Scott Hahn urges priests at National Eucharistic Congress to ‘rekindle eucharistic wonder’ – Catholic Telegraph

Indianapolis, Indiana, July 19, 2024 / 5:55 PM

Nearly 1,000 priests and bishops gathered at the National Eucharistic Congress to hear theologian and apologist Scott Hahn urge clergy to rekindle their “Eucharistic wonder.”

Amid the busy schedule and large crowds in Indianapolis for the Eucharistic Congress, priests had the opportunity to escape the chaos and come together for a dedicated time of ongoing formation, renewal and personal prayer during the daily “Abide” impact sessions.

During the first session on Wednesday, Hahn offered priests a retreat meditation on the Bible story of the road to Emmaus.

The Catholic convert and founder of the St. Paul Center of Spiritual Theology’s meditation began with a quote from Pope John Paul II.

“In the Easter event and the Eucharist which makes it present throughout the centuries, there is a truly enormous ‘capacity’ which embraces all of history as the recipient of the grace of redemption. This amazement should always fill the Church gathered for the celebration of the Eucharist,” wrote John Paul II in his encyclical on the Eucharist, Church of the Eucharist.

“But in a special way it should fill the minister of the Eucharist… I would like to revive this Eucharistic ‘wonder’.”

Hahn also asked the priests in the room to examine and reflect on how they prioritize the importance of Sacred Scripture in their lives and ministry. He emphasized that the risen Jesus made it a priority to “open the Scriptures” for his disciples on the road to Emmaus.

“It’s his first day back from the dead. Imagine, if you will, what would you do if you were Jesus? What would your to-do list look like on your first day back from the dead? I don’t know about you, but I suspect mine looks something like this, which is, I’d like to go and see Pontius Pilate … (and tell) you should have listened to your wife … And then just go out and see King Herod … and just be like, ‘I’m back! And you’ve got a lot to think about,'” Hahn joked.

“The one thing Jesus apparently had at the top of his list,” he added, “was to lead a Bible study, where he would spend hours going through the entire history of salvation, starting with Moses and the law and all the prophets, mile after mile, setting their hearts on fire.”

“Jesus did not waste time in spending his first day back from the dead going through the Scriptures – not just the clergy, the hierarchy, Peter and the others … even Cleopas and his companion – setting their hearts on fire and then bringing them into the dynamic in which he is made known to them in the breaking of the bread of the Eucharist,” he said.

According to the event organizers, the special programming for priests at the National Eucharistic Congress is intended to offer a unique experience of reflection, encounter and prayer, and to invite priests to “greater intimacy with Jesus Christ, the Great High Priest.”

Bishop Robert Barron, Bishop Andrew Cozzens, Dan Cellucci, Monsignor James Shea and Jonathan Reyes gave special addresses to the priests attending the conference.

Father Cassidy Stinson, a 32-year-old priest from the Diocese of Richmond, Virginia, told CNA that he “appreciated starting the conference with Dr. Hahn’s reminder that we must prioritize Scripture to be effective in our proclamation of the Gospel.”

The young priest said he was also grateful for the other opportunities the conference provided for prayer and community.

“I was truly inspired by the opportunity to worship with my brother priests this afternoon and to be encouraged in my ministry by our bishops,” Stinson said.

“As a priest, it is inspiring to hear our own pastors urge boldness, creativity and prayer in the way we evangelize.”