This vision isn’t limited to an election year or to a Jubilee of Mercy such
as we just observed. It is not escapism from reality but engagement in
life and its challenges with a spiritual vision, that of the Gospel.
Here’s where the Eucharist enters in. National rituals may have lost
much of their power to unite and to transform, but religiou s ritual
has not. I have seen this over and over again in the course of my life
and ministry: the exhilarating joy of baptism and the other rites of
initiation, the healing encounter with the God of mercy in sacramental
reconciliation, the reverence shown a loved one who has gone home
to God, and especially the breaking of the bread and the sharing of
the cup of Eucharist on so many occasions and in different settings.
It does not happen automatically, though. The Church’s rituals have
endured through the ages and have the power to touch and to move,
but they must be celebrated with respect for the mysteries they
transmit. The mysteries of redemption and the reign of God transform
lives and societies.
In This Issue
We hope that you enjoy this first issue of the new publishing year,
Emmanuel’s 123rd. I want to thank all of our authors and contributors.
In a special way, thanks to Paul Bernier, SSS, John Barker, OFM, and
Barbara Shanahan for writing our scripture reflections (Breaking
the Word) for the coming year, and to Dianne Bergant, CSA, for her
reflections last year and for setting up this special relationship with
scholars and board members from Catholic Theological Union in
Chicago. A blessed 2018!
Anthony Schueller, SSS