustinian with a doctorate in canon law from Rome’s Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas, he represents the global nature of today’s Church while maintaining deep connections to traditional Catholic scholarship.

              The new pontiff’s first homily, delivered in the Sistine Chapel on May 9, revealed his theological priorities and pastoral vision. “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” he quoted from Peter’s profession of faith, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in the Church’s mission. He spoke of the Church as “a city set on a hill, an ark of salvation sailing through the waters of history and a beacon that illumines the dark nights of this world.”

              Leo XIII: The Social Teaching Pioneer

              Pope Leo XIII

              The name selection carries particular significance due to the enduring impact of Pope Leo XIII, who served as pontiff from 1878 to 1903. Leo XIII authored the groundbreaking encyclical “Rerum Novarum” (Of New Things) in 1891. This landmark document established the foundation for modern Catholic social teaching.

              Written during the Industrial Revolution, “Rerum Novarum” addressed the conditions of workers and the proper relationship between labor, capital, the Church, and the state. Its principles on human dignity, workers’ rights, and economic justice continue to resonate in contemporary discussions about social equity and economic policy.

              Leo XIII emphasized the inherent dignity of every human being. He wrote, “Every man has by nature the right to possess property of his own.” He supported just wages and dignified working conditions.
              At the same time, he warned against unfettered capitalism and socialism. He articulated the principle of subsidiarity: issues should be handled by the smallest competent authority.
              This principle remains central to Catholic political thought.

              Connecting Two Eras

              What connects these two pontiffs across more than a century is their focus on applying timeless Catholic teachings to contemporary challenges. While Leo XIII confronted the social upheaval of industrialization, Leo XIV faces a world transformed by digital technology, ecological concerns, and profound questions about human identity.

              In his previous role as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Cardinal Prevost emphasized that bishops must “communicate the beauty of the faith, the beauty and joy of knowing Jesus.” This sentiment echoes Leo XIII’s conviction that true social progress must be rooted in Christian life and institutions: “And if human society is to be healed now, in no other way can it be healed save by a return to Christian life and Christian institutions” (Rerum Novarum #27).

              The new pope acknowledges the contemporary context where faith is often dismissed as “absurd, meant for the weak and unintelligent.” “His call for “missionary outreach” addresses places where believers face mockery, opposition, and contempt. The new pope specifically mentions contexts where the faithful are “at best tolerated and pitied.” This approach suggests a pontificate that will actively engage with secular culture rather than retreat from it.”

              The Role of the Papacy

              Jesus gives the keys of authority on faith and morality to Saint Peter (and his successors).

              As the 267th successor to St. Peter, Pope Leo XIV inherits a unique role in global Christianity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the papacy as “the perpetual and visible principle of unity in faith and communion in the Church.” This understanding of papal primacy dates back to Matthew’s Gospel, where Jesus tells Peter, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church” (Matthew 16:18).

              Through centuries of political upheaval, theological disputes, and cultural transformation, the papacy has provided continuity and stability for Catholic teaching. While adapting to changing circumstances, successive popes have maintained core doctrinal positions while developing the Church’s understanding of their application.

              The papacy today functions not only as the spiritual leadership of 1.3 billion Catholics worldwide but also as a significant voice in international diplomacy and humanitarian concerns. Pope Leo XIV’s background in both North and South America positions him uniquely to address global challenges with a perspective informed by experience in both developed and developing regions.

              Looking Forward

              In his first homily, Pope Leo XIV spoke of the need to “move aside so that Christ may remain, to make oneself small so that he may be known and glorified.” This humility suggests a pontificate focused more on witnessing to Christ than on the personality of the pope himself.

              His emphasis on the Church’s missionary character indicates that evangelization will be a priority, continuing the “New Evangelization” initiative championed by his predecessors. At the same time, his invocation of the Church as “an ark of salvation” suggests a commitment to preserving traditional Catholic teaching in an increasingly secular world.

              As Pope Leo XIV begins his pontificate, Catholics worldwide look to him as both a guardian of tradition and a guide for applying that tradition to contemporary challenges. His connection to Leo XIII through his chosen papal name invites reflection on how Catholic social teaching can address today’s social questions with the same moral clarity that Leo XIII brought to the industrial era.

