To the Editor:
Bishop Robert Barron reacts understandably to the latest survey by the Pew Foundation (Aug. 15). He charges clergy and catechists with a failure to teach clearly the truth of Jesus’ Real Presence in the sacrament of the holy Eucharist.
How did this happen? In my opinion, over the last 40 years we’ve seen tabernacles moved out of sight in churches. My generation was taught that Jesus’ place was on his throne on the altar. We were encouraged to make frequent visits to the Blessed Sacrament. Every Sunday, benediction of the Blessed Sacrament followed the high Mass, and the 40 Hours devotion was anticipated as a special encounter with Jesus.
In the telling volume (“In Sinu Jesu: The Journal of a Priest at Prayer,” Angelico Press, 2016) Jesus says pointedly: “Faith in the mystery of the Most Holy Eucharist grows in proportion to the time one gives Me in adoration… Souls do not stop adoring because they have lost their faith; they lose their faith because they have stopped adoring Me.” (Pg. 87)
Is this our wake-up call?
Christine Migiel
Bettendorf
