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Aerial view City Park Stadium, New Orleans, filled with worshippers at the National Eucharistic Congress of 1938

In the Roman Catholic church, a Eucharistic Congress is a gathering of clergy, religious, and laity to bear witness to the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is an important Roman Catholic doctrine. Congresses bring together people from a wide area, and typically involve large open-air Masses, adoration of the Eucharist (Blessed Sacrament), and other devotional ceremonies held over several days. There are National and International Eucharistic Congresses.

Nineteenth century[link]

The first International Eucharistic Congress owed its inspiration to Bishop Gaston de Ségur, and was held at Lille, France, 21 June 1881. The idea at first was merely local and met with few adherents, but it grew from year to year with an ever-increasing importance. The sixth congress met in Paris, 2–6 July 1888, and the great memorial church of the Sacred Heart on Montmartre was the centre of the proceedings. Antwerp entertained the next congress, 15–21 August 1890; an immense altar of repose was erected in the Place de Meir, and an estimated 150,000 persons were gathered about it when Cardinal Goossens, Archbishop of Mechlin, gave the solemn Benediction. Bishop Doutreloux of Liège was then president of the Permanent Committee for the Organization of Eucharistic Congresses, the body which has charge of the details of these meetings. Of special importance also was the eighth congress, held in Jerusalem in 1893.

Twentieth century[link]

A series of articles on Eucharistic Adoration
Papal documents Mirae Caritatis • Dominicae Cenae • Mysterium Fidei • Mediator Dei • Ecclesia de Eucharistia Organizations and events Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament • Servants of the Blessed Sacrament • Perpetual Adorers • Tabernacle Societies • Eucharistic Congress Notable individuals St. Francis • Peter Eymard • Jean Vianney • Marie Tamisier • Leo Dupont Eucharistic Meditators Thérèse of Lisieux • Maria Candida • Conchita de Armida • Maria Valtorta

In 1907, the congress was held in Metz, Lorraine, and the German Government suspended the law of 1870 (which forbade processions), in order that the usual solemn procession of the Blessed Sacrament might be held. Each year the congress had become more and more definitely international, and at the invitation of Archbishop Bourne of Westminster it was decided to hold the nineteenth congress in London, the first among English-speaking members of the Church.

The presidents of the Permanent Committee of the International Eucharistic Congresses, under whose direction all this progress was made, were: Bishop Gaston de Ségur of Lille; Archbishop de La Bouillerie, titular of Perga and coadjutor of Bordeaux; Archbishop Duquesnay of Cambrai; Cardinal Mermillod, Bishop of Lausanne and Geneva; Bishop Doutreloux of Liège, and Bishop Thomas Heylen of Namur, Belgium. After each congress this committee prepared and published a volume giving a report of all the papers read and the discussions on them in the various sections of the meeting, the sermons preached, the addresses made at the public meetings, and the details of all that transpired.

The 19th International Eucharistic Congress was held in London in 1908.

The 20th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Cologne in 1909.

The 21st International Eucharistic Congress was held in Montreal in 1910.

The 22nd International Eucharistic Congress was held in Madrid in 1911.

The 23rd International Eucharistic Congress was held in Vienna in 1912.

28th International Eucharistic Congress, Chicago[link]

In 1926 the 28th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Chicago from June 20–24. Cardinal Bonzano was the papal legate and the host was George Cardinal Mundelein, Archbishop of Chicago. Mass for a crowd estimated at 500,000 was held at the recently completed Soldier Field Stadium. Closing mass at St. Mary's of the Lake Seminary had nearly a million worshipers.

31st International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin[link]

In 1932, the 31st International Eucharistic Congress was held in Dublin, Ireland from 22–26 June, that year being the 1,500th anniversary of Saint Patrick's arrival in Ireland. There were 3,171,697 Catholics in Ireland in 1932, and the Congress theme was "The Propagation of the Sainted Eucharist by Irish Missionaries."^[1]

32nd, 34th, 35th, 37th, 38th, and 39th Congresses[link]

The 32nd International Eucharistic Congress was held in Melbourne in 1934; the 34th in Budapest in 1938; the 35th in Barcelona in 1952; the 37th in Munich in 1960; the 38th in Bombay in 1964; and the 39th in Bogota in 1968;

41st International Eucharistic Congress, Philadelphia[link]

In 1976 the 41st International Eucharistic Congress was held in Philadelphia in August, that year being the 200th anniversary of independence for the United States. The theme was Jesus, the bread of life. John Cardinal Krol was Philadelphia's Archbishop. The Mass held at Municipal (J.F. Kennedy) Stadium was attended by U.S. president Gerald R. Ford.