              In a world facing political polarization, technological disruption, and ecological concerns, how effectively Pope Leo XIV communicates ancient wisdom to modern ears may well define his papacy. Through this communication, he continues the legacy of Leo XIII while writing a new chapter in the ongoing story of the Catholic Church.

              Related Resources

              Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum Novarum (1891) – Vatican.va

              Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church – Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace

              Leo XIV is the new Pope – Vatican News

              How Tetherball is Like the Catholic Church – The Simple Catholic

              Thank you for sharing!

              Eucharistic Revival in Ireland: A Movement of Faith

              / chicoinematt

              How is God working in Ireland?

              Our City in Derry in the North of Ireland has suffered. The Derry City Walls built during the 1600s tell a story of British oppression and persecution. During ‘The Troubles’, a period of 30 years from the 1960s to 1998, Derry went through trauma, grief and untold suffering as sectarian violence and feuds were ongoing between paramilitary groups.

              The trauma and suffering did not end with the ‘Good Friday Agreement’ which brought about fragile peace from sectarianism. The people across Derry and the rest of Northern Ireland continue to struggle with PTSD, issues of poverty, despair, mental illness, unemployment, imprisonment, addiction, violence, family breakdown, and suicide. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of suicide in the UK with higher rates among men and the youth.

              It is into this darkness that Jesus chose to come and shine bright.

              The Franciscan Friars: A Ministry of Hope

              The Franciscan friars of the renewal settled in Derry in 2010 and since then they have ministered to the broken rejected and most in need in derry. They offer love, material assistance and a journey into intimacy with God as well as an invitation to find the ultimate joy in knowing that regardless of circumstances we are loved as sons and daughters of God.

              The CFR friars regularly swap about the members of their community within the different friaries. In September 2023 Fr Antonio Maria Diez De Medina CFR was transferred to Derry Northern Ireland from London. In London Fr Antonio had been in active ministry with young adults alive in their faith as well as walking alongside a group called Cenacle Charismatic London led by Ania Graglewska, a Polish lady living in London sharing the joys of her own healing miracle and her love of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

              Seeds of Revival: A Vision for Renewal

              Fr Antonio could see the amazing love the people of Derry have for their faith , the Eucharist, Our Lady and our celebrated Sr Clare Crockett, newly made servant of God. Fr Antonio and his friends from Cenacle London decided to come alongside those in Derry seeking breakthrough for a renewal of the Catholic faith in Ireland.

              Many of us in Derry wanted to be part of raising up Jesus in the most Holy Eucharist as the ONLY solution to all of what our people are suffering. The Franciscan friars of the renewal and a dedicated team of lay people began to step out in faith for something brand new to us. Fr Antonio encouraged us as we got in contact with other CFR friars in America to hear about how massive Eucharistic processions going across the whole of America were bringing about an ‘on fire’ Eucharistic Revival. In particular we connected with Br Damien Novak CFR in Newark New Jersey, Fr Gabriel Kyte CFR in Albuquerque New Mexico and more recently Fr John Anthony Boughton CFR who is the General Servant of the community in the Bronx New York.

              The First Steps: October 2023 Procession

              As we experienced and heard the witness of the friars and others in America talking about life changing experiences in the Eucharistic processions they were part of we found we were catching fire with the same flame of love! The same Eucharistic burning fire of the heart!

              We had our first Eucharistic procession in Derry Ireland in the neighbourhood around the friary on 28th October 2023. This was a direct response to what we felt God wanted to come against the Halloween culture that has developed in our city over the recent decades as people, hurting and hungry for meaning and spirituality, search in pagan Irish shamanism and witchcraft for the solution to their problems. Derry has become so immersed in these alternative spiritualities that it boasts it’s title as Halloween capital of Europe.

              The Eucharistic procession on 28th October 2023 just before Halloween was a cry from Our Lord in the Eucharist and His body of Christ the Catholic faith community in Derry , the Eucharistic beating heart of Jesus , to return to God who Is Love. Our God who has already done all this before us, who has won the battle against sin and death and is offering us Himself, body blood soul and divinity and an invitation to eternal life in Him.

              Breaking Through the City Walls: A Historic Moment

              Jesus is the true Sonlight!

              The Emmaus 2023 neighborhood Eucharistic Procession was a great success. Following this celebration, Fr Antonio and his friends from London met with several local organizers. Together, they planned to create something entirely new for Derry in 2024.

