The Real Presence of Jesus in the consecrated species then was allowed to fade more and more even as the presence of Christ in "the people" was said to have also been rediscovered, and a new emphasis on the "priesthood of all" believers was separated from its traditional theological Catholic context and extolled in almost Lutheran tones. Indeed many priests and theologians suggested more and more that it was the celebrating congregation which "does the eucharistic action" (Bernard Cooke, The Future of the Eucharist Paulist Press, 1997 p.32).
IMO, the greatest danger to Catholicism is the tacit denegration of the Eucharist from being the life-giving, central
sign of our faith (cf. 1Cor10:17) -- or, to use the words of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at
#1327, "the sum and summary of our faith" -- to being an empty
symbol. Reforms such as the removal of the tabernacle from the center of the altar to a dark, lateral niche send the wrong message about the centrality of the Eucharist to the life of the Church.
I'm not sure if I need to have the Catechism explicated during the homily, but I definitely agree that the bishops, priests and deacons should consult it frequently while preparing their homilies. Personally, I'd prefer a more substantial profession of faith in connection with the Eucharist that goes beyond the perfunctory "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again." Perhaps a recitation after every communion based on something like Jn6:48-51, 53-58:
I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever.
Just a thought.
That is a really terrific post--I can't thank you enough for putting it up. God bless!