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Vatican City, 13th March 2007 (CNA) - In the
Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m. today, the presentation took place of
the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Sacramentum Caritatis," on the
Eucharist, source and summit of the life and mission of the Church.
Participating in the press conference were Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch
of Venice, Italy and relater general of the 11th Ordinary General Assembly
of the Synod of Bishops, as well as Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary
general of the Synod of Bishops.
The exhortation, which is dated February 22,
Feast of the of the Chair of St. Peter, is the final document of the synodal
assembly held in Rome from October 2nd to 23rd, 2005. It has been published
in Latin, Italian, English, French, Spanish German, Portuguese and Polish.
Archbishop Eterovic explained how the
Apostolic Exhortation forms part of the "series of great documents on the
sublime Sacrament of the Eucharist such as, for example, those of Servant of
God John Paul II 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' and 'Mane nobiscum Domine.' 'Sacramentum
Caritatis' is part of this continuity and, at the same time, re-proposes in
an updated form certain essential truths of Eucharistic doctrine, calling
for the dignified celebration of the sacred rite and recalling the urgent
need to include Eucharistic life as part of everyday life."
The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops
pointed out that the document, "in presenting the great truths of
Eucharistic faith in a way accessible to modern man, considers various
current aspects of [Eucharistic] celebration and calls for a renewed
commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, in which the Bread
broken for everyone's life becomes ... the exemplary cause in the fight
against hunger and against all forms of poverty."
For his part, Cardinal Angelo Scola recalled
how the title of the Apostolic Exhortation, "Sacramentum Caritatis,"
reaffirms "the Holy Father's insistence over these two years of his
pontificate on the truth of love," clearly indicating that this is "one of
the crucial themes upon which the future of the Church and of humanity
depend."
The Exhortation is founded "on the
indissoluble bond of three elements: Eucharistic mystery, liturgical action
and new spiritual worship." Hence, the text "is divided into three sections,
each one of which considers one of the three dimensions of the Eucharist."
The sections are entitled: "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," "the
Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," and "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be
lived."
"The Holy Father's teaching," Cardinal Scola
went on, "clearly illustrates how liturgical action (the mystery to be
celebrated) is that specific action which makes it possible for Christian
life (the mystery to be lived, new worship) to be conformed by faith (the
mystery to be believed)." In "a second and very important doctrinal
novelty," Benedict XVI also highlights "the importance of 'ars celebrandi'
(art of celebration) for an ever greater 'actuosa participatio' (full,
active and fruitful participation)."
The first section of the document, "the
Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," highlights the "free gift of the
Blessed Trinity" and illustrates "the mystery of the Eucharist on the basis
of its Trinitarian origin, which ensures it always remains a gift. ... In
this teaching are the profound roots of what the Exhortation says concerning
adoration and its intrinsic relationship with Eucharistic celebration."
With reference to Christology and the work of
the Spirit, the Holy Father considers "the institution of the Eucharist in
relation to the Jewish Paschal supper," in a "decisive passage that
illuminates the radical 'novum' that Christ brought to the ancient ritual
meal.
"Indeed," the cardinal added, "in the rites we
do not repeat an act chronologically situated during Jesus' Last Supper,
rather we celebrate the Eucharist as a radical 'novum' of Christian
worship." Jesus calls us to enter "the mystery of death and resurrection,
the innovative beginning of the transformation ... of all history and all
the cosmos."
The chapter on "the Eucharist and the Church"
highlights how "the Eucharist is the causal principle of the Church: 'We
too, at every celebration of the Eucharist, confess the primacy of Christ's
gift. The causal influence of the Eucharist at the Church's origins
definitively discloses both the chronological and ontological priority of
the fact that it was Christ Who loved us first.' Benedict XVI, while
affirming the circularity between the Eucharist that builds the Church and
the Church herself that celebrates the Eucharist, makes a significant
magisterial option for the primacy of Eucharistic over ecclesial causality."
