Days of Reflection focus on Eucharistic Revival

Saint Gregory’s Abbey in Shawnee will host a series of monthly Days of Reflection on the Eucharistic Revival throughout 2023. 

“Our desire is to be of service to the local Church. This is our way to participate in the call for Eucharistic Revival by the bishops of the United States and to provide the faithful with the opportunity to learn more about the Eucharist to increase their own devotion,” said Brother Damian Whalen, O.S.B., who led the first Day of Reflection “The Gift of the Eucharist” on Jan. 28. The first retreat was fully booked already one month before the registration deadline. 

This series highlights the meaning of the Eucharist for the Church and each individual Christian, as emphasized in the document by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” 

Brother Damian encouraged the participants to be active in their personal pursuit by downloading the full document, usccb.org/resources/mystery-eucharist-life-church, and utilizing resources on the Eucharistic Revival website, eucharisticrevival.org.

“The Eucharist is the greatest gift that Jesus left us,” explained Brother Damian, citing Pope Benedict XVI. “Eucharist identifies us as Christians and Catholics. It is increasingly challenging to be a Christian and a Catholic in the secular world; a society that seemingly has no faith. We need the Eucharist to help us deepen our commitment to Christ.”

Brother Damian emphasized the importance of receiving Christ in the Eucharist with a sincere and open heart, as he recalled the words of Jesus to Saint Faustina: “When I come to a human heart in Holy Communion,” he said, “My hands are full of all kinds of graces which I want to give to the soul. But souls do not even pay attention to me; they leave me to myself and busy themselves with other things. ... They treat me as a dead object.” (Diary of Saint Faustina, 1385).

Brother Damian further addressed the results of the Pew study from Aug. 5, 2019, which stated that 69% of Catholics do not believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. 

“With the Days of Reflection on Eucharistic Revival here at the Abbey we want to help reestablish and deepen the understanding what the Eucharist is and how important it is in our lives as Catholics,” he said. “Participating in the Days of Reflection helps you step outside of the everyday distractions, focus your concentration and be more attentive to your spiritual growth.” 

Brother Damian stressed the importance of silence, which the third retreat on April 1 will be devoted in a particular way. Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., abbot of Saint Gregory’s Abbey, will lead the participants to rediscover the spirit of silence, with short reflections and resources provided for personal meditation and a closer encounter with the Lord throughout the day. 

“We believe in the value of silence and that people don’t have much opportunity for it. There is so much noise in the world. The faithful need the opportunity to get away from the iPhone, TV and social media,” he said. “We invite all people to attend. At all Days of Reflection, we will have time for the Eucharistic Adoration.”

The four spring retreats will guide the participants to deepen and strengthen their relationship with Jesus Christ in the Eucharist - his sacrifice of love, and to better understand the opportunity the Eucharist offers everyone to be conformed to the image of Christ. The retreats in the summer, fall and winter of 2023 will build on the spring events. They will address a wide array of more specific topics, e.g., The Eucharist and the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Brother Peter Shults, O.S.B., and other topics to be announced soon. 

Jad Ziolkowska is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.