Written by Fr Alan Robinson
Saturday 14th September, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, is an important day for the Church in England and Wales, for it’s the date of the Eucharistic Festival, 'Adoremus 2024', which is being held at Oscott, the seminary just outside Birmingham. We would all love to go and be part of it, but because of the size of the venue, numbers are very restricted. The Cardinal has therefore asked that we have a Eucharistic Festival at Westminster cathedral on the afternoon of the same day, so we can all take part in this important moment.
One of the great joys of the Eucharist, is that wherever we might be, we are all gathered together and united with him, who calls us to himself from the altar of the church. Whether during the celebration of the Mass, or during Exposition and Benediction; whether we are in Birmingham, Liverpool Southwark, East Anglia, Portsmouth, the smallest chapel or the most magnificent cathedral like Westminster, we are all gathered together by our Eucharistic Lord. And not only with our brothers and sisters here on earth, but also with the whole company of heaven; all those who have gone before us and now see God face to face. In our Eucharistic Lord, those in heaven and those on earth are united, as we all come to kneel at the feet of him, who died for us and gives us on earth His life in the Most Blessed Sacrament. In Jesus, Our Lord and Our God, we are united with him and each other. Isn’t that a wonderful truth, and worth reminding ourselves of, each time we meet with Him on the altar of the church?
At Mass during August, each Sunday we heard Jesus himself talking to us during the Eucharistic Discourse in St John’s Gospel, encouraging us, as he tells us just how important the Bread of Heaven is to each one of us. He says to us, 'unless you eat this bread and drink of this cup, you cannot have my life within you; anyone who eats this bread will live forever; I am the Bread of life, whoever comes to me will never be hungry, he who believes in me will never thirst'. In short – we cannot fully live without him. We also remember that He took his disciples away with him, to a quiet place, where they could be alone with him and rest in his presence.
Saturday 14th September is a great opportunity being offered to us, along with our brothers and sisters in the diocese, and further afield, as the Cardinal calls us to come together around Jesus. There will be Mass at 12.30, followed by Exposition and silence. There will be the opportunity to say the Rosary together, lead by members of the Diocesan Youth Ministry, as Our Blessed Lady draws us to her Son, telling us to 'do whatever He tells us'. Bishop Nicholas Hudson will tell us of the beautiful example of Bl Carlo Acutis; a life totally focussed on his Eucharistic Lord, his 'highway to Heaven'. And at the end of his talk, he will bless us with a relic of the soon to be saint and friend of so many, young and old, around the world. To end the afternoon, there will be a procession of the most Blessed Sacrament within the cathedral, where we can sing praise of Him who comes to us in the Bread of the Altar and then receive his Blessing, before we head home with great joy and thanksgiving in our hearts. There will also be the opportunity to go to Confession, so that we may be reconciled with God and each other. The afternoon will be a celebration of God’s bounty, freely offered to each one of us.
All of these things say to us, don’t stay away; come, the Lord is calling you. There is nowhere better or more important for a Catholic to be. Please come along, even if you can only stay a short time, and in love, hand over your life to the Lord. He will be waiting for you.