Abp. Samuel J. Aquila: New Pastoral Note by Denver Archbishop Highlights ‘Clearest Teaching on the Eucharist’ in Scripture

Editor’s Note: The following pastoral note was issued Friday, Aug. 4, by Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila, archbishop of Denver, to mark the second year of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Parish Year, and is reprinted here with permission.

“I am the bread of life … For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” (Jn 6:35a; 55-56 ESVCE). The sixth chapter of the Gospel of John provides us with the clearest teaching on the Eucharist. As we enter this second year of the National Eucharistic Revival, the Parish Year, I want to provide you this pastoral note on two passages of the Gospel that I hope you will take to eucharistic adoration to pray with and to listen to the words of Jesus. My prayer for you is that like the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) your hearts may burn with love for Jesus as you listen to him, as your teacher, and learn from him (Mt 11:29), both at Mass and at adoration in your parish.

Recently at a dinner with a group of people, we were discussing the Eucharistic Revival and I brought up the passage from John 6. While they were vaguely aware of the teaching, they did not know the depth of it, nor did they know that it caused division among Jesus’ disciples. Jesus makes clear in John 6 the truth of his real presence in the Eucharist, and he never waters it down or speaks of it as a sign or symbol. Disciples who followed Jesus saw it as a hard teaching, and “…many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him” (Jn 6:66). …

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