St Agnes Lenten Mission 2025 with Rev. Michael S. Driscoll

THE EUCHARIST AS THE EMBODIMENT OF LOVE

In the aftermath of the Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis held in the summer of 2024, we are spending time deepening our understanding and appreciation of the Eucharist. The purpose of the three-night mission will be to focus on the Eucharist as a mystery to be celebrated, to be believed, and to be lived. In the past twenty-five years, the Eucharist has been a prominent theme in official Catholic documents, especially from the last three popes. Pope Francis in his exhortation The Joy of the Gospel writes: “God’s word, listened to and celebrated, above all in the Eucharist, nourishes and inwardly strengthens Christians, enabling them to offer an authentic witness to the Gospel in daily life.” These three-conferences attempt to find the connection between cult, creed, and code, to the extent that how we pray shapes what we believe and how we act as Christians living in the world. On Monday we will examine the developments over the past three decades, then look at the liturgical dimension. We will explore why good celebrations foster deep faith and good ethical practice. On Tuesday we will explore the doctrinal dimension basing it on the numerous Eucharistic prayers contained in the Roman Missal. Finally, on Wednesday we will see how the Eucharist celebrations must translate into our lived experience, most notably social justice.

The Eucharist is a mystery to be celebrated, believed and lived. The retreat will make the connection between cult, creed, and code, to the extent that how we pray shapes what we believe and how we act as Christians living in the world. Particular attention is given to the liturgical celebration.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
All sessions will take place at the church

  • Monday, March 17: 12:00 noon & 7:00 pm
    The Eucharist as a Mystery to be celebrated (liturgical dimension)

  • Tuesday, March 18: 12:00 noon & 7:00 pm
    The Eucharist as a Mystery to be believed (theological dimension)

  • Wednesday, March 19: 12:00 noon & 7:00 pm
    The Eucharist as a Mystery to be lived (ethical dimension)

Rev. Michael S. Driscoll is a priest of the Diocese of Helena in Montana and since 2017 professor emeritus in theology at the University of Notre Dame where he has taught sacramental theology and liturgy since 1994. He is the founding director of the graduate program in Sacred Music (MSM) and the Interdisciplinary Minor in Liturgical Music Ministry at Notre Dame. He is an active member of several professional groups having served in the leadership of each: North American Academy of Liturgy (NAAL), the Societas Liturgica, and the Catholic Academy of Liturgy (CAL). He has published two books, many book chapters, and numerous articles in journals such as Worship, Ecclesia Orans and Tradition.