VATICAN: Papal Message Closes Fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress in Dublin
A video message from Benedict XVI, transmitted at
the end of a Mass attended by thousands of people in Dublin yesterday evening,
brought to a close the fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress. The
Congress – This was held in the Irish capital over the course of last week on
the theme: “The Eucharist. Communion with Christ and with One Another” –
coincided with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II,
and the choice of theme was associated with that anniversary, as the Holy
Father explained in his message, extracts of which are given below.
“From the earliest times the notion of
‘koinonia’ or ‘communio’ has been at the core of the Church’s understanding of
herself, her relationship to Christ her founder, and the Sacraments she
celebrates, above all the Eucharist. Through our Baptism, we are incorporated
into Christ’s death, reborn into the great family of the brothers and sisters
of Jesus Christ; through Confirmation we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit;
and by our sharing in the Eucharist, we come into communion with Christ and
each other visibly here on earth. We also receive the pledge of eternal life to
come.
‘koinonia’ or ‘communio’ has been at the core of the Church’s understanding of
herself, her relationship to Christ her founder, and the Sacraments she
celebrates, above all the Eucharist. Through our Baptism, we are incorporated
into Christ’s death, reborn into the great family of the brothers and sisters
of Jesus Christ; through Confirmation we receive the seal of the Holy Spirit;
and by our sharing in the Eucharist, we come into communion with Christ and
each other visibly here on earth. We also receive the pledge of eternal life to
come.
“The Congress also occurs at a time when the
Church throughout the world is preparing to celebrate the Year of Faith to mark
the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Vatican Council II, an event which
launched the most extensive renewal of the Roman Rite ever known. Based upon a
deepening appreciation of the sources of the liturgy, the Council promoted the
full and active participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic sacrifice. At
our distance today from the Council Fathers’ expressed desires regarding
liturgical renewal, and in the light of the universal Church’s experience in
the intervening period, it is clear that a great deal has been achieved; but it
is equally clear that there have been many misunderstandings and
irregularities. The renewal of external forms, desired by the Council Fathers,
was intended to make it easier to enter into the inner depth of the mystery.
Its true purpose was to lead people to a personal encounter with the Lord,
present in the Eucharist, and thus with the living God, so that through this
contact with Christ’s love, the love of His brothers and sisters for one
another might also grow. Yet not infrequently, the revision of liturgical forms
has remained at an external level, and “active participation” has been confused
with external activity. Hence much still remains to be done on the path of real
liturgical renewal. In a changed world, increasingly fixated on material
things, we must learn to recognise anew the mysterious presence of the Risen
Lord, which alone can give breadth and depth to our life.
Church throughout the world is preparing to celebrate the Year of Faith to mark
the fiftieth anniversary of the start of the Vatican Council II, an event which
launched the most extensive renewal of the Roman Rite ever known. Based upon a
deepening appreciation of the sources of the liturgy, the Council promoted the
full and active participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic sacrifice. At
our distance today from the Council Fathers’ expressed desires regarding
liturgical renewal, and in the light of the universal Church’s experience in
the intervening period, it is clear that a great deal has been achieved; but it
is equally clear that there have been many misunderstandings and
irregularities. The renewal of external forms, desired by the Council Fathers,
was intended to make it easier to enter into the inner depth of the mystery.
Its true purpose was to lead people to a personal encounter with the Lord,
present in the Eucharist, and thus with the living God, so that through this
contact with Christ’s love, the love of His brothers and sisters for one
another might also grow. Yet not infrequently, the revision of liturgical forms
has remained at an external level, and “active participation” has been confused
with external activity. Hence much still remains to be done on the path of real
liturgical renewal. In a changed world, increasingly fixated on material
things, we must learn to recognise anew the mysterious presence of the Risen
Lord, which alone can give breadth and depth to our life.
“The Eucharist is the worship of the whole
Church, but it also requires the full engagement of each individual Christian
in the Church’s mission; it contains a call to be the holy people of God, but
also one to individual holiness; it is to be celebrated with great joy and
simplicity, but also as worthily and reverently as possible; it invites us to
repent of our sins, but also to forgive our brothers and sisters; it binds us
together in the Spirit, but it also commands us in the same Spirit to bring the
good news of salvation to others.
Church, but it also requires the full engagement of each individual Christian
in the Church’s mission; it contains a call to be the holy people of God, but
also one to individual holiness; it is to be celebrated with great joy and
simplicity, but also as worthily and reverently as possible; it invites us to
repent of our sins, but also to forgive our brothers and sisters; it binds us
together in the Spirit, but it also commands us in the same Spirit to bring the
good news of salvation to others.
“Moreover, the Eucharist is the memorial of
Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, His body and blood given in the new and eternal
covenant for the forgiveness of sins and the transformation of the world.
