“From the Archives” – The First National Eucharistic Congress
The recent National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis was the 10th such event held in the United States. The first occurred in 1896 in Washington, DC, and was the inspiration of a devout French layperson, Marthe-Baptiste Tamissier, who organized the first congress in Lille, France, in 1881. She hoped to revive the French church, which had greatly declined after the French revolution.
By 1895, Saint Mary parishioners were well-versed in international church affairs. They could read Catholic and Washington newspapers, and the Alexandria Gazette, which reported on major Catholic events. Since the congress was held locally, Father Henry Cutler, Saint Mary’s pastor from 1891-1915, certainly took part in it. Only clergy attended this congress; 25 bishops and 250 priests participated. Mass was held at Saint Patrick’s Church in downtown DC. Meetings took place at the new Catholic University, which sponsored the event.
The main theme was “to foster devotion to the sacrament of the Eucharist.” Along with urging the faithful to receive the Eucharist, Catholics were exhorted to meditate on the Real Presence and participate in devotions such as Benediction. The congress also recommended widespread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which had been gaining popularity since Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a pious nun, reported her visions of Jesus in the 1670s. The Jesuit priests who served at Saint Mary until 1891 had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart. Father Cutler continued and augmented the practice. After the congress, he began a new organization in the parish, the League of the Sacred Heart, with branches for both adults and children. First Friday Mass attendance also was encouraged.
Eight more congresses were held in various parts of the country until 1941, when World War II began. In 1930, the congress was opened to all Catholics, ordained and laity. These gatherings continued to grow and contribute to the spiritual life of American Catholics.
— Kitty Guy, Parish Historian
In 2020, to commemorate the 225th anniversary of our parish, we started “From the Archives” as a weekly feature online and in our bulletin to spotlight the history of Saint Mary’s. Due to its popularity, we are continuing the series in 2022. An archive of the features is located here.