"The Holy Eucharist brings Christian
initiation to completion and represents the center and goal of all
sacramental life" said Cardinal Scola quoting from the Exhortation, and he
pointed out how the document goes on to consider the Eucharist and the seven
Sacraments. "Concerning the Sacrament of Reconciliation the Holy Father
insists on the need for 'a reinvigorated catechesis on the conversion born
of the Eucharist'," while "the Anointing of the Sick and the Viaticum
'unites the sick with Christ's self-offering for the salvation of all'."
"The irreplaceable nature of priestly ministry
for the valid celebration of Mass," is emphasized in the chapter dedicated
to "the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Holy Orders," said the patriarch of
Venice, adding that the Holy Father "reaffirms and underlines the
relationship between priestly ordination and celibacy: 'while respecting the
practice and tradition of the Eastern Churches, there is a need to reaffirm
the profound meaning of priestly celibacy, which is rightly considered a
priceless treasure'."
The great decrease in the number of clergy on
some continents "must be faced in the first place by bearing witness to the
beauty of priestly life," and by "careful vocational formation."
In the chapter entitled "the Eucharist and
Matrimony" the Holy Father maintains that "the Eucharist, par excellence a
nuptial Sacrament, 'inexhaustibly strengthens the indissoluble unity and
love of every Christian marriage'."
"Taking the nuptial nature of the Eucharist as
his starting point," said Cardinal Scola, "Benedict XVI reconsiders the
theme of the unicity of Christian marriage, with reference to the question
of polygamy and to the indissolubility of the marriage bond.
"The text contains important pastoral
suggestions" concerning Catholics who have divorced and remarried, he added.
"The Exhortation, having reaffirmed that despite their situation such people
'continue to belong to the Church, which accompanies them with special
concern,' lists nine ways to participate in the life of the community for
these faithful who, even without receiving Communion, can adopt a Christian
style of life."
Mention is also made in the text "of people
who, having celebrated a valid marriage, ... find themselves unable to
obtain a nullity of the marriage bond, suggesting that, with appropriate
pastoral assistance they commit themselves 'to living their relationship in
fidelity to the demands of God's law, as friends, as brother and sister,' in
other words transforming their bond into a fraternal friendship."
The second part of the document, "the
Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," is dedicated, the cardinal said, "to
describing the development of liturgical action in celebration, indicating
the aspects that deserve the greatest attention and making a number of
significant pastoral suggestions."
"The Pope offers a number of indications
concerning the richness of liturgical symbols (silence, vestments, gestures,
the standing and kneeling positions, etc.) and of art at the service of
celebration." In this context the document recalls the importance of the
tabernacle being visible in the church and marked by a lamp.
The unity between Eucharistic mystery,
liturgical action and new spiritual worship becomes clear "when the Pope
highlights the personal conditions for active participation."
The document highlights certain pastoral
aspects that favor a more active participation in the sacred rites. These
include use of the communications media, participation by the sick,
prisoners and emigrants, large-scale concelebrations (which must be limited
to "extraordinary situations"), and Eucharistic celebrations in small
groups. "It also proposes a more widespread use of the Latin language,
especially in the great international celebrations, without overlooking the
importance of the Gregorian chant."
"The Pope," the cardinal went on, "recalls
'the inherent unity of the rite of Mass' which must also be expressed in the
way in which the Liturgy of the Word is practiced." Benedict XVI highlights
"the great educational value for the life of the Church, especially at this
moment in history, of the presentation of the gifts, the sign of peace and
the 'Ite, missa est.' And the Holy Father entrusts the study of possible
modifications to these latter two aspects to the competent curial offices."
The third and final part of the Apostolic
Exhortation, said the cardinal, "demonstrates the power of the mystery -
believed and celebrated - to become the ultimate and definitive horizon of
Christian existence."
From its opening lines, the patriarch of
Venice went on, the Apostolic Exhortation highlights the fact "that the gift
of the Eucharist is for man, that it responds to man's hopes. ... In the
Eucharistic celebration, Christians find the true and living God, capable of
saving their lives. And the interlocutor of this salvation is human
freedom." On this subject, Benedict XