End of Christendom

by Fr. Jess Ty  |  08/11/2024  |  Weekly Reflection

Fifty years ago, Archbishop Fulton Sheen solemnly said during a television show, that “First of all, we are at the end of Christendom, now not Christianity, not the Church.” He meant, “Christendom is economic, political, social life as inspired by Christian principles. That is ending — we’ve seen it die. Look at the symptoms: the breakup of the family, divorce, abortion, immorality, general dishonesty.” That was 1974. Today we know it’s even worse with the definition of marriage, gender confusions, and total disrespect of God and His commandments.

He continued, “Social peace, world peace, is the extension of individual peace in our hearts. When we are right with God, then we will be right with our fellow man. When are not right with God, then we will be wrong with everyone else.” He told everyone to take seriously spending an hour before the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament every day “not only for our own souls, but for the world, and to strengthen our minority.”

The Eucharistic Revival for the past three years and culminating three weeks ago during the National Eucharistic Congress at Indianapolis, gives us some hope. Bishop Robert Barron echoed this invitation of Archbishop Sheen to all the faithful during the congress. I have seen many young families with multiple young children participated and putting God first in their lives. Thousands of priests and bishops, and more than fifty thousand of lay faithful renewed their faith in Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

For us Christians to thrive we all need to continue this Revival of our faith in Jesus and be Eucharistic Missionaries, witnessing our faith and proclaiming it with love to all the people we meet. Being ready to offer sacrifices for others in imitation of the Lord, so they will know and love and serve our Lord too. Renew our love and devotion to Jesus in the Eucharist, the Bread that came down from heaven, making Him the Source, the Summit and Center of our Christian lives. With God on our side and we, the faithful in union with Jesus, nothing is impossible with God. We are assured of victory in this spiritual warfare.

Jesus said in our Gospel this Sunday, “I am the living Bread which came down from Heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (John 6:51).

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, our Queen-Mother, and Saint Joseph intercede for us all to be Eucharistic Missionaries in our times, conquering one soul at a time for Jesus.