By Ms. Megan Ourso

Hi there! My name is Megan Ourso, and I have the privilege of serving as the St. Margaret Parish Point Person during this time of Eucharistic Revival. All that really means is that I am in contact with the Diocese regarding events, programs, and formation in regard to being and becoming a Eucharistic people. From there Father Paul and I have been in contact to see what would benefit our community here at St. Margaret and St Thomas. Lots of good things are on the horizon!

We are told throughout our formation as Catholics that the Mass and Eucharist are “the source and summit of our faith.” And it is true! At every hour of every day in every corner of the world, Jesus is made incarnate again on the altar, and we are invited to encounter Him. Our faith is about relationship with a Person, not sin management. Jesus shows up, but do we? That is a question that I am personally sitting with lately, and I invite you to do the same.

Besides the literal miracle each Mass is, there are many recorded Eucharistic miracles that have taken place throughout the world. These are instances of the Lord reminding us of His Humanity in a tangible way through the consecrated Host.

One of the most well-known recorders of Eucharistic miracles was Blessed Carlo Acutis. This young man was fascinated by the Eucharist and also with computers, so he combined these loves into a website documenting Eucharistic miracles. He knew that receiving the Eucharist was how he could accomplish his biggest goal in life: “To always be close to Jesus, that’s my life plan.” On his website, he told people that “the more often we receive the Eucharist, the more we will become like Jesus, so that on this earth we will have a foretaste of heaven.”

All this work, and a beatification, sounds like something that could take someone a long lifetime to accomplish, doesn’t it? How about doing it in just 15 years? Carlo was diagnosed with leukemia as a teenager and died in 2006 at the age of 15. He was beatified on October 10, 2020, just three short years ago! A spokeswoman for his beatification said that Carlo’s entire body was present when it was exhumed, but “not incorrupt.” He laid in repose in a glass tomb where he was venerated by pilgrims until October 17, 2020. Fun fact: he was displayed in jeans and a pair of Nikes.

What a witness to us today! To see someone on the way to sainthood in a pair of jeans. To see someone who knows more about computers than I do who loved Jesus in the Eucharist with all he was. Y’all, there is hope for us yet!

It is time to know more about Jesus in the Eucharist. Following in Blessed Carlo’s footsteps, Father Paul will occasionally be sharing stories of Eucharistic miracles in the bulletin in the coming months. Keep an eye out.

Blessed Carlo Acutis, pray for us!