The Year of the Eucharist
Archbishop Mansell has announced to the people of the Archdiocese of Hartford that Pope John II has proclaimed the Year of the Holy Eucharist (October 2004 to October 2005). Archbishop Mansell calls us to use this Year to grow in our appreciation for the Eucharist, to strengthen our convictions of being Catholic, and to nourish in God’s grace our spiritual lives. There will be various celebrations and events in observance of this unique Year. Each family, in whatever configuration it is, has an opportunity to do some special things regarding this Year of the Eucharist right within their own home. The family is the Domestic Church; and as such has many similarities and connections with the Eucharist.
Connecting Eucharist with Family Life
Reclaiming the Family Meal
There has always been something very special about family gatherings around the table. The Old Testament describes the Jewish family gathering at the family table to celebrate the Passover. The Last Supper, when Jesus gathered with his disciples and broke bread, offers us a foundational connection with the celebration of the Eucharist at the table of the parish church. Like the Eucharist, the family gathering is an expression of community. In our hectic times family meal is too often relegated to "something we wish we had time for." In our fast-paced not-enough-time lives, family meals are more important than ever.
In the U.S. Catholic Bishops pastoral letter, Follow the Way of Love, the challenge to "take time" was identified as significant for today’s families. The bishops encourage families "to take time to be together: making shared meals a priority (even if you gather at a fast food restaurant.)" Follow the Way of Love, USCC, 1993.
- Begin by identifying even one meal each week when everyone can be present
- Make a commitment to gather for a family meal as often as possible
- Use this time to enflesh the Catholic Spirit of family life by encouraging the development of basic values of mutuality, giving/receiving, life, and hospitality.
- Take time to pray together. Use meals to pray in thanksgiving, as well as with petitions to our Lord. Pray for the needs of those we know and don’t know.
- Share as family members what each is most and least grateful each day or week realizing that God is always present in our life circumstances (The Examen).
Preparing for the Meal
Just like the physical preparation is necessary for a family meal, so too, we need to prepare spiritually before the family meal.
Mutuality
Remember the story of Jesus’ preparation for the Last Supper. How did Jesus show his love of the disciples in his planning for that important meal? (Lk 22:7)
Gathering around the table signifies each member is important and each has something to bring to the table. What we bring to the table may be our hopes, our successes, our losses or failures. We bring these to the table to share them with each other and to be strengthened in an opportunity where each one feels listened to and respected. It is an occasion for expressing gratitude for the gifts each person brings to the family just by being who they are.
Reflection before the meal:
Can we listen to a family member’s story, whether profound or simple, regardless of how busy we are or how important we may feel? How can we make our table a place where each family member can share a part of ourselves, a portion of the day, a moment of awareness of God’s action in our life?
Giving and Receiving Life
Reflect on the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the Wedding at Cana. In what ways did he give life to the party? (Jn 2)
The family table is a natural place to nurture life. Whether the meal consists of macaroni and cheese from a box or a thanksgiving feast, we car given a chance to restore our bodies with food. While we feed our bodies, we also feed the spirit of each member and of the family as a whole. Sometimes the spirit is fed by the warmth that is shared over a simple bowl of soup. At other times the companionship of family around the table reassures us of our connections to each other and our fidelity to maintaining and sustaining those connections. Even if the meal is a fast food hamburger, if we gather is in love we gather in the name of Jesus and are reminders to each other of the life we share in the Spirit.
Reflections before the meal:
Have you thought about the life you celebrate within your family lately?
What was your last birthday party?
When did you gather to remember a loved one who died?
Challenge yourself to make those meal gatherings special while inexpensive.
Place a Catholic symbol on your family table
Use candles and/or flowers to remember God’s presence.
Use an Advent wreath prior to Christmas. Place photos of deceased loved ones to commemorate
their lives.
Hospitality
Think of Jesus making breakfast for his disciples on the beach. How do you imagine him calling them to table? What was his tone of voice? How did they behave? (Jn 21:9)
Making the family table a place of welcome is an important part of the gathering. Each and every member needs to understand they have a place and they are joyfully accepted at the table. The language spoken around the table needs to be flavored with Christian courtesy and kindness. Make every effort to remove any unpleasantness and criticism from the meal setting. Inviting each member to be comfortable and to feel at home is the ultimate goal of the family.
Reflections before the meal:
How important is spilled milk at your family table?
Can we accept the messiness, the mistakes in cooking, the choice of menu as insignificant, compared to the people gathered in love around the table? Think about what would occur at your table if the Holy Family stopped in for a visit. What would change? What language would you speak? Would they feel welcome if they came early or late?
Table Prayer
An immediate preparation for the family meal
Bless us O Lord and these gifts that we are about to receive through your goodness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Consider adding
…a thank you for each person at table.
…a prayer for those not present.
…a prayer for those who had a hard day.
…thanks for a special blessing.
…a prayer for someone who is ill.
…a word of appreciation for the cook.
…a favorite song of praise and thanks
.
Making a Commitment to Each Other
Making a commitment to gather once a week for a shared meal can be a difficult one. Today’s families are torn by the demands of many activities. Whether it is soccer, baseball, piano, meetings, or parish and civic gatherings, it seems that almost everything can be more important than eating – and eating together. Yet we all acknowledge family life is the glue that holds society together. Without the opportunity to share life with each other family life suffers. Our newspapers and televisions remind us over and over the effects of our neglect of opportunities to be nourished by the spirit of God revealed to us within our families. In order to find time especially for the important needs of our family. Schedule a time to talk about when you could gather as a family to share a meal. Can you make it a regular practice? Canister these questions:
What is the best day to gather? Can it be the same day each week? What is the meal easiest for us to share: breakfast, lunch supper?
Who should prepare the meal? Can we all help? How? Should be order in? Will we all clean up?
How important is it for us to be together? Can we eliminate the TV and radio and really listen to each other? Will I give up something or some activity in order to be present to my family?
After you’ve had a chance to talk over your commitment write it out in the space provided and each person sign it/ Hang it on the refrigerator or near the calendar to remind each other of the commitment you have made.
We know having a meal together is one way to strengthen our family. We commit ourselves to gather for a family meal on _____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________
We are willing to make the meal a positive occasion by: ________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
We are willing to make choices as individuals and as a family in order to have a shared meal.
Signed: Date:
Adapted with permission for Hartford Archdiocesan Family Life
Office from Altoona-Johnstown Family Life Office, 2004