              Human Life International Ireland , Executive Director Patrick McCrystal, and many of the local Derry people felt our Lord wanted the next Eucharistic procession event along with the Cenacle London Charismatic involvement to be a breakthrough for LIFE. Patrick McCrystal held a reception after the procession at a hotel in the city centre. This gave an opportunity for all the teams involved in organising the procession to unite. What was communicated was a sense of joy and overwhelming to tears.

              We knew we were part of something supernatural. We could not process what had just happened. “A breakthrough Eucharistic procession passed through the arches of the Derry city walls – the first in 400 years! Bishop Donal McKeown gave permission for this historic event. The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal led the procession, joined by diocesan priests and seminarians. The Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration from Silverstream Priory and the Home of the Mother Sisters (Sr Clare Crockett’s Order) also participated. Hundreds of lay people completed this momentous gathering.”

              The Impact on the Streets of Derry

              We felt the sense that God was breaking bonds of division and free masonic strongholds. The impact was phenomenal. People were kneeling and crying in the streets, blessing themselves, walking with us. At one point, people sang the Divine Mercy Chaplet as the priest raised the Eucharist high in the town square. Everyone present—including busy shoppers and security guards—knelt in reverence and worship.

              The Effatha ‘be opened’ Eucharistic procession carried deep significance. The people of Derry and their priests gathered to pray for specific intentions. They prayed for hearts to open to God and others. They sought reparation and repentance for humanity’s turn from God and His commandments. They asked God to overcome global forces of fear, evil, lies and sin. They prayed for revival and unity in the Church. They requested an end to human trafficking, abortion, and euthanasia. They sought freedom through the Spirit of Truth. Finally, they prayed for priests to embrace deep Marian and Eucharistic devotion.

              Growing Momentum: From Local to Global

              The Effatha procession in Derry also launched 40 days of perpetual adoration worldwide. The team in London created a website where adorers could sign up for an hour, regardless of time zone or location. It was hugely successful and the graces of the Eucharistic revival were evident all through it. Momentum was building.

              On December 12, 2024, the lay teams, along with the Franciscan friars and the Sisters of the Renewal, organized a Eucharistic procession. It took place in their neighborhood in Derry to honor Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patroness of their community. This procession attracted huge attention and support and was filmed by EWTN. Many school children of all ages came out to join us as the procession passed the school yards. Some of the older students passed out roses and miraculous medals to people passing in cars and on the walkways. Again we witness families and the elderly in their gardens some with tears streaming down their faces kneeling and blessing themselves.

              St. Brigid’s Cloak: A Global Revival Begins

              Before plans for the December 12, 2024, Eucharistic procession had even begun, the teams received in prayer that Our Lord was calling for something greater. He was placing it on their hearts to organize an even bigger, wider-reaching Eucharistic procession in 2025. It would take place on the feast of St. Brigid, Saturday, February 1—one of Ireland’s most significant days. St. Brigid, along with St. Patrick, is a beloved patron saint of Ireland.

              One young man on the team, devoted to Our Lady, felt she was asking for a simultaneous Eucharistic procession in Medjugorje. The idea was powerful: the same day, the same time. As soon as the announcement was made, it went viral.

              Fr. Leon and his team in Medjugorje responded immediately with a heartfelt “yes.” In unity and agreement, they embraced the call. Tears flowed, emotions ran high, and the Holy Spirit moved powerfully as people around the world said yes.

              Suddenly, people from all over the world began reaching out. They wanted to unite with us by holding their own Eucharistic processions. We quickly realized St. Brigid was interceding for us!

              She once asked the King of Ireland for all the land where she spread her cloak. He agreed, and miraculously, her cloak covered the entire country. This sparked a great revival and a return to the faith in Ireland around 500 AD.

              United in Prayer: A Worldwide Movement

              Most recently we got news that Fr George Stewart a priest in the Bronx New York is leading a Eucharistic Procession to unite with us. We also just heard about 3 Eucharistic processions that will be happening in Dublin and converging at the Radio Maria studios as well as another procession in Manchester England with the Men of St Joseph.

              The Eucharistic revival has sparked another beautiful development. Communities have stepped forward to offer 24-hour adoration with prayers of intercession during the feast of St Brigid on February 1st, 2024. Fr Gerry Campbell and ‘The 12’ in Knockbridge, County Louth, Ireland, joined this initiative. Craig Lodge House of Prayer in Argyll, Scotland, also participated. Both communities conducted 24-hour worship and adoration. Together, they united in prayer for worldwide Eucharistic Revival.

