Editorial

Can you imagine the excitement - let alone the media frenzy - if Jesus Christ were to appear and walk on the earth again in the year 2005?

Yet, Jesus IS here with us every minute of every day. He may not be taking human form as he did over 2000 years ago. He may not be teaching and healing people directly. But he is still among us in the Eucharist, his own body and blood.

Related articles: Oct. 20, 2005 edition: • Closing Mass: Diocese gathers to end Year of Eucharist • Bishop Speaks -- Recent events: Energized by Eucharist, apostolic visit Oct. 13, 2005 edition: • Bishop Speaks -- October: Marks Respect Life Month June 23, 2005 edition: • Corpus Christi: Feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ May 26, 2005 edition: • Notes from the Vicar General -- Holy Eucharist: Someone to get dressed up for March 31, 2005 edition: • 'Listen hard, be changed': Bishop says at Chrism Mass March 24, 2005 edition: • Bishop Speaks -- At Easter: With eyes of hope Feb. 17, 2005 edition: • To new Catholics: Bishop emphasizes priority of Sunday Eucharist Feb. 10, 2005 edition: • Bishop Speaks -- In Year of Eucharist: Reflecting on gift of hope at Lent • Faith Alive! Feb. 3, 2005 edition: • Faith Alive! Dec. 2, 2004 edition: • Bishop Speaks -- Christmas journey: Jesus in crèche, tabernacle Nov. 4, 2004 edition: • Bishop Speaks -- Look to Eucharist: For real meaning of thanksgiving Oct. 14, 2004 edition: • Editorial -- Living the Eucharist: It is a 'great school of peace' Oct. 7, 2004 edition: • Editorial -- Year of the Eucharist: Connected with life issues

Receiving Christ. We receive Christ in Holy Communion at Mass, under the form of bread and wine. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, "To receive communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us."

Christ has invited us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist. He said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (Jn 6:53).

Year of the Eucharist. On October 23, the Year of the Eucharist called for by Pope John Paul II will end. The late Holy Father was concerned that Catholics understand how the Eucharist embodies fundamental truths for the church, including Jesus' redemptive sacrifice as well as his continued presence in the world.

Pope John Paul II wanted to hammer home the theme that the world needs Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ comes to us in an exceptional way through the Eucharist. Our beloved pontiff reminded us that the Eucharist has a "transforming power" that provides the courage to live the faith and to spread the Gospel. "There's a very close connection between the Eucharist and announcing Christ," he said.

Encountering Christ. The Year of the Eucharist has reminded us of three ways we can encounter Christ in the Eucharist:

• First and foremost, we meet Christ in the Eucharist in the Sacrifice of the Mass by receiving Holy Communion. Catholics are required to attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. But if we truly want to meet Christ in the Eucharist, we should be eager to receive him as often as possible. Therefore attending daily Mass when we can is surely a wonderful opportunity to be united with Christ more completely.

• The Catechism explains that as "faith in the real presence of Christ in his Eucharist deepened, the Church became conscious of the meaning of silent adoration of the Lord present under the Eucharistic species." The tabernacle is used for reservation of the Eucharist in churches. But in addition, the Eucharist is made available in many parishes and chapels for Eucharistic Adoration at special times. During this Year of the Eucharist, increasing numbers of parishes and institutions in the Diocese of Madison have added Eucharistic Adoration to their schedules. Let us hope and pray that this continues in the future to allow the faithful further opportunities to encounter Christ.

• When we receive Christ in Holy Communion and deepen our relationship in prayer and adoration, we should be taking Christ with us out into the world. Christ does not just remain in the church or in the tabernacle. He goes with us as we live our faith day by day. In a special way, the Eucharist commits us to helping those in need. As the Catechism reminds us, "To receive in truth the Body and Blood of Christ given up for us, we must recognize Christ in the poorest, his brethren." Indeed, as we have learned, what we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Christ. The Eucharist should be our catalyst to serve people in our families, workplaces, neighborhoods, and the world.

The Year of the Eucharist may be ending, but it will continue every day with those who believe in the power of the Christ and desire to meet him in the Eucharist at Mass and in adoration - and bring him into the world for all to see his saving power.

Mary C. Uhler

Mailbag

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Stop human cloning in Wisconsin

To the editor:

Governor James Doyle can stop human cloning in Wisconsin with the stroke of his pen! The state legislature recently passed AB 499, a ban on all human cloning.

If the governor signs AB 499:

• Cloned human embryos could not be created and implanted into a woman's body.

• Cloned human embryos could not be created and destroyed to obtain stem cells.

• Cloned human embryos could not be created, allowed to develop up to nine months, and be destroyed to obtain organs and body parts.

• Neither public nor private entities would be able to engage in human cloning.

Every Wisconsin citizen must contact Governor Doyle at 1-608-266-1212 and urge him to sign AB 499 into law. Let's stop this horrendous assault against human life before it even starts!

Barbara L. Lyons, executive director
Wisconsin Right to Life, Milwaukee