Attendees at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis were invited last night to come to Jesus, just as people came to him in the Gospels: with their sins and brokenness, seeking healing.
Father Boniface Hicks, OSB, well-known spiritual director and retreat teacher, carried the enormous golden monstrance with the Eucharist in the middle of the crowd gathered at Lucas Oil Stadium. Kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, Father Hicks reminded the thousands of attendees of Jesus’ great liberating love for each one.
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“He loves you. He made you. He loved you. He has chosen you. He made you with love, with his own hands in your mother’s womb. You are a masterpiece of his loving creativity. He sees you. Now he contemplates you with love. He delights in you. I want to invite you to a new path of healing,” Father Hicks prayed before a silent, kneeling crowd of some 50,000 souls.
“He sees, in your entire life, a golden thread of goodness. He made you in his image and likeness, and you have never lost that. That golden thread of goodness has been there even and despite the deepest sorrows, the darkest moments… Also in times of weakness, in times of sins and failures, times in which you were hurt, and times in which you hurt to others, He wants to bring healing. Healing for your wounds, healing for your failures. That is why I invite you to open your heart to his healing love.”
Father Hicks invited the thousands of attendees to pray a litany – a series of requests to God – focused on healing. The first response was ‘Jesus, heal my heart with your love.’ The second: ‘Jesus, come to me.’ The third: ‘Please forgive me, Jesus.’ And the fourth: ‘Jesus, help me to believe.’
“Let us pray for courage as we see the wounded places of our hearts before the loving gaze of Jesus,” the priest said, before carrying out the solemn Eucharist procession around the stadium.
Father Hicks had already told the National Catholic Register that his purpose in offering healing prayers is “to help people open their hearts to see how they can invite Jesus not only physically, but also to be closer to those places where they carry insecurities and fears, tears and wounds of the past, as well as places where we have failed with our own sin.
“I think there is a temptation to reduce these things to an intellectual exercise, and I think the organizers’ design, and certainly my desire, is for it to be a truly personal encounter that touches the heart,” the priest said.
Before the time of worship, Sister Josephine Garrett of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth spoke about the importance of repenting from sin, quoting the founder of her community, who said that God is pleased with “a soul susceptible to many falls, but who, knowing his weakness, humbly returns to God.
“Tonight, I pray to you in the name of Jesus Christ…tonight is a night of healing, but healing begins with repentance,” said the sister known for her podcast and who is also a licensed mental health counselor.
“No one is saved alone. The lives of others continually affect mine, and what I think, say, do and achieve in my life has consequences in the lives of others, for better or worse. And this is good news. The healing that you and I long to see in the body of Christ begins with my repentance, with your repentance.”
The Congress, the first of its kind to be held in the United States since World War II, is the fruit of the project of the American Catholic bishops of the Eucharistic Revival.
The initiative seeks to consolidate Catholics in their faith and their love for the Eucharist in preparation for a special year of mission throughout the country. Young and old Catholics from all over the United States attend. Last night, before the opening speeches, there was great energy among everyone in attendance.
Among the speakers, the thousands of attendees were able to hear Paula Umaña, former Costa Rican tennis player and sister of CNN presenter Glenda Umaña; who saw her legs affected due to a neurological disease. Now, thanks to her family and the intercession of the Virgin Mary, she can walk with the help of special devices.
He appeared before the crowd with his son Charles and told everyone: “When it seems impossible, run to Jesus.”
This Saturday’s day will culminate in a massive Eucharistic procession through downtown Indianapolis, which will begin at the convention center and end at the Indiana War Memorial.
Tonight attendees will be able to hear from Bishop Robert Barron, Gloria Purvis, Tim Glemkowski and actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosenand will be able to participate in praise and worship, led by acclaimed musician Matt Maher.
Translated and adapted by the ACI Prensa team. Originally published in CNA
Jonah McKeown
Jonah McKeown is a writer and podcast producer for Catholic News Agency. He has a master’s degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has worked as a writer, radio producer and videographer.