Ireland has been shaped by the Mass at the deepest level for centuries, and by
its power and grace generations of monks, martyrs and missionaries have
heroically lived the faith at home and spread the Good News of God’s love and
forgiveness well beyond your shores. You are the heirs to a Church that has
been a mighty force for good in the world, and which has given a profound and
enduring love of Christ and His blessed Mother to many, many others. Your
forebears in the Church in Ireland knew how to strive for holiness and
constancy in their personal lives, how to preach the joy that comes from the
Gospel, how to promote the importance of belonging to the universal Church in
communion with the See of Peter, and how to pass on a love of the faith and
Christian virtue to other generations. Our Catholic faith, imbued with a
radical sense of God’s presence, caught up in the beauty of His creation all
around us, and purified through personal penance and awareness of God’s
forgiveness, is a legacy that is surely perfected and nourished when regularly
placed on the Lord’s altar at the sacrifice of the Mass.
Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, His body and blood given in the new and eternal
covenant for the forgiveness of sins and the transformation of the world.
Ireland has been shaped by the Mass at the deepest level for centuries, and by
its power and grace generations of monks, martyrs and missionaries have
heroically lived the faith at home and spread the Good News of God’s love and
forgiveness well beyond your shores. You are the heirs to a Church that has
been a mighty force for good in the world, and which has given a profound and
enduring love of Christ and His blessed Mother to many, many others. Your
forebears in the Church in Ireland knew how to strive for holiness and
constancy in their personal lives, how to preach the joy that comes from the
Gospel, how to promote the importance of belonging to the universal Church in
communion with the See of Peter, and how to pass on a love of the faith and
Christian virtue to other generations. Our Catholic faith, imbued with a
radical sense of God’s presence, caught up in the beauty of His creation all
around us, and purified through personal penance and awareness of God’s
forgiveness, is a legacy that is surely perfected and nourished when regularly
placed on the Lord’s altar at the sacrifice of the Mass.
“Thankfulness and joy at such a great
history of faith and love have recently been shaken in an appalling way by the
revelation of sins committed by priests and consecrated persons against people
entrusted to their care. Instead of showing them the path towards Christ,
towards God, instead of bearing witness to His goodness, they abused people and
undermined the credibility of the Church’s message. How are we to explain the
fact that people who regularly received the Lord’s body and confessed their
sins in the Sacrament of Penance have offended in this way? It remains a
mystery. Yet evidently, their Christianity was no longer nourished by joyful
encounter with Jesus Christ: it had become merely a matter of habit. The work
of the Council was really meant to overcome this form of Christianity and to
rediscover the faith as a deep personal friendship with the goodness of Jesus
Christ. The Eucharistic Congress has a similar aim. Here we wish to encounter
the Risen Lord. We ask Him to touch us deeply. May He who breathed on the
Apostles at Easter, communicating his Spirit to them, likewise bestow upon us
His breath, the power of the Holy Spirit, and so help us to become true
witnesses to His love, witnesses to the truth. His truth is love. Christ’s love
is truth.
history of faith and love have recently been shaken in an appalling way by the
revelation of sins committed by priests and consecrated persons against people
entrusted to their care. Instead of showing them the path towards Christ,
towards God, instead of bearing witness to His goodness, they abused people and
undermined the credibility of the Church’s message. How are we to explain the
fact that people who regularly received the Lord’s body and confessed their
sins in the Sacrament of Penance have offended in this way? It remains a
mystery. Yet evidently, their Christianity was no longer nourished by joyful
encounter with Jesus Christ: it had become merely a matter of habit. The work
of the Council was really meant to overcome this form of Christianity and to
rediscover the faith as a deep personal friendship with the goodness of Jesus
Christ. The Eucharistic Congress has a similar aim. Here we wish to encounter
the Risen Lord. We ask Him to touch us deeply. May He who breathed on the
Apostles at Easter, communicating his Spirit to them, likewise bestow upon us
His breath, the power of the Holy Spirit, and so help us to become true
witnesses to His love, witnesses to the truth. His truth is love. Christ’s love
is truth.
“My dear brothers and sisters, I pray that
the Congress will be for each of you a spiritually fruitful experience of
communion with Christ and his Church. At the same time, I would like to invite
you to join me in praying for God’s blessing upon the next International
Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2016 in the city of Cebu! To the
people of the Philippines I send warm greetings and an assurance of my
closeness in prayer during the period of preparation for this great ecclesial
gathering”.
the Congress will be for each of you a spiritually fruitful experience of
communion with Christ and his Church. At the same time, I would like to invite
you to join me in praying for God’s blessing upon the next International
Eucharistic Congress, which will take place in 2016 in the city of Cebu! To the
people of the Philippines I send warm greetings and an assurance of my
closeness in prayer during the period of preparation for this great ecclesial
gathering”.
SOURCE: VIS