Twenty-first century[link]

47th International Eucharistic Congress, Rome[link]

The 47th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Rome from 18–25 June 2000. It was the third to be celebrated in Rome, and the first of its kind to be celebrated in a Jubilee Year.

48th International Eucharistic Congress, Guadalajara[link]

The 48th International Eucharistic Congress was held in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico from 10 to 17 October 2004. Pope John Paul II, being too ill to attend, named Cardinal Josef Tomko as Papal Legate. The Congress ended with a celebration of the Mass in the Jalisco Stadium in Guadalajara, with a live link up between that Mass, and a simultaneous Mass celebrated in St Peter's Basilica in Rome in the presence of Pope John Paul II. These simultaneous Masses marked the beginning of the Year of the Eucharist which ran from the International Eucharistic Congress to the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2005. At the end of the Mass, the Pope announced the location of the next Congress.

49th International Eucharistic Congress, Quebec City[link]

In May 2007, a Youth Summit was held at the University of Laval in preparation for the 49th International Eucharistic Congress. This took place in Quebec City, 15–22 June 2008, commemorating the 400th anniversary of the city's founding.^[2] The theme of the Congress was "The Eucharist, Gift of God for the Life of the World".^[2] The closing celebration took place on the Plains of Abraham, attended by tens of thousands of pilgrims.^[3] Pope Benedict XVI's message was broadcast live, in both French and English, from the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, via giant screens set up on the meadow.^[3] The Pope announced the next Congress was to take place in Dublin, in 2012:

Dear Friends, as this significant event in the life of the Church draws to a close I invite you to join me in praying for the Success of the next International Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2012 in the city of Dublin! I take this opportunity to greet warmly the people of Ireland, as they prepare to host this ecclesial gathering. I am confident that they, together with all the participants at the next Congress, will find it a source of lasting spiritual renewal.^[3]

50th International Eucharistic Congress, Dublin[link]

The 50th International Eucharistic Congress will take place in Dublin, Ireland from 10–17 June 2012. It coincides with the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of the Second Vatican Council. The theme of the Congress, drawn from Lumen gentium, 7 is The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another. The Congress is more than just an event in 2012. In an interview with Vatican Radio, Fr. Kevin Doran, Secretary General of the Congress explained that people are invited to take a journey of pastoral preparation in advance of the Congress.^[4] Most Congress activities in 2012 will take place at the Royal Dublin Society. The Statio Orbis (closing ceremony) will take place at the Croke Park sports stadium. The prospect of a visit to Ireland by Pope Benedict XVI to coincide with the congress disappeared in July 2011 following public expressions of anger directed by the Irish Government at the Vatican following the child sexual abuse scandal in Cloyne diocese.^[5] The papal nuncio was recalled from Dublin to Rome following on the Vatican by the Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, in Dáil Éireann. However, the appointment of a new papal nuncio drawn from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith rather than from the diplomatic corps was viewed^{[by whom?]} as a move by the Vatican towards resuming normal diplomatic relations with Ireland.^[6].

Sixth National Eucharistic Conference, Madras[link]

In 1937, the sixth National Eucharistic Conference was held in Madras. Silver Souvenir medals with scalloped edges, with the inscription ADOREMUS IN AETERNUM SANCTISSIMUM SACRAMENTUM were made available at the time. This inscription was around the scalloped edges with the picture of the Holy Eucharist and the Vatican in the background. At the back of the medal was inscribed SOUVENIR OF THE SIXTH NATIONAL EUCHARIST CONGRESS MADRAS, 1937.

References[link]

• Chesterton, Gilbert Keith. The Collected Works of G. K. Chesterton. Ignatius Press. ISBN 0-89870-854-0. 
• de Courcy, J. W. (1996). The Liffey in Dublin. Gill & Macmillan. ISBN 0-7171-2423-1. 

