Summary: Why do we take pictures of our food for social media? This episode enters into the mystery of the Eucharist- as sacrifice and communion. This is the first themed Unit for Real + True. It is inspired by the USCCB’s Eucharistic Revival that launches this summer. Take a listen as Emily and Edmund explain the decisions behind using the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe, imagery from Frank Sheed, and the power of Eucharistic Adoration. Learn more about the power and practice of sitting with Jesus in silence. Take a listen! Shownotes: (00:11) Edmund Mitchell and Emily Mentock welcome you to this first themed episode of the Real + True podcast. Emily shares that this unit focuses on the Eucharistic. The thesis of this unit: the Eucharist is sacrifice and communion.This Eucharistic Revival unit joins an initiative of the USCCB, a movement to “start a fire” of devotion and belief in the Eucharist. The US Bishops are responding to widespread disbelief in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. The document from the USCCB on the Eucharistic Revival,“The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church” influenced this unit.(4:19) Proclamation video: this video starts with explaining, “what is sacrifice?” Sacrifices are deeply spiritual acts. As an opener, this video tells the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe- an example of a sacrifice for something greater than us. Originally, the production team considered using the story of someone who donated their kidney, but the final decision was made to use the story of Maximilian Kolbe because it best mirrored the gift Jesus made for us on the Cross. Edmund mentions that Pope Benedict XVI wrote that through the Eucharist, “we enter into the very dynamic of his self-giving." The Mass re-presents to us the real sacrifice of Christ. (9:05) Stand out section: with this special episode, Emily and Edmund share their favorite quotes from the document on the Eucharist from the USCCB: “The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church.” Edmund’s stand out section is, “The love that we celebrate in the sacrament is not something we can keep to ourselves. By its very nature it demands to be shared with all.” This is a quote from Pope Benedict XVI (No. 56.) He liked this quote because it highlights the reality that once we encounter Jesus in the Eucharist, we share this good news with others. Emily’s stand out paragraph is: The Sacrament of the Eucharist is called Holy Communion precisely because, by placing us in intimate communion with the sacrifice of Christ, we are placed in intimate communion with him and, through him, with each other.” (No. 25) Emily felt this quote was important because it emphasizes that the Eucharist brings us together as a Church. (13:30) Explanation video: The Eucharist as Communion and Sacrifice. This video opens with the idea of all meals including death and community. Emily mentions that the trend to take photos on social media possibly stems from a natural instinct to share our food with others, because meals are communal. Frank Sheed’s image of cells in a body is used in this video to explain how the Eucharist transforms us into God. Emily notes that this video includes some of the strongest imagery of any video so far. (18:27) Connection video: How silence can change your life. The focus of this video is on Eucharistic Adoration. Edmund draws the audience’s attention to the power of silence. “It’s free and personal” is how Emily explains Eucharistic Adoration. They discuss how the Mass can be a richer and more prayerful experience if we enter into prayer outside of Mass in Eucharistic Adoration. In Adoration, we can bring our head, hand, and heart to God, and he brings us into a place of rest.(23:32) This unit is special because it pulls from both the Catechism and the USCCB document. The beauty of the Ca

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