A Trad View on the National Eucharistic Congress

The first National Eucharistic Congress in the US was held in 1895, long, long before the Council. Amid all the modernism, let's not forget its very Traditional roots.

From One Peter Five

By Timothy Flanders, MA

Last weekend I got back from the National Eucharistic Congress. I was grateful for a safe trip, and all the connections I made with people I met there. Two out of three of our partners in the Crusade of Eucharistic Reparation were in attendance: myself, representing OnePeterFive, and several members of the Mass of the Ages team: Tony Shriner, the new CEO, as well as Cameron O’Hearn and other crew members.

I felt I needed to attend this event because our lay sodality (the Crusade) is the heart and soul of our organisation. I had confidence I would find pious souls there who would be open to hearing the good news about the Latin Mass.

This was the first time there has been a national Eucharistic Congress in these States since 1941. So as a traditionalist, the event of a Congress is fully “Trad” in theory. The Congress was set up with perpetual adoration beginning at 9am on Wednesday and continuing through the during of the Congress. It was in a beautiful (“Trad”) church, thanks be to God.

Most days I went to adoration morning and evening and it was always packed. I put out the prayer cards for the Crusade (both large and small) for people to become informed about traditional Eucharistic revival. Every day I went back and they were all taken by the faithful, so I refilled the stack of prayer cards and again they were all taken. And I found I was not the only Trad setting out prayer cards:

Other than that, I spent most of every day at my booth selling books and talking to people. With one exception, every single interaction was positive. I sold a whole box of Fatima icons save three. Many of the faithful who knew OnePeterFive were very grateful we had made it to the Congress. Others were curious but receptive to my presentation of the Trad position. I passed out nearly all of my copies of the “Letter to Any Bishop about the Latin Mass.”

I talked to one young man – he must have been in his early twenties – who was a fervent Catholic who attended the New Mass. But he said he had had a bad experience with Trads at the Latin Mass once. He was concerned about why everything was in Latin. I explained that a sacred language is a universal thing among all the traditional rites of the Church, and that Latin helps facilitate an experience with mystery for old and young, whereas the New Mass – which focuses on intellectual understanding – leaves out the young. As a result the Latin Mass cuts to the heart, and then the head.

“That’s a very beautiful point of view” he said.

Another time a priest came up to me and I said “Hello father.” But then I noticed his name tag said “Bishop.” “Oh,” I said, “Your Excellency, welcome.”

“Thank you,” the bishop said.

“We are a traditionalist organisation which promotes the Latin Mass” I said, “Perhaps you would be interested in our letter to any bishop about the Latin Mass.” And I handed him a copy.

He took it. Then he looked me in the eye.

“You have more support than you realize. Stay strong.”

“Thank you, Your Excellency, and thank you for putting on this Congress with your brother bishops.”

I was reluctant to get his name because I did not want to make him feel he had to make an “official” statement to the media. But his words had great power.

Indeed, this whole Congress, initiated by the Bishops, had that paternal power behind it. It felt utterly different to be a part of something initiated by our fathers in the Church. This was the blessing of the Congress for all souls.

Thus the Latin Mass celebrated by Archbishop Cordileone on Thursday was overflowing the overflow tent outside, and many faithful walked over a mile to get there in the heat. The Congress integrated the Latin Mass into the schedule twice, along with the Greek rite, and thus the “Ad Orientem alliance” with the traditional rites of the Church were given space.

And the seminarians. I talked to many seminarians and priests who love OnePeterFive. Meanwhile, the Mass of the Ages booth was signing up seminarians and priests for Latin Mass University. They already have two hundred and fifty priests and seminarians who are learning the Latin Mass through their program.

On Saturday I unfurled banner of our crusade for the Eucharistic Procession through downtown Indy. I would wager this was the largest Eucharistic procession in this country for many decades. And this is another traditional thing present at the Congress.

We had Benediction in the public park where tens of thousands chanted the Tantum Ergo and it was blasted through speakers echoing through the streets. This was indeed glorious.

This Congress was a not a “Trad Congress.” Communion in the Hand was not forbidden. But neither were Trads and traditionalism excluded. No, we can give thanks that certain traditional elements formed the backbone of the Congress, and the event itself has roots in the traditional world. As a result of this Congress – whether by means of the organisers or the participants, like me – hundreds, perhaps thousands, were exposed to Tradition, including the Latin Mass.