Holy Spirit

Reflections on the National Eucharistic Congress: Faith, Healing, and Revival

/ chicoinematt

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Over 50k Catholics were in attendance across the United States. Eucharistic Adoration, daily Mass and a line-up of speakers headed by Fr. Mike Schmitz and Bishop Robert Barron were the highlights (but to be honest the entire week was a highlight).

The experience was truly transformative, filled with moments of profound joy and palpable movements of the Holy Spirit. As I reflect on those days, I’d like to share some of the most impactful insights I gained.

The Joy of Christian Community

One of the first things that struck me was the overwhelming sense of joy that permeated the entire event. As I sat in the conference hall during supper, I couldn’t help but notice the many small groups of two or three people scattered throughout the room. In those moments, I felt certain that Jesus was present among them, fulfilling His promise: “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20).

A Powerful Encounter

While waiting in line for the Eucharistic Miracles exhibit (a popular attraction with over an hour and a half wait), I had a life-changing encounter. I met Emilio, a gentleman from California, whose story deeply moved me. Emilio shared how he had been involved in gang activity from a young age and had even taken a life at 22, resulting in a life sentence. Eventually, a combination of legal changes and Emilio’s profound spiritual transformation led to his release.

Emilio and I waiting in line to see the Eucharistic Miracles Exhibit.

His journey of repentance and renewal in prison led him to give his life to Jesus. Emilio’s wife, who accompanied him, emphasized that she felt the Eucharistic Congress was specifically for him. This reminded me that while we were blessed to attend, the Eucharistic Revival is for all baptized Catholics – we are all called to share the Gospel and live sacramentally.

The Power of Jesus’ Name

Another powerful realization came during Dr. Mary Healy’s talk on healing and prayer. The healing service she conducted with Fr. Mathias Thelen felt biblical in its intensity, reminiscent of Jesus’ own ministry. During this service, I experienced firsthand the power of prayer and the name of Jesus.

Jesus is Lord. 🍞🍷✝️🙏

Despite initial doubts about whether my relatively minor headache was worthy of divine intervention, I prayed, “Lord, help my unbelief” – echoing the father in Mark 9:24. To my amazement, as the service concluded, I realized my headache had disappeared. This experience reinforced the truth that Jesus has the power to heal us physically, mentally, and spiritually – just as He did in biblical times. Jesus is the Divine Physician and He desires to heal all our wounds.

The Importance of Repentance

A recurring theme throughout the Congress was the significance of repentance. According to Fr. Mike Schmitz, “If this is going to be a revival, if it’s going to be a real revival, here’s the reality. In the history of Christianity, you can never have a revival without repentance.”

To fully receive the graces available in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we must approach it with hearts open to God’s mercy. But this mercy is not forced upon us. We have to repent of our sins. The Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it this way, “Jesus calls to conversion. This call is an essential part of the proclamation of the kingdom: ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (CCC 1427).

This emphasis on repentance serves as a powerful reminder of our continual need for God’s mercy and our call to ongoing conversion.

Go Forth and Preach the Gospel

The National Eucharistic Congress was a profound reminder of the living presence of Christ in our midst, particularly in the Eucharist. It reinforced the power of community, the importance of personal testimony, the reality of divine healing, and the necessity of repentance in our spiritual lives.

As we move forward in this Eucharistic Revival, may we all be renewed in our commitment to Christ, open to His healing power, and ready to share His love with the world. The revival is not just for those who attended the Congress – it’s for every baptized Catholic. We are all called to live out our faith in a sacramental way, drawing strength from the Eucharist and sharing the Good News with those around us. I will see you all in the Eucharist!

Share Your Eucharistic Encounter

These testimonials offer just a glimpse of the countless ways Jesus touched hearts during the Congress. If you attended the National Eucharistic Congress, I invite you to continue this chain of witness:

Take a moment to reflect on your experience. How did you encounter Jesus during the Congress? What moment stands out as particularly meaningful or transformative?

I encourage you to write a short paragraph (100-200 words) sharing your personal encounter with Jesus at the Congress. You might consider:

  1. A specific event or talk that moved you
  2. A moment of prayer or adoration that was especially powerful
  3. An unexpected encounter or conversation that touched your heart
  4. How the Congress has changed your perspective on the Eucharist
Thank you for sharing!

