Approximately 2,100 of the faithful of our Diocese participated in our recent diocesan pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
Since 1970, the Diocese of Camden has been an active organizer of a biannual pilgrimage to the Shrine in D.C. For the past four years due to the pandemic, there was no pilgrimage. It was refreshing to encourage participation in this year’s pilgrimage and return to that magnificent Basilica.
Forty of our priests and 15 permanent deacons were present in the Basilica. Choirs from some of our high schools and grammar schools, our parishes and a children’s handbell ensemble from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Regional School in Berlin all made a joyful noise to the Lord. The gifted music directors of these different groups showed their talents. The concert was lively, entertaining and lifted the hearts of all present to the Lord. The Rosary was prayed in five languages. The Procession of Parishes included parishioners who proudly carried their parish banner down the main aisle of the Basilica. The highlight of our Camden Diocese pilgrimage was the celebration of Mass with vigorous participation by the faithful and robust hymn singing.
Those who were not physically present with us in the Basilica accompanied us in spirit. Their intentions were remembered to the Lord in the “House of Mary.” The theme of our pilgrimage was the Blessed Virgin Mary, Temple of the Lord. That theme was selected to connect our Marian pilgrimage to the Eucharistic Revival, which is underway in our Diocese and in the Church in the United States.
When Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit the Son of God in her immaculate womb, she became a Temple of the Lord, which fittingly describes her holiness. Within her, she carried the Son of God. Mary is the Temple of the Lord par excellence. Temples of the Lord likewise fittingly describe our holiness. As a result of our Baptism, Confirmation and when we receive Holy Communion, the Lord dwells in us. He who is truly, really present in Holy Communion is truly, really present in us. Our reception of Holy Communion makes us temples of the Lord because Christ is in us.
Mary carried the Lord in her womb. In 2003, Pope Saint John Paul II wrote an encyclical titled “Ecclesia de Eucharistia,” (the Church draws her life from the Eucharist). The Holy Father taught in that encyclical that the Holy Eucharist builds up and sustains the Church; that the Eucharist stands at the center of the Church’s life, and that the Church draws her life from the Eucharist because the Eucharist is Christ Himself. The Eucharist is truly a “mysterium fidei,” a mystery of faith, which surpasses our understanding. A mystery that only faith can begin to understand. May this three-year Eucharistic Revival stir up our faith that the Body of Christ, received in Holy Communion is the true presence of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The “Ecclesia de Eucharistia” encyclical calls Mary, “Woman of the Eucharist.” It teaches that at the Annunciation, Mary anticipated physically what happens when we receive Holy Communion. Within her body, she held the Lord. When we receive Holy Communion, we hold the Lord, who mixes up with our bodies. Christ dwells with us. The Lord who dwelt in human form in Mary, the Temple of the Lord, dwells in us, temples of the Lord in this most holy sacrament. Mary carried Jesus in her womb; we carry Him in our bodies when we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. God dwelling in Mary,
Temple of the Lord. God dwelling in us, temples of the Lord.
Mary, Temple of the Lord, brought Jesus who dwelt in her into the world; so, too, must we, temples of the Lord, bring Him into the world of our parishes, our families, our places of work and our Diocese. We must bear Him to all, especially to those who need to know and experience His love. That’s what temples of the Lord do.
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