The National Eucharistic Revival is a movement to restore understanding and devotion to the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. The movement, which was initiated by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, began last June and will continue through 2025. 

As part of the Eucharistic Revival in the Diocese of Austin, priests from around the diocese will be recording “60 Seconds with the Eucharist.” Father James Misko, the vicar general of the Diocese of Austin, kicked off the series with his reflection on why the Eucharist is central to the Catholic faith.

In the Eucharist, God makes physical contact with his people, Father Misko said. “God comes to dwell among us.”

“The Eucharist is the moment where God who created all that is says, ‘I love you so much, I think so highly of you that I actually want to place myself into your hands.’ So when we come up for Holy Communion, we are receiving the God of history physically into our hands and that is what we call the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.”

Father Misko recommends the book God is Near Us by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for those who want to learn more about the beauty of the Eucharist. 

The “60 Seconds with the Eucharist” series can be found on YouTube (search Diocese of Austin), and the videos are shared on the Diocese of Austin Facebook page.