Pope Benedict XVI wrote an Apostolic Exhortation, Sacramentum Caritatis, to remind all of us that “every great reform has in some way been linked to the rediscovery of the…Lord’s Eucharistic presence among His people.'” He urged us to recognize that we meet Jesus Himself in the Eucharist and therefore, this sacrament is the highest point in our lives. He asked for parishes to plan communal adoration, to return to solemn processions for Corpus Christi, to renew gestures and postures of deep reverence. “Receiving the Eucharist means adoring Him whom we receive.”
There is a religious order of lay brothers who are especially dedicated to spreading this message of adoration and reverence. They are so devoted to the presence of our Lord in this sacrament that they are willing to lay down their lives for Him.
The Knights of the Holy Eucharist believe our world is in need of serious reform. It can only be saved by this kind of change which Pope Benedict spoke of…We need a return to an awe-filled attitude toward the Bread of Life, in which the King of kings comes to be with us.
“Our world has lost belief in the Real Presence,” says Bro. David Mary, the Superior of the Knights. “Our role as Knights is to assist the universal Church by working to promote faith, adoration, reverence and devotion to our Lord.”
One postulant with the Knights describes his beginning at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in Hanceville, AL. “I started out studying and doing lawn work on the grounds here. Now I am a sacristan. I love this work. I do it for Jesus, our Eucharistic king.”
The training (or formation) of a Knight is a process that can take from six to eight years. “Men enter our community here with open hearts. There is time for discernment. In the meantime, spending an hour or more in adoration is the most important activity in the day of all Knights.”
Through their example of reverence, through their meetings with visitors to the Shrine and through their prayers and outreach to the world, the Knights have a message to share: Jesus comes to be with us in what looks like bread and wine. He who holds all the power of the universe, out of great Love, comes to feed our souls. What can we give our Lord in return? We are all called to devotion, reverence, attention, commitment.
To learn more about the Knights of the Holy Eucharist, visit their website at www.knights.org.