External links[link]

• The 1926 Cardinal's Train to the 28th International Eucharistic Congress in Chicago at ThemeTrains.com.
• Catholic Encyclopedia
• List on the Vatican`s WebSite of the International Eucharistic Congresses
• Official Website for the 2008 Eucharistic Conference
• 49th International Eucharistic Congress: Photo Gallery by The Catholic Photographer
• Official Website for the 2012 Eucharistic Conference
• The Cardinal's Train to the 28th IEC in 1926

His Most Reverend Excellency  Luís Antonio G. Tagle  Primate of the Philippines
Archbishop of Manila
Archbishop Tagle delivering the sermon at his enthronement.
Province	Manila
Diocese	Metropolitan See of Manila
See	Manila
Elected	13 October 2011
Enthroned	12 December 2011 (&100000000000000000000000 years, &10000000000000253000000253 days)
Predecessor	Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales
Successor	Incumbent
Other posts	Bishop of Imus
Orders
Ordination	27 February 1982
Consecration	12 December 2001
Personal details
Birth name	Luís Antonio Gokim Tagle
Born	(1957-06-21) June 21, 1957 (age 55) Manila, Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Denomination	Roman Catholic Church
Residence	Manila, Cavite
Parents	Manuel and Milagros Tagle (née Gokim)
Occupation	Archbishop, Primate of Philippines
Profession	Sacerdotal Catholic Priest
Alma mater	Ateneo de Manila University

Luís Antonio "Chito" Gokim Tagle (born 21 June 1957 in Manila) is the Filipino Roman Catholic Archbishop^[1] of of Manila^[2] and de facto Primate of the Philippines.^[3] Appointed by Pope Benedict XVI, Tagle succeeded the Archbishop Emeritus, Gaudencio B. Cardinal Rosales. Tagle is also an Associate Professor of Systematic Theology at the Loyola School of Theology in the Ateneo de Manila University.^[4]

Tagle is widely known for his conservatism and charismatic nature, highlighting many social issues in the Philippines with emphasis on helping the poor and the needy, while maintaining opposition against abortion,^[5] contraception,^[6] and the Reproductive Health Bill.^[4] Tagle currently wields strong religious and political influence as the country's primate, with an estimated 2.8 million professed Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese.^[7]

Tagle was enthroned on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and is currently the head of the Metropolitan See of Manila along with its head church, the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception as both its metropolitan archbishop^[8] and archpriest.

Early life[link]

A young Tagle in audience with Blessed Pope John Paul II and the future Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican Library, Rome.

Tagle was born in Manila to devoutly pious Roman Catholic parents, Manuel Tagle and Milagros Gokim. Tagle is the firstborn child among his siblings and at the age of three, had already been able to recite the Holy Rosary. After attending elementary and secondary school at St Andrew's School in Parañaque, he gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy at San José Seminary in Manila in 1977. Though his parents expected him to become a physician, he was influenced by priestly friends to enter Ateneo de Manila University, which gave him automatic entrance to the Saint Joseph Seminary.

Tagle earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Divinity from Ateneo and later, a Bachelor of Arts in Theology degree at Loyola School of Theology.^[4] Tagle then gained his Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Catholic University of America from 1987 to 1991, Summa cum Laude. He wrote his dissertation under the direction of Joseph Komonchak on the notion of episcopal collegiality as it was developed at the Second Vatican Council and the influence of Pope Paul VI on this development.^[9] In addition to this, Tagle also attended doctrinal courses at the Institute of Pope Paul VI University.^[10]

Tagle was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on 27 February, 1982. After ordination, he held the following positions: parochial vicar of St Augustine Parish – Mendez-Nuñez, Cavite (1982–1983), spiritual director (1982–1983) and later rector (1983–1985) of the diocesan seminary of Imus. After having gone to Rome to study (1985–1992), he was appointed episcopal vicar for religious (1993–1995), then pastor (1998–2001) of Imus Cathedral.^[11]

He was appointed a member of the International Theological Commission (1997-2002) serving under then-Cardinal, President Joseph Ratzinger. He was a member of the Bologna-based editorial board (1995-2001) of the "History of Vatican II" project led by Alberto Melloni. Tagle is also currently the Chairman for the Episcopal Commission on the Doctrine of Faith.^[10]

Coat of arms[link]

Tagle's personal coat of arms (dexter side) is impaled with that of the Archdiocese of Manila (sinister side).

The sinister side is derived from the arms of the City of Manila. The tower of Castille^[12] signifies belief in the one God, its three windows professing devotion to the Trinity. The crescent moon is a symbol of St Mary as the Immaculate Conception, the principal patroness of the Philippines. On the lower portion, a merlion is clutching a cruciform staff is on an azure field. The merlion is originally a Spanish heraldic symbol for the Philippines, denoting it as an ultramar (overseas) possession. Today, the device is also found in many government seals (most prominently the Seal of the President of the Philippines).

On the other side, the top section portrays Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd and as a fisherman with the Gospel. The middle section portrays Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of his previous diocese. The bottom depicts a carpenter's rule, which signifies Saint Joseph the Worker, the seminary which he attended.

Tagle's motto is taken from the Gospel of John 21:7, Dominus Est! (“It is the Lord!”).

Bishop of Imus[link]

Tagle was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Imus on 22 October 2001, and consecrated on 12 December 2001.^[13]

At the first gathering of bishops under Pope Benedict XVI in 2005, the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, he made one of the seven speeches from the floor, about the inadequacy of the number of priests in the Philippines,^[14][15] and also commented in a news conference that "The first Sunday after my ordination as a priest, I said nine Masses, and that is regular in the Philippines."^[16] Within the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines, he is the President of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith.

Tagle attended the 2008 International Eucharistic Congress in Quebec, Canada, for delivering a well-received catechesis on the importance of the Eucharist.

Archbishop of Manila[link]

Pope Benedict XVI meeting with Archbishop Tagle in the Apostolic Palace, Rome.

On 13 October 2011, the Holy See appointed Bishop Tagle as the 32nd Archbishop of Manila succeeding Cardinal Gaudencio Rosales, thus making him the de facto Primate of the Philippines.

Tagle now governs the Metropolitan See of Manila with a population 2.8 million Roman Catholics, at a time when secularisation presents many challenges to the Church including changes in legislation regarding family life, birth control, and marriage.^[17] As per the terms of canon law, Tagle took possession of the see of Manila within two months of his appointment. He was installed as Archbishop on 12 December 2011, to coincide with the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the tenth anniversary of his episcopal consecration.

In September 2011, prior to his installation as Archbishop of Manila, Tagle made a religious pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

On 9 February 2012, Tagle attended a four-day conference called Symposium for Healing and Renewal at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Addressing 110 dioceses and 30 religious institutes, Tagle discussed issues regarding the sex-abuse crisis in Asia, whereas homosexual child-abuse cases are not a common problem, rather the crisis of some select non-celibate priests and their habit of acquiring mistresses.^[18][19] Tagle maintained that a culture of shame perpetrated the problem and does not contribute to the solution.^[20] As a result, the Holy See has launched an internet project to further help the cause of abused victims and prevent further crises.^[21]

On 13 February 2012, Tagle announced that the Cathedral-Basilica of the Immaculate Conception would be temporarily closed, citing structural work needed to maintain the integrity and strength of the Basilica against possible damage earthquakes. The circular issued by Tagle noted that the ground is too soft for the building, the columns for support did not meet engineering criteria and that the Archdiocese has temporarily designated San Fernando de Dilao Parish Church in Paco as its official church until repairs on the Cathedral are completed.^[22]

On 12 June 2012 Archbishop Tagle was appointed a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education for a five year renewable term. ^[23]

On June 12, 2012, Tagle delivered a Catechetical speech at the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin, Ireland. In the congress, he noted the importance of the Eucharist in relation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, particularly her maternal role in the Christian daily life and the practicality of living a life of sanctity and piety based on the beliefs regarding the Eucharist in the Catholic Church^[24]. In addition, Tagle also mentioned the various issues which divided the church in Ireland and similar cases in Asia^[25][26].

On June 29th, 2012, the Holy Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Tagle received the pallium from Pope Benedict XVI, along with other international bishops at St. Peter's Basilica. Tagle was one of the two Asian bishops in attendance whom the pontiff granted the pallium, along with Korean bishop Andrew Yeom Sou-jeong.

Affiliation with the Bologna School[link]

Tagle served for 6 years (1995-2001) on the editorial board (consisting of over 50 members) of the 'History of Vatican II’ project^[10] coordinated by Alberto Melloni and Giuseppe Alberigo, both promoters of the Bologna School of ecclesiastical history which asserts that the Second Vatican Council was a "rupture" with the past. This position has been criticized by Pope Benedict XVI (amongst others) who holds the Vatican II was a "continuity" with the past.^[27]

The five volume, 2,500 page 'History of Vatican II’ (completed after discussions at 14 international conferences with contributions from over one hundred scholars) is seen as the seminal work on the Second Vatican Council although it has been criticized by some conservatives for providing an overly progressive reading of the council.^[28] In particular Tagle wrote in 1999, the chapter in the in the fourth volume of the ‘History of Vatican II’ dedicated to the so-called “Black Week” which unfolded at the close of the council’s third session in 1964, when several actions by Pope Paul VI caused alarm among reform forces. The Catholic commentator Sandro Magister reported that members of the Congregation for Bishops - who considered Tagle's candidacy for archbishop - only found out about his affiliation with the Bologna School after he was appointed.^[29]

The Vaticanologist John L. Allen, Jr. reported that Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Holy See's prefect for the Congregation for Bishops and protégé of Pope Benedict XVI, maintains his “full support" for Tagle. Allen also reported that a Vatican official indicated that he read Tagle’s 1999 essay - after media reports highlighted it - and found nothing objectionable. In fact, he was impressed by Tagle’s defense of Paul VI (Tagle wrote that Paul followed a strategy of “listening to all views, especially opposing ones,” and was willing to “sacrifice his personal popularity to save the council and its future.”) This official also said it’s hard to suggest Tagle is opposed to Pope Benedict’s reading of the council, since one of the sources Tagle cited was the writings of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.^[30]

Styles of Luís Antonio G. Tagle
Reference style	The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Television[link]

Despite his appointment as Archbishop of Manila, Tagle is still the presenter of The Word Exposed, a Catholic television programme produced by the Jesuit Communications Foundation. He is also co-presenter on Kape't Pandasal ("Coffee and Prayer", a pun on the term kape't pandesal or "coffee and salted bread"), an early morning religious inspirational programme partly produced by the same network, currently furnished and broadcast by ABS-CBN.^[31]

Episcopal succession[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Archbishop Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle
• Luís Antonio Tagle on Facebook

v t e Current Filipino Archbishops Cardinal-Archbishop Vacant Cardinal-Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales (Manila)  · Ricardo Cardinal Vidal (Cebu) Archbishops Luis Antonio Tagle (Manila)  · Jose S. Palma (Cebu)  · Leonard Legaspi (Nueva Caceres)  · Antonio Ledesma (Cagayan de Oro)  · Jose Advincula (Capiz)  · Orlando Quevedo (Cotabato)  · Romulo Valles (Davao)  · Angel Lagdameo (Jaro)  · Socrates Villegas (Lingayen-Dagupan)  · Ramon Arguelles (Lipa)  · Ernesto Salgado (Nueva Segovia)  · Jesus Dosado (Ozamis)  · John F. Du (Palo)  · Paciano Aniceto (San Fernando)  · Sergio Utleg (Tuguegarao)  · Vacant (Zamboanga) Archbishop Emeritus Jesus Tuquib (Cagayan de Oro)  · Pedro R. Dean (Palo)  · Oscar V. Cruz (Lingayen-Dagupan)  · Diosdado Talamayan (Tuguegarao )  · Onesimo Gordoncillo (Capiz)  · Fernando Capalla (Davao) Papal Nuncio Adolfo Yllana (Congo Nunciature)  · Francisco Padilla (Tanzania Nunciature)  · Osvaldo Padilla (Korea and Mongolia Nunciature)  · Bernardito Auza (Haiti Nunciature)