Selected Quotes from Saint Athanasius—the Hammer of Orthodoxy

/ chicoinematt

According to Marvel Comics lore, Thor’s weapon Mjolnir is a hammer that is only able to be wielded by the worthiest of superheroes. In fact, throughout the origin story of Thor he initially is not able to brandish this weapon due to his arrogance.  It took the courage to put others before himself and subordinate his selfish desires before Thor was able to pick up Mjolnir and adequately defend his planet.

mjolnir

Saints are Real-Life Superheroes

While the story of Thor is ultimately fiction, it contains kernels of truth. People with strong character and resolve in the face of adversity may be able to wield immense power with grace. “With great power comes great responsibility!” Ben Parker told his nephew Peter Parker—the Amazing Spiderman. Along with my passion for comic books and superheroes, my Catholic faith is shaping influence on my life. Saints act as exemplary witnesses to truth, honor, and self-sacrificing love.

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Pope Francis said, “The Lord asks everything of us, and in return he offers us true life, the happiness for which we were created. He wants us to be saints and not to settle for a bland and mediocre existence” (GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE #1). We do not have to rely on a mythological hammer to receive strength. Instead let us be reminded by the words of St. Paul in Ephesians 6:10-11, “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. 11Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil.”

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Saint Pope John Paul II once declared, “I plead with you–never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.” This statement encapsulates those who pursue heroic virtue! True heroes never go up–no matter the odds stacked against them!

Enter Athanasius― The Hammer of Orthodoxy

Among the greatest heroes of the Christian faith is Saint Athanasius. St. Athanasius, as bishop of Alexandria, actively led the Catholic Church in the 4th century A.D against the sinister and alluring heresy of Arianism. He earned the nickname “Father of Orthodoxy” for unifying efforts, despite frequent death threats and enduring five exiles. Whenever I face stormy seasons in my life, Athanasius provides me with hope. He actively demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit through his timeless and ever-relevant writings, particularly in his work On the Incarnation of the Word.

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Below I compiled a short list of my favorite Athanasian aphorisms from the “Hammer of Orthodoxy” as I like to refer to this intrepid saint. May his wisdom embolden you to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the fullest!

“The Son of God became man so that we might become God.”

“One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life.”

“For the Lord touched all parts of creation, and freed and undeceived them all from every deceit.”

“Death has become like a tyrant who has been completely conquered by the legitimate monarch; bound hand and foot the passers-by sneer at him, hitting him and abusing him, no longer afraid of his cruelty and rage, because of the king who has conquered him. So has death been conquered”

And Even More Athanasian Quotes 😊

“There were thus two things which the Savior did for us by becoming Man. He banished death from us and made us anew; and, invisible and imperceptible as in Himself He is, He became visible through His works and revealed Himself as the Word of the Father, the Ruler and King of the whole creation.”

“Surely it would have been better never to have been created at all than, having been created, to be neglected and perish; and, besides that, such indifference to the ruin of His own work before His very eyes would argue not goodness in God but limitation, and that far more than if He had never created men at all. It was impossible, therefore, that God should leave man to be carried off by corruption, because it would be unfitting and unworthy of Himself.”

“Let them know that the Lord came not to make a display, but to heal and teach those who were suffering. For the way for one aiming at display would be, just to appear, and to dazzle the beholders; but for one seeking to heal and teach the way is, not simply to sojourn here, but to give himself to the aid of those in want…”

“For of what use is existence to the creature if it cannot know its Maker?”

Related Links

3 Reasons Why St. Athanasius is My Favorite Saint!

Saint Athanasius – The Father of Orthodoxy

St. Athanasius: The Father of Orthodoxy (Biography)

Thank you for sharing!

What Exactly Does Jesus Mean in John 14:12?

/ chicoinematt

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on May 22, 2017.

I was sitting in the pew of Saint Lambert’s Catholic Church listening to our priest deliver the Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of Easter—this is rare since I am usually out in the hallway with my finicky 1 year old! —when I noticed a strange verse in the reading. St. John quotes Jesus as saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12 New American Bible). Throughout the rest of that Mass and every day since I have pondered Jesus’ meaning. Today I want to share some of my thoughts on how I interpreted this peculiar passage!

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Greater in Quantity Not Quality

According to the dictionary, the word greater is defined as large in number, notable, highly significant, and distinguished to name a few definitions. I want to highlight the first definition—large in number. It makes senses for the works of Christians done in Jesus’ name to be larger than Christ’s miraculous deeds done on Earth simply because 33 years is significantly shorter than the over 2,000 years in Church history. It is also important to read verse 12 in context with the rest of the passage.

Immediately following Jesus’ odd statement in John 14:12, he talks about the sending of the Holy Spirit after he ascends to the Father. Jesus declared, ““If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate* to be with you always, 17 the Spirit of truth,* which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it. But you know it, because it remains with you, and will be in you (John 14:15-17 NAB). It is through cooperation with the Third Person of the Holy Trinity that Apostles and saints are graced through the ages to produce miraculous works.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit= Distinct but Equally God

God is ultimately above humanity’s total comprehension. St. Thomas says that man must have a certain type of agnosticism about the full knowledge of God. According to John Courtney Murray in The Problem of God, “In the end, our presence to him, which is real, is a presence to the unknown; ‘to him we are united as to one unknown,’ says Aquinas (p. 71).  Because of this ineffable complete understanding of God, it makes sense that some peculiar and seemingly paradoxical passages in the Scriptures exist.

John may have struggled with how to properly describe the relationship of the Trinity. He might even have shared similar questions as myself. However, despite this struggle, as a Catholic I believe John to be a trustworthy firsthand witness to the teaching of Jesus.

John makes it crystal clear in his prologue to his Gospel that though the Persons of the Trinity as Distinct they are equally God. Knowing this religious truth, when I go back to read John 14:12 I know that Jesus cannot possibly mean the works done by the Holy Spirit as greater than His works since the Son and the Holy Spirit are equally God!

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Think about the Holy Trinity

Now the feast of the Holy Trinity (my favorite liturgical feast 😊) is arriving soon, and I hope to be sharing more of my thoughts and reflections on the mystery of the Holy Trinity leading up to that Sunday. Until then, I will leave you to ponder Jesus’ mysterious words again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father”.  

May we all be grateful for the gifts of knowledge and understanding given to us by the Holy Spirit and pray for a deepening of these gifts especially as we draw nearer to the Feast of the Holy Trinity

Related Links

Reflections on the Most Holy Trinity

3 Things about the Holy Trinity I Learned from Elementary Students

Toddlers: An Adorable Trace of the Trinity!

Catholic Doctrine on the Holy Trinity

The Glory of the Most Holy Trinity: ROMAN CATHOLIC SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

Thank you for sharing!

Passing on the Faith: A Micro-Moment of Evangelization in the Domestic Church

/ chicoinematt / 1 Comment

How do you pass on the faith to the next generation?

Here’s a glimpse at a micro-moment of evangelization:

Found this pamphlet on the Eucharist in the girls’ room.

My older daughter is headstrong and can test my patience daily. But her same tenacity is also a strength— she truly cares.

She loves reading booklets or following along the worship book at Mass. One reason is because she always needs something to hold or fidget with (flipping pages of a book is soothing ).

Another reason is I think having her “own” booklet makes her feel like she can participate more and have more of a say.

The Holy Spirit does work in mysterious ways:

I have a Master’s Degree in Theology and have been writing about our faith for almost a decade. But in order to teach my kids about the faith, the Spirit prompts me with simpler avenues.

✝️ Answering questions during Mass

✝️ Taking them to the local Catholic store occasionally

✝️ Praying before meals and before bedtime

✝️ Having holy images throughout our home

The Home is a Domestic Church

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph #2685, “The Christian family is the first place of education in prayer. Based on the sacrament of marriage, the family is the ‘domestic church’ where God’s children learn to pray “as the Church” and to persevere in prayer.”

It doesn’t always have to involve a verbalization of the faith. In fact, I don’t remember my parents ever talking at length about Catholicism. They taught us the faith by their actions and having a loving home environment.

Sometimes just the environment and time are all the Holy Spirit needs to grow the seeds planted at their Baptism.

This isn’t the post I planned on writing today. Yet, God always finds a way to make my plans better than I could imagine myself.

Passing on the faith to the next generation in the domestic church doesn’t always require lengthy theological discussions. Sometimes, it’s the small moments of evangelization, like finding a pamphlet on the Eucharist in your child’s room or answering questions during Mass, that can make the biggest impact.

By creating a loving home environment and incorporating simple faith practices like praying before meals and having holy images throughout the house, we can allow the Holy Spirit to work in mysterious ways and grow the seeds of faith planted at our children’s Baptism. Remember, committing our work to the Lord and trusting in His plans can lead to beautiful moments of evangelization in our own domestic churches.

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” —Proverbs 16:3

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Thank you for sharing!

Celestial Travel and the Communion of Saints: Catherine and Athanasius

/ chicoinematt

Here’s an imaged conversation between two great saints.

