By, Terri M. Lynn, M.T.S.
At the Second Vatican Council, the Fathers of the Council authored a document entitled The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, or Lumen Gentium. It’s teaching: “The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” would be one of the reasons why Pope John Paul II designated the year from October 2004 through October 2005 as “The Year of the Eucharist”. As the lead shepherd of the Church, he wanted to implement the pastoral initiatives promulgated at the Council and the year of the Eucharist would help with teaching Catholics about this chapter of Lumen Gentium. Pope John Paul II brought to light further this central belief of our faith concerning the Eucharist, with his Encyclical, Ecclesia De Eucharistia. In fact, he wrote in is follow-up Apostolic letter, Man nobiscum Domine:“I wrote the Encyclical letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, with the intention of shedding light on the mystery of the Eucharist in its inseparable and vital relation to the Church.” Pope John Paul II helped teach us, how we can keep the Eucharist at the summit of our Christian lives.
Since our activities flow from what we become when we are one with Christ during Holy Communion, our subsequent activities as lay faithful should reflect and be a witness to the grace we receive from our participation in Holy Eucharist. The goals of Singles of the Eucharist is to have single Catholics reflect in their actions, what they believe. The set goals of “Commitment to chastity”, “Love of neighbor”, and “Evangelization of the Real Presence” and “Support of Religious Vocations, lay and consecrated” are activities that flow from a life centered on the Eucharist.
As singles, and one with God, we can glorify Him who strengthens us (Phil 4:13). But together “as the bread is composed of many grains which have become a perfect whole, a symbol of the Eucharist which makes us one body (EdE, 23)”, together, Singles of the Eucharist can make a “daily commitment to work and to the Christian vision of “new heaven and a new earth” (Rev. 21:1). Pope John Paul II expounded upon the commitment in Ecclesia de Eucharistia by writing, “This hope and vision increase our responsibility to the world. Because o
