Deacon Dave and the National Eucharistic Revival

My wife and I were blessed to be able to attend the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis from July 17-21, and it was AWESOME!  It was truly incredible to be with 60,000 Catholics for the main purpose of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament!  We all desired to grow in love for Him and for each other.  It was a little glimpse of heaven as we felt like one body before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  If someone dropped something, there would quickly be someone there to help them pick it up.  If someone tripped, they quickly received the aid of others.  The lines were long for most things, but there was no complaining or grumbling, just love and kindness.

I’d like to share one specific highlight for my wife and me, and that came on Wednesday night.  We flew to Indianapolis that day, checked into our place, and then headed for Lucas Oil Stadium.  We found some seats and then waited for the evening session to begin.  While sitting there, I noticed an altar in the center of the field area up on a platform.  I realized that we were going to have Adoration tonight and that Jesus was probably already in the building.  I also remembered the Scripture verse about when 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.  Well, that was 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 thousand of us all gathered in the name of Jesus, so He was definitely present, and I could feel HIS Presence!  Tears started streaming down my face and His overwhelming love and peace came over me. 

A few moments later, the revival ceremony began.  It started with a video on the huge video screens at one end of the stadium.  It showed the 4 Eucharistic Processions that took place over the last 2 months that started from the east, west, north and south and all converged on Indianapolis.  The first highlights came from the St. Junipero Serra route that started in San Francisco.& They traveled over 2,700 miles in 60 days and many Catholics joined in the procession and Adoration at various stops along the way.  They then welcomed the 6 to 10 person team that accompanied Jesus every step of the way, and they came walking in while holding a large picture of St. Serra.  This team of pilgrims was mostly young people (20 something), and they were all on fire for the Lord.  There was great, upbeat Christian music playing as they walked to the center of the stadium and placed their picture of St. Serra on an easel near the altar. 

Next came the video highlights from the St. Juan Diego route.  They started in Brownsville, TX, and traveled over 1,900 miles.  And then that team of 6-10 young pilgrims came in with their picture of St. Juan Diego.  Again, great upbeat Christian music accompanies them as they walk to place their picture near the altar.  The team from the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Route followed them.  They started in New Haven, CN, and traveled over 975 miles to get to Indianapolis.  The song that accompanied them into the stadium was Matt Maher’s “The Lord’s Prayer”.& The young team from the north followed this.  The Marian Route started in northern Minnesota and traveled over 1,000 miles.

After all 4 teams entered the stadium and all 4 saint pictures were placed around the altar, the excitement in the stadium was incredible!  Then the huge video started proclaiming, “He is the Alpha and Omega.  The beginning and the end.  Never changing, but changing all things.  Hidden, yet Ever Present.”  And several other descriptors.& Then it says, “When God speaks, matter must obey.  He speaks, ‘Let there be light’”.  And boom, the screen gets super bright, and they show pictures like the beginning of creation…  How God spoke everything into existence.  And it goes on: “Jesus promised to be with us to the end of the age, and so He is.  When He speaks, matter responds.& When He says, ‘This is my body’, it IS His body.” 

It goes on… “Jesus, Wonderful Counselor; Prince of Peace; Mighty One; Savior; God with us; King of kings; Lord of lords.”  The excitement is building and then it says, “HE IS HERE”, and the screen goes bright white!!  Everyone is asked to kneel, and we all drop to our knees as the biggest host and monstrance I’ve seen is carried into the stadium amidst candle bearers and incense.  It was truly amazing!  Tears continued to flow down my cheeks, and I continued to feel His Presence… His love… His peace… His mercy!!! Thank you, Jesus!!

Thank you and God bless,
- Deacon Dave Knebelsberger