St. Athanasius

A tall, bearded man sat under the shade of a tree to protect against the beaming noon sunlight. He had a quill and a parchment in hand. Uttering a few words while crossing himself he continued to formulate a message on half-written scroll:

“He became what we are that he might make us what he is.”

Thoughts such as this were the cause for the man’s exile (this being his third). The emperor deemed such words blasphemous and cause for discord as it ran counter to the majority of the religious leaders’ opinions at the time.

The man stopped writing because he heard a sudden whirling sound. Looking around he didn’t immediately see anything out of the ordinary.

Standing up now, he walked towards to east wall of the monastery. The ascetic monks took him in during a previous banishment, so the man got used to the normal weather patterns of this area. The whirling transformed into a whooshing sound. Like rushing of a river but with air instead of water. But still he saw nothing unusual. The sun remained high in the sky and only a few white clouds existed against the blue background.

Thinking he was dehydrated, the man went to the well, located several yards in front of the monastery’s front entrance. His lips felt parched, and beads of sweat dropped from his brow. “This probably affected my senses,” he thought. Lowering the bucket down took longer than normal because of limited rainfall recently. He heard the splash of the bucket on the water and felt it fill up. He started to pull it up when the man heard a woman’s voice.

Catherine: “Servant of the Lord make haste and come here.”

He continued to think dehydration was the culprit for these strange happenings, so the man ignored the woman’s words. Grabbing the bucket, he brought the water to his mouth when the woman exclaimed, this time louder, “Athanasius! Listen, for I bring a message of hope.”

Athanasius: Who’s there?

Catherine: I am a  humble servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. He sent me to give you a message of hope.

Athanasius: Do you believe He is fully divine? It’s popular opinion nowadays to think of our Lord as a creation of the Father.

Catherine: Yes. And He is also fully human. It’s the great Mystery of the Incarnation. “God became man so that…

Athanasius: …man might become god”. You must be from God because you know about the doctrine of theosis. Why haven’t I not heard of you before?

Catherine: I come from a time different, yet not so different from yours. False teaching abounds where I come from. But what remains is hope and help. The Furnace of Divine Love tests and forms those He loves most into great witnesses for the faith.

The Paraclete sent me console you in your time of exile. Don’t give up hope. Maintain the faith. The great heresy of your time will fall. Orthodoxy will prevail.

Athanasius: How can this happen? I’ve been exiled several times by the Emperor. I have continued to spread the Gospel and am gracious for the aid of these holy monks who harbored me.

Catherine: Continue your work. I simply was sent to give your reassurance and a spark to help you keep the faith. You are a profound witness for the faith and model of orthodoxy. ““Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.”

[Catherine is suddenly taken up into the clouds on a fiery chariot. If Athanasius blinked he would have missed this wonderful moment.]

Catherine of Siena

This holy encounter gave Athanasius the resolve to continue with his work on defending the divinity of Jesus Christ. He went on to write an important theological treatise titled On the Incarnation and the Holy Spirit worked through him as a catalyst to defeat the Arian heresy.

Centuries later a young Catherine is seen reading a book under the shade of her favorite tree. She smiles and thanks God for His goodness.

Thank you for sharing!

How Fasting in Lent Will Help You Climb a Spiritual Mountain

/ chicoinematt / 2 Comments

Lent fasting meme

The half way point of  Lent is a time period when  many people begin to cave into their Lenten promises. I know for me it is a struggle. I gave up negativity and fast food. Though in giving it up I find myself with a lot of extra time. I have spent more time in prayer with God during these forty days.

The Latin word for Lent, quadragesima, literally means forty days! However, this number does not mean much to the average person unless they understand the significance of the number forty in Scripture.  

God and Geography 

The number forty is  also attached to particular geography: mountains and deserts. When one thinks of these places words such as desolate, barren, alone, and harsh might come to mind.

God seems to have a close presence to individuals in the Bible in these settings. Take Moses for instance, in Exodus 24:18 when he stays on the peak of Mount Sinai for forty days and nights. It was here that Moses met God and received the Ten Commandments.

Elijah and Mountain

Elijah also met God upon a mountain, after traveling for forty days and nights. On the mountain, Elijah faced strong winds and an intense earthquake. But he continued to hold steadfast in faith and met God in a quite whisper.

How often do we let the “noises” of daily life distract us from God?

In this modern world, people hate the quiet and constantly surround themselves with “things” (cellphones, internet, television, etc.) to keep from silence. 

