I think it goes without saying at this point that this world is deeply secular. But even if it does go without saying, it needs to be said – because we can’t go on living like it isn’t true. It is important that we acknowledge the truths of this world, however challenging they may be. We want this world to be Christianised, we want to see the faith spread throughout the world. We want to see all nations praise the Lord and bend the knee at the name of Jesus Christ. But this isn’t happening, and it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. At least, it’s not going to happen unless we actually do something about it rather than just sitting idly by and allowing secularism to continue to strengthen its grip on the world.

What happened in France at the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games over the weekend was a disgrace. But this mockery of the central pillar of the Christian faith – the Last Supper in which the Eucharist was instituted by Christ – points towards a much greater issue at play in this postmodern society in which we live. 

I think we really need to look at this event within the context of time. In the week prior to the opening ceremony of the Olympics in Paris, the National Eucharistic Congress was being held in Indianapolis in the US State of Indiana. This event spanned five days over which fifty thousand Catholics came together to worship and adore Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Fifty-thousand Catholics on fire for the Lord, on fire for their faith, praying, worshiping, praising, deepening their faith, and glorifying God. It was amazing to see (seriously, look it up online – there’s so many wonderful pictures and recordings from the event).

When I saw what took place at the opening ceremony in Paris, the first thought that crossed my mind was one of disgust. I was appalled that France would see fit to openly mock one of the most important, critical, and meaningful events in the Catholic faith. To create what has been rightly deemed a Satanic version of the Last Supper is an atrocity that has rightly attracted the deep scorn it deserves. As a Catholic who has a deep love and respect for the faith, it’s difficult not to become upset and irate about what these people decided to do.

But after thinking about it a little more, another thought crossed my mind – and I think this is apt. There is clearly a spiritual element to all of this. It is no mere coincidence that this public act of mockery of the Institution of the Eucharist took place just after an event that centred around the Eucharist. The devil is clearly not happy with the deep public acts of devotion to Christ in the Eucharist which took place in the US and is attempting to push back with a public perversion of the event in which Christ instituted the greatest Sacrament of all – the nourishing Sacrament of His own Body and Blood.

We see this same perversion in other elements of secular society. Take, for example, the language surrounding the promotion of abortion and the pro-choice point-of-view. Those who advocate the pro-choice side of the issue often use the phrase “my body, my choice.” At the Last Supper, in instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus spoke the words of Institution that we now hear repeated by the Priest acting in persona Christe at every Mass – “This is my Body, given up for you.” 

Satan loves to pervert that which is good. He brings about ideologies which infect society, corrupting the human person from an age that is becoming increasingly younger to take on a perception of both their own self and the world which is far from the truth. The body is viewed as nothing more than an object rather than the beautiful creation of God that it truly is. The quest for power is viewed as greater than the search for truth. Service is seen as that which one must obtain from another, rather than that which one must give. People become so wound up, so obsessed with seeking worldly pleasures and obtaining validation from their peers in this world that they fail to contemplate man’s ultimate goal.

The ultimate goal is not to become powerful. It is not to attain the status of a god-king on this earth, to have thousands, hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions working for you, serving your every need and whim. That may provide some temporary pleasure and satisfaction, but a man in such a position will never truly be satisfied.

The ultimate goal is the very opposite of this – it is to serve and be a witness to truth. Christ Himself came not to be served, but to serve. It is in the imitation of Christ that man finds His true purpose – in service and sacrifice.

What the world bore witness to in Paris was a retaliation of Satan to the Eucharistic revival. In the very midst of the revival, Satan perverted that which both brought about and encapsulates truth all at the same time – the Eucharist and its very Institution.

It is almost ironic, then, that only hours after the disgrace of the opening ceremony, a blackout occurred in Paris, with the only building remaining alight being the Sacre Coeur. The history of this famous Catholic Church dates back to the 1800s. Following the defeat of the French in the Franco-Prussian war, French Catholics linked the defeat with the sins committed by the French throughout the French Revolution. They decided to build a Basilica on the hill of Montmarte (which translates to ‘Mount Martyr’) dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in reparation for the sins of the French Revolution.

Now, over 100 years after the Basilica of Sacre Coeur was built, the Church is yet again signalling to the sins of the French. While the Olympic organisers may mock the central tenet of the Christian faith, they do so at their own peril.

In the midst of darkness, the only light that remains is the light of Christ. 

It is clear that God will not be mocked.

In a message delivered during Lent in 2012, Pope Benedict XVI said something that rings truer with each passing day – “We must not remain silent before evil.” And this is a task that each of us must take on. Persecution of the Christian faith is ramping up. We are fortunate that, as it stands, this persecution is limited to mockery and some government infractions on religious freedom in Western nations, particularly first-world countries. In other nations, Christians have had most, if not all, of their religious freedoms removed, and many are even imprisoned, tortured, or killed for their faith.    

The Church must be strong in the face of persecution, whatever form it may take. We as Christians have a responsibility to stand up for what we believe in, to not only defend our faith but to proclaim it, especially in times like these. If we do not remain steadfast, pushing back against secularism in all its wretched evil, it will only continue to pervade society and steer more innocent souls onto the path that leads to hell, not only in this worldly life, but also in the life that is to come.

But we must also remember that the evil in this world also signifies the presence of good. Without good there would be no evil. As without truth there would be no lie, no deception. The ultimate good, the ultimate truth – the presence of God in this world – lies in the Eucharist. And while evil may try to mock that, it will always remain true and good, and its power will always be greater than that of evil.