Eucharistic Congress September 11 and 12, 2009

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Washington, D.C.

Theme: Sacrifice of Enduring Love: A Eucharistic Congress

The Congress will consider:

The Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, the source and summit of enduring love, where Jesus Christ our Savior gives Himself totally as Bridegroom, uniting to himself His Spouse, the Church, in the perfect Sacrifice of love that brings to fulfillment the communion between God and His people.

Within the universal call to holiness in which all the baptized share, three ways of life within the Christian vocation will be explored in depth. Each is characterized by:

+ an irrevocable commitment;
+ an identification with Christ in his submission to the Will of the Father; and
+ a complete gift of self in love

• Priesthood Configured by Holy Orders to Christ, priest, prophet and king in the image of Christ the Spouse Who offered Himself completely in love for His Bride, the Church, a man is consecrated in Christ’s name for the salvation of others, feeding the Church by the word and grace of God. (CCC 1534)

• Religious Life: Entering into an intimate spousal union with Christ and with the Church within a religious institute by profession of the evangelical counsels, a woman or man bears witness to the communion of life within the Most Holy Trinity, following Christ more closely through this total gift of self to the praise and glory of God, for the salvation of souls and for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven.

• Marriage: By the gift of man and woman to one another in Christ, an irrevocable and fruitful communion of persons is achieved that is a real symbol of the fidelity of God to His covenant and of Christ to His Church. The love of the spouses is a participation in the very charity of Christ who gave Himself completely on the Cross. (FC 13)