Dear family all over the world,

It is difficult indeed to be away from you. I think about you very often, and miss you very much: some of you I saw recently, others I have not seen for years. (There's even some of you that I have never met). I am writing to let you know that even though we do not often get a chance to meet or talk to each other, we are intimately connected through our faith and celebration of the Eucharist.

In this past year I have grown so much in my appreciation and understanding of the Eucharistic celebration during the mass. I remember my heart first stirring about 2 years ago when I attended Latin Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes. Rather by accident, I ended up at a Latin Mass that was not the Tridentine Mass, but rather the 1970 Roman Missal Mass, identical to the Post-Vatican II Mass I have attended in English all my life, with the Liturgy of the Word in English, but the Gathering, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Dismissal in Latin. I was moved to tears during the Mass, as I suddenly felt an immense connection to all the people who over 2000 years had celebrated the Mass, heard the words (not precisely those words, but very similar) and experienced the intimate connection with God and the Church in the Eucharist. I spent the rest of that semester attending Mass in Latin, reveling in the intimate connection I felt with the global Church -- we often speak of English as the universal language, but at one point in time, not that long ago, Latin joined believers all over the world. Do not get me wrong, I am a great supporter of celebrating the Eucharist in local languages so that the congregation is closer to the mysteries being celebrated, but I think that everyone should experience mass in Latin at least once in their lives.

The reason that I felt so responsive to this image of the global church was the great gift I have had through my short life of having celebrated the mass all around the world – across Asia and Europe, in Australia and in the USA. In every place, the Mass was the same, just in different languages– the same prayers, the same rituals – the same Body and Blood.

Perhaps most important to opening my eyes to the universal (catholic) Church was my experience of World Youth Day in Sydney two years ago, where I saw the great gathering of Catholics from around the world, and experienced our truly global faith. For two weeks I basked in the presence of young Christian men and women who had traveled the world to be together with the Pope to celebrate our shared faith. I was often moved to tears during those two weeks, seeing the droves of people, walking towards the same location, waving their flags, singing, praying, dancing and glorifying God together.

Some of my cousins and extended family, past and present

Having seen the global face of Christ, and knowing that I am so deeply connected to you all over the world through our relationship, I have lately been drawn to an even deeper understanding of that connection – you and I are linked with every celebration of the Eucharist. Just like Danielle Rose sings in her song (posted above), “we receive each other's presence” in the Eucharist. That gives me hope when I am away from you. Every time I attend mass and celebrate the Eucharist, I now think of you, all over the world, as you attend Mass throughout that day, across various timezones – we are joined at one table. As a family, we have always placed so much emphasis on eating together (for any occasion) and now when I receive Holy Communion, I think back to Sunday lunches, when I was young, sitting at the table for a special meal to be shared with you. I even think of family dinners in front of the TV, as we ate together, talked about our days, and about the television shows we bonded over. I think of countless birthdays, baptisms, first Holy Communions, weddings, anniversaries and funerals we have attended together, sharing food and drink, good conversations and being enveloped in love. Here I am now, away from all of you, but I have faith that “when we gather at the table, we are closer than our breath.”

My parent's wedding and our family photo

There are four Eucharistic Prayers in the Roman Missal, which are the words of prayer, offering, consecration and transformation of the simple offerings of bread and wine into the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Out of these four prayers, Eucharistic Prayer III allows me to feel the most intimate connection to you and the global body of Christ through it's words of invocation and consecration. In this prayer, the priest says the following words, that speak to me personally about our intimate connection in the Eucharist.

"From age to age you gather a people to yourself, so that from east to west a perfect offering may be made to the glory of your name.

[…]

Grant that we, who are nourished by his body and blood, may be filled with his Holy Spirit, and become one body, one spirit in Christ.

[…]

Lord, may this sacrifice, which has made our peace with you, advance the peace and salvation of all the world. Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth; your servant, Pope {Benedict}, our Bishop {name of local bishop}, and all the bishops, with the clergy and the entire people your Son has gained for you. Father, hear the prayers of the family you have gathered here before you. In mercy and love unite all your children wherever they may be.” (emphasis added)

As you can see, the words of this Eucharistic prayer join all peoples together (through time and space) such that I am intimately connected through the celebration of the Eucharist with all of you, my living family all over the world, and also my family in Christ, globally and through all time.

So the next time you attend mass, listen carefully – you might just miss it – Jesus is calling us all to His table, into His arms. So “come and meet me at the table, come and meet me in His heart […] though I cannot see your face, I will see you in the Eucharist." I know that, as Matt Maher sings in the song I have posted below, even though we are far apart, “Love Will Hold Us Together.” I have utmost faith in the God that IS Love, and I know that in my love for you and for God we shall be ever connected.

"Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another. No one has ever seen God. Yet, if we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is brought to perfection in us." (1 John 4:7-12)

I am sending you the deepest love and best regards. The next time you celebrate the Eucharist, please think of me, for I shall be thinking of you as I approach the table of the Lord, I shall hold you in my heart and I know that "I will meet you at the table, I will meet you in His heart."

Do not be afraid,

I will see you in the Eucharist

Love always,

JoAnn