Originally published at Churchpop
In light of World Youth Day approaching, Pope Francis is encouraging Catholic youth to imitate the model of soon-to-be Saint Carlo Acutis and seek devotion to the Eucharist.
The Holy Father implored:
“When the weariness of the journey weighs you down, come back to Jesus, learn to rest in Him, and abide with Him.”
My younger self would have heard the Pope’s call to develop a Eucharistic devotion and see it as a challenge– something that brought not relief but stress–another reason I wasn’t a “good enough” Catholic.
I remember being in the pew alongside elementary school classmates when our teachers brought us to adoration.
I sat restless with confusion, guilt, and shame at my internal spiritual struggle. I knew I was supposed to love this as a Catholic, but I couldn’t understand how people found peace in adoration.
To me, it was just another source of stress. I couldn’t focus or think of what to do.
“What do I think? What do I say? Do I ask for what I need? Or is that ungrateful? Should I say thank you? How do I pray?” I asked myself.
I just wanted to do it right.
Encountering the Real Presence of Jesus in the
