Our Spiritual Bouquet and Putting the Eucharist First

Dear Catholic Action Friends and Colleagues,

Wishing you and your family many blessings from God, as we come close to the end of the Advent Season! As Catholics, we are not like the secular world that skips over the season of preparation and rushes to the season of joy.

As Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen used to say: “First the fast, then the feast”! May this season be a fruitful waiting time for the great feast of Christmas.

I’d also like to share with you an excellent letter of appreciation we received from the office of Archbishop Gomez, the head of the USCCB, acknowledging the bishops’ gratitude for the Spiritual Bouquet we offered them. In the words of Rev. Michael Fuller, the General Secretary: “The bishops, I know, were very grateful for the prayers of so many.” You can read the full letter here.

At Catholic Action, we believe that union with our hierarchy is the most effective way to create any positive effect for change in our Church. There is not now and never has been some kind of perfect state of the Church where everyone from bishops to laity are saints. Rather, we take the Church as it is and work to keep our focus on the most important things. See the gallery of photos and comments from our Shepherds.

That is why we will be advocating for a greater emphasis on the Eucharist and for a substantial return to Holy Mass and prayer among the Catholic faithful in the coming years. The Covid lockdowns have done great harm – predictably so – to Holy Mass attendance. Nothing short of a renewed and fervent zeal for Christ in the Eucharist will call people back to fidelity to the sacredness and frequent, reverent reception of the Eucharist. Catholic Action is made precisely for a campaign of this sort.

In that effort, we will be following up on our Spiritual Bouquet in a new stage of working closely with the bishops prior to their proposed Eucharistic Congress. In this, we will also be supporting and coordinating with other Catholic organizations to increase prayer and Holy Mass attendance. We desire that all who proclaim they are Catholic will realize the sacred and Divine nature of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Christ’s sacrifice on Calvary.

And God willing – here’s where we need your prayers – we hope to renew our “Faithful Echo” Conferences this coming year to galvanize both the laity and the clergy in their efforts to draw people back to Church. These conferences have strengthened the zeal of so many to bring our Catholic faith into the lives of those who most need it. 

It’s no secret that the world is a mess and falling apart around us. The Church today is also deeply affected by the chaos of culture and politics. So, not only do we persevere in our faithfulness to Christ, but we march forward, in union with His Church, keeping our eyes fixed on Christ in the Eucharist! We march forward carrying His light into the world’s darkness. 

Your friend in Christ,

Thomas McKenna

P.S. If you have already made your end of year gift, thank you! Your donation will make a real difference in fighting the good fight of faith and for our Church that we love.

Catholic Action For Faith And Family
http://www.catholicaction.org/