              Looking Forward: A Call to Action

              The Eucharistic Processions, adoration and pilgrimages of coach loads of people coming from all around is snowballing!

              On February 1st, hundreds of school children will lead the faithful behind priests carrying the Eucharist in procession. The participants will pray for these intentions: that world governments recognize Jesus Christ as King, that abortion, euthanasia, war and other threats to human life end, that families heal from sin, division, addiction and suicide, that the Immaculate Heart of Mary triumph, that global elite agendas and healthcare dictatorships yield to the tranquility of God’s order, and that the Holy Spirit pours out a new Pentecost of hope during the Jubilee Year 2025.

              We are seeing mighty miracles in our midst. Please get involved! This is a Eucharistic Revival! Jesus is coming for His people!

              About our guest writer:

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              Re-Gaining a Sense of Voyage in Life

              / chicoinematt

              Editor’s Note: Article originally published on October 18, 2018.

              As a child I had a fascination with maps, geography, and the idea of being on a quest. My favorite books to read as a kid included the famous Greek epic The Odyssey and the Redwall Series by English author Brian Jacques. Both included a sense of adventure whereby the main character(s) trekked across dangerous terrain and met obstacles to overcome (external and internal struggles) before arriving at their destination towards the end of the story. The word odyssey means journey, pilgrimage, or trek.

              As a father of four [one is in utero!], I am able to reacquaint myself with the sense of life as a voyage. Frequently, I lose sight of reality as the flood of daily temptations, confusion, and struggles assail me. My 5-year-old daughter definitely got her penchant for atlases from me. Almost every day, she asks me, “Daddy! Can you please get me paper and markers for me to make a map?!” Cartography reigns supreme in my household—especially on rainy days!

              Life is a Journey

              The other day I read an article online that referenced the importance of returning to a sense of voyage. A quote from St. Thérèse of Lisieux stuck in my mind after I went on with the rest of my day. The Doctor of the Church wrote, “The symbol of a ship always delights me and helps me to bear the exile of this life.”

              Her words convey a truth that something about sea travel points to a higher reality. Perhaps it is because we named our child Noah, named after the Old Testament figure who crafted the ark, that I tend to have boats on the mind—at least subconsciously. Or maybe, there is something innate in each of us that desires the continual movement that travel affords us. St. Augustine famously declared, “Our hearts are restless, until they rest in you [God].”

              Here is a well-written and easy to understand article on the connection between Noah’s Ark and its prefiguring of the Catholic Church: Ten Ways Noah’s Ark Prefigured the Church. Just as the giant boat housed the holy individuals of Noah and his family, so too, does the Catholic Church safeguard individuals striving for holiness against the dangers of the deluge of temptations!

              Catholic Church is New Ark

              Hope on the Heavenly Horizon

              Another important point that stands out regarding the maritime theme is that life is bearable when we look to the Promised Land—Heaven—as our destination. When times get tough, during the turbulence of life we look beyond our vehicle, and outside of ourselves toward the horizon—toward the rising of the Sun [Son]!

              Every quest involves dead-ends, treacherous terrain, and wild beasts [physical and/or spiritual]. Fellowship is essential for any journey—just ask Frodo the Hobbit!

              Knowing life is a voyage helped remind me I’m not alone in the journey. God send you helpmates along the way!

              Family. Friends. Saints.

              When life gets your down and despair sets in, please be reminded that you still have a road ahead. You have the ability to pick the road on this pilgrimage of life. Make life more joyful by following the witnesses of the holy ones before us!

              Related Links

              An Unexpected Journey- How September 21st, 2017 Became the New Start to My Spiritual Life

              3 Lessons from St. Therese of Liseux—Changing Lives One Day at a Time

              Why Jesus is the true Noah and how his cross is the new “ark”

              P.S. Congratulations on finishing your latest (reading) voyage!

              If you enjoyed learning about Saint Thérèse or simply want to learn more about the journey of Catholic life become an email subscriber. Enter your email address in the Subscribe to Blog Via Email box and hit the Subscribe button. It’s that easy! Soon you will be receiving cool, inspiring, and orthodox Catholic content in your inbox.

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