CROWN POINT – “May our devotion to your Son and our love for the Eucharist increase; and may the experience here tonight billow forth to touch many lives.”
Bishop Robert J. McClory prayed those words as he welcomed the faithful to the second diocesan Eucharistic Holy Hour at St. Matthias on Dec. 14, expressing his gratitude for all those in attendance and for the opportunity to hear from Father John Anthony Boughton, C.F.R.
During his talk, Father Boughton, a named Eucharistic Preacher by the United States of Catholic Conference of Bishops, was forthcoming that he didn’t grow up believing Jesus was truly present in the Eucharist. He was raised Episcopalian but became the first Catholic in his family in 500 years.
Father Boughton said his conversion came through meeting Catholics "who knew their faith and knew the Bible." Those individuals introduced him to the Rosary and the Blessed Sacrament, while helping to dispel some of the misconceptions he had about Catholics. He also recalled a woman who suggested he spend some time in adoration chapels.
“They said this stuff about Jesus, and they really seemed to believe it, so I thought maybe I ought to spend some time over there with Him, if he’s really there, and pray about this," said Father Boughton. "Boy does the eye of your heart start to open when you start to do that.”
The then-Protestant started to examine John: 6, a section of the Bible that discusses how Jesus emphasized his presence in the Eucharist. Still wondering if the Body and Blood of Christ could be just a symbolic reference, he also read more about the history of the first apostles and their teachings, and soon realized the message of Jesus being in the Eucharist was not intended as a mere figure of speech.
One day, Boughton was sitting in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a chapel in Europe, struggling with his own vocation, when he heard the Lord say in his heart “John, you know the truth. Now, act on it.” He immediately began taking steps to join the Catholic faith and eventually joined the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
“I knew in my heart of hearts there was no other place I could be if this teaching is true,” said Father Boughton. “It’s been a constant teaching of 2,000 years of Christianity that Jesus is truly present, body, blood, soul, divinity and humanity on the altar at the hands of a priest, then there's no other Church I could possibly be in.”
Father Boughton reminded those gathered that priests have the authority by God to confect the Eucharist and change it to Jesus' body. Bishops and priests throughout history going all the way back to Jesus Christ have been given that authority, he said.
“Words with authority change reality,” he stressed.
The Sunday Mass obligation in the Catholic Church is based on the Third Commandment: “Remember the sabbath day – keep it holy” (Ex 20:8). Father Boughton noted that deliberately missing Mass on Sunday, without a just reason, is considered a mortal sin.
“If we really understood that it is Him and He wants to be united with each one of us individually, we'd be going to Mass every day if we could," said Father Boughton. "And if we open our hearts to that reality, it changes everything because you’ll know that you’re never alone.”
For those who feel they "don't get anything out of going to Mass," Father Boughton recommended they take a moment to reflect on whether they took time to prepare. Arriving early, reviewing the readings and coming properly dressed, he believes, can influence the experience of the liturgy.
“I want to challenge everyone including myself … Let’s up the ante for what we do on Sunday,” he said. “Let’s show, at least to ourselves, that we believe there is something special going on at Mass on Sunday.”
Father Boughton recognized that many still struggle believing in the Real Presence and suggested they pray for the gift of faith.
“Brothers and sisters, he who walked the streets of Jerusalem, he wants to have a heart to heart relationship with you. He wants to transform you.” he said.
Father Boughton then invited those gathered to approach the altar to kneel as he brought the Eucharistic Jesus in front of each person for a moment of personal encounter and prayer. During this time, with the church lights dimmed, two female voices began to harmonize accompanied by a single guitar. The songs recited verses that included the words “May we never lose our wonder,” “It’s Your breathe in our lungs” and “You are perfect in all of Your ways.”
The music was performed by Lauren Meade, a Valparaiso University student that attends St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center, and Gina Boeding, a FOCUS missionary from Iowa currently at VU.
“It was the greatest hour and a half of my life,” said Meade. “I’ve never felt so free leading and singing praise.”
“To be involved in something like the Eucharistic Revival is such a gift,” added Boeding.
Diane Maletta, a parishioner of St. John the Evangelist in St. John, came to the Holy Hour interested to hear Father Boughton speak. She became familiar with the priest as she and a few others at her parish recently started reading a prayer book he published.
“I think the National Eucharistic Revival is really important because there are a lot of people who don’t know that Jesus is really in the Eucharistic, and it’s good the bishop initiated the Holy Hours.”
The Holy Hour was one of four scheduled within the Diocese of Gary in anticipation of the National Eucharistic Revival and the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis in the summer of 2024. The remaining Holy Hours will be Wednesday, Feb. 8 at Sacred Heart Church in LaPorte and on Friday, March 31 at St. Joseph in Hammond.
Sean Martin, director of Evangelization, Catechesis, and Family Life, said each Holy Hour is a bit different in the sense that it takes on the charism of the Eucharistic preacher.
“Father John Anthony offered a beautiful witness of his conversion and challenged us in practicing our Catholic faith a bit deeper than before,” he said. “His procession with the Blessed Sacrament was simple, yet so profound in encouraging all of us to pray for healing in some form or fashion and expecting the Lord to grant us His graces.”