A Sign of Deepening Faith

By Bishop Paul S. Loverde
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 10/27/05)

Nearly two weeks have passed since our Oct. 15 diocesan pilgrimage, but I have continued to reflect on it with much gratitude. The day brought joy to this shepherd’s heart. The over 2,000 faithful from our diocese who journeyed to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception — "Mary’s House" — to honor Our Blessed Lady comprised what was truly our largest diocesan pilgrimage to date. Thirty priests of the diocese concelebrated the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

But beyond the figures, our pilgrimage attested to something more: a fervency of faith, a hope-filled celebration of the sources of our faith, a faith which is alive and well.

Together we also marked the end to our diocesan observance of Pope John Paul II’s Year of the Eucharist. One short year ago, our beloved John Paul II encouraged us to gaze upon the Eucharist "with the eyes of Mary." He said, "Gazing upon Mary, we come to know that transforming power present in the Eucharist." Our late Holy Father reminded us that our faith in the Real Presence must reflect Mary’s deep faith in the Eucharistic Presence of Her Son.

Together as a diocesan family of faith, we reflected upon these very words during our pilgrimage. Together we prayed, "Mary, Woman of the Eucharist, Lead Us to Jesus!" Together, in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we were renewed by the sources of our faith. So many of our pilgrims also took the opportunity to make their confessions and receive God’s graces in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Every day, I pray: "Lord, me make holy. Make my diocese holy!" Mary leads us to Jesus, the source of all holiness. As I looked out on the thousands of our faithful who filled the largest Catholic Church in our country, I was filled with hope — hope for how our family of faith is responding to our Lord’s call to holiness; hope in our people’s great love for our Mother; and hope for our future as a vibrant and growing diocese.

"Do whatever He tells you," our Blessed Lady tells us. The beauty and witness of her life — such a total surrender of faith — compels, inspires and draws us closer to her Son. She is our true model and guide. Do we obey God’s will in our lives as did Mary? Will we be more willing to follow her example and seek her help, so that like her, we too may live: "Let it be according to your word, O Lord"?

Yes! May we continue to ask Mary to lead us to Jesus in the Eucharist, so that, reliving His Dying and Rising at Mass and praying before Him truly present in the tabernacle, we may then live this Eucharistic mystery out there in the real world by pouring out our lives in loving and humble service of God’s people, beginning with the family and always including those in need.

I echo the prayer I voiced at the end of the homily on Oct. 15. "O Mary, Woman of the Eucharist, lead us who form the Church of Arlington, to Jesus Your Son! Make us a Eucharistic people, serving the Lord in holiness of life, revering His presence in our neighbor and proclaiming His greatness! Help us, dear Blessed Mother, to open our entire being, always more, to Christ’s presence; help us to follow Him faithfully day after day on the streets of our life, (cf. Pope Benedict XVI, Corpus Christi homily) until our pilgrimage ends and we arrive home to be with you and with Jesus, Your beloved Son and our Redeemer, forever and ever. Amen!"

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