E Pluribus Unum

Impact on the Eucharistic Revival

Imagine you are in a football stadium with more than 50,000 people, and you can hear a pin drop in the all-consuming silence. The quiet floods your heart and mind, and for a moment, you forget anyone else is there, because out of all those people, you are focused on One.

For the last three years, the United States has been undergoing a National Eucharistic Revival. We can see it unfolding in dioceses, parishes, and domestic churches all around the nation. The National Eucharistic Revival’s official website tells us the purpose is to “renew the Church by enkindling a living relationship with Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist.”

At UST, the 2023-24 academic school year declared the theme of True Presence to celebrate Christ fully alive in the Eucharist in both our hearts and our community. UST President Emeritus Dr. Richard Ludwick challenged the community to “take on the characteristics of loving, of giving of self, and of actually understanding that we are part of a great Body of Christ.”

During this time of revival, a National Eucharistic Pilgrimage began from four corners of the nation, culminating at the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis, Indiana, known as the Crossroads of America. UST had the privilege of hosting the Juan Diego Route during its stop in the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. The pilgrims, along with the UST community, participated in praise and worship, enjoyed fellowship, and joined in a Eucharistic procession around campus, led by UST Campus Ministry.

The zenith of the revival was the Congress in Indianapolis. After three years of re-engaging clergy and laity alike, where thousands gathered downtown at the Lucas Oil Stadium for five days of liturgy, prayer, and spiritual enrichment.

Each night during adoration, there were 10 minutes of silence. In the crowded stadium, you could hear a pin drop as everyone focused on Jesus’ true presence in the Holy Eucharist. Everyone was inspired by the incredible singing, talks from top Catholic speakers, and interesting storytelling, but the singular focus remained on One.

“Out of many, One,” or E Pluribus Unum, was coined as the United States’ motto in 1776 and can be found on our U.S. currency. This Latin phrase signifies the union of separate states forming one nation. Like most secular things, Christianity has the incredible ability to baptize what isn’t initially dedicated to Christ. Sitting in that stadium, seeing everyone gazing with a single focus at Jesus Christ fully present in the Eucharist, you couldn’t help but feel the immense pride of this gathering of our nation. This National Revival showed us that out of the many people in America, One remains-Jesus Christ. As this young country continues to evolve and we progress into the next phase of the National Eucharistic Revival, it is time to take up our mantel and baptize our nation’s motto: E Pluribus Unum, “Out of many, One.”