Importance of Fasting

During Lent we are called to a life of fasting. While Christians should always be fasting in some degree throughout the year, the Church urges us to reflect upon it more deeply.

The first thing Jesus does after His Baptism is to fast in the desert for forty days and nights. Probably weak from hunger, He is tempted by the devil. But Jesus fails to give into worldly pleasures. It is this example that all Christians are called to in Lent. By giving up things from this world, we can center our life back onto Christ.  
Mount Sinai 

Though it may feel like you are on a mountaintop or in a desert thirsting, know that Lent is not a time for punishing yourself with guilt. In fasting one learns to give up unnecessary and sometimes harmful objects or habits and grow into a closer relationship with Jesus.

Hopefully at the end of Lent, we can all say that we truly experienced God in a deeper way, like Moses and Elijah did on the mountaintop! 

Related Links

Elijah flees to the mountain and speaks to God

The Call of Lent: Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

The Link Between Lent and Confession—by Guest Blogger William Hemsworth

Thank you for sharing!

Another Whimsical Wednesday Encounter with Wonder: At the Pizzeria

/ chicoinematt / 1 Comment

Editor’s Note: Post originally published on August 25, 2017.

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them,” the great Italian mathematician and astronomer Galileio Galilei once said. Earlier this week, I received confirmation about a truth I was on the path of discovering for several years now—that Wednesday it a high point of the week for me! Throughout the 2016-2017 school year, I mentored an elementary student on the midpoint of the work week. Additionally, I have noticed my children tend to fall asleep easier and more naturally on Wednesday nights.

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This past Wednesday I had another encounter with wonder in a surprising place—a local pizza joint. Coming home from a fun-filled, yet busy first day of school [my wife started a new teaching job], my wife was a little worn out from her day and was not able to get supper prepared.

Pizza, Pizza!

Our 18-month-old son also recently started a learning explosion earlier in the week. He waved good-bye and started playing properly with his toy cars. I felt that we needed to celebrate this achievement (as his early childhood development intervention plan was bearing fruits!). We decided to pick up pizza for dinner.

I went to a close-by pizzeria with our youngest son [the 18-month-old]. Hauling his sister’s Sophia the First stuffed doll in his right arm while being clothed in a Green Bay Packer onesie, my son showed off his inherent whimsical nature. Entering the dinner dive, a tall middle-aged fellow held the door for us. Other customers awaiting their orders included a couple in their twenties, an elderly lady, and another middle-aged man with a grizzled face—a motley crew indeed. I completed my order and the cashier advised there was going to be a 5-minute wait on the pepperoni pizza.

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The Wonderment of a Child

My son meandered up and down the lobby area. First, he went to gaze and touch the sign at the front counter. Less than a few seconds later, he moved toward the door noticed the doormat and bent down to feel the texture. Finally, he walked up to the customers and stared sheepishly at them. All the customers smiled back at him and me. “How old is he?” the tall gentleman asked me. I answered him and he replied with, “These are the best time of your life…haha…you are just a busy little fellow aren’t you.” He continued genteelly smile at us. When our order was completed, he held the door and told me in a jovial tone, “Now you have fun with that little one and take care!”

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This exchange lasted 5 minutes—maybe 6 or 7 if I was truly timing it. Yet, I am still thinking about this wondrous encounter nearly a day later. Why? Aside from that fact that this event occurred on a Wednesday, I cannot provide a definite answer at this time. I did feel a movement of the Holy Spirit at the pizzeria.

Is there nothing more typically American, and normal, than a father picking up pizza for his family during the middle of a hectic week? 😊🍕

The Holy Spirit Works is Mysterious and Delicious Ways

I did not have high expectations, or really any expectations at all, nor did I thought I would acquire anything else from my errand to the local pizzeria besides delicious pepperoni and cheese pizza. Will I meet this kind and cheerful middle-aged man or the other customers ever again in this life? Does he even realize the positive spark he provided me? I may never discover the answer to those questions.

What I think it important to share with this experience is that any event is a chance to rendezvous with the love of the Holy Spirit— a playful, whimsical, powerful, and awe-filled love. I usually see God’s love being experienced in either the lows or highs of my life. Is it possible that God wanted me to experience His profound love in a plainer, simpler way this Wednesday—through the plains and levelness of daily ordinary life?

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-All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.

Related Links

A Whimsical Wednesday Encounter with Wonder

A Close Encounter of the Whimsical Kind 😜

Facts from a Whimsical Wednesday

 

Thank you for sharing!