By Gretchen Keiser

The true presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is a "singular miracle" that Catholics should embrace and defend in their faith, a pastoral letter from the archbishop of Atlanta says.

Reflecting upon the significance of the Eucharist, Archbishop John F. Donoghue calls the transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ "the wellspring of our salvation and the ultimate meaning of our individual lives."

He asks Catholics of the Archdiocese of Atlanta to meet the doubts of those who do not accept this mystery with "renewed conviction and visible witness." He also explores the significance of the Eucharist, calling it "a sacrifice and a triumph" and a sign of the redeeming covenant between God and mankind. The Eucharist is also the "abiding source of (the Church's) unity," the pastoral says, drawing together members of the Church in all places and at all times.

Archbishop Donoghue issued the pastoral, titled "Rejoice in the Lord, Always!" on the Third Sunday of Advent, which tradition decks with rose-colored vestments and joyful anticipation of the Nativity. The letter was mailed to 65,000 Catholics in North Georgia.

At the same time the archbishop announced that the Cathedral of Christ the King is preparing a chapel for perpetual adoration of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. It was the first pastoral letter issued by the archbishop since he became Atlanta's new leader in August.

However, in an interview following the issuance of the pastoral, the archbishop said that the emphasis of this letter evolved from a longstanding concern of his as a bishop; that belief in the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist is weakening.

Some people see the Eucharist as a symbol only, he said. Others believe that Christ is truly present during the Eucharistic celebration, but do not believe in the presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament when Mass is ended, the archbishop said.

"The Eucharist is the source and summit of the whole Christian life," he said, citing the document of the Second Vatican Council Lumen Gentium. "It is the central, core mystery of our faith. We have lost everything else if we lost that."

While bishop of Charlotte, NC, Archbishop Donoghue was able to establish perpetual adoration there.

Archbishop Donoghue said he wanted to underline, in the pastoral, the richness of the theology of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is often referred to as a banquet or meal, but less often is it spoken of as a sacrifice, he said. He sought to balance the emphases, reasserting the reality that "in the Eucharist, the sacrifice of Christ becomes also the sacrifice of the members of his Body."

He is particularly concerned that younger Catholics be taught clearly that in the Eucharist Christ is present entirely, "that this is the Body, the Blood, the soul, the total divinity of Christ."

Archbishop Donoghue said he would also like to re-present to a new generation of Catholics traditional eucharistic devotions.

Creating an area at the Cathedral for perpetual adoration is expected to take place in January. It is planned to be an area separate from the main sanctuary to be kept open 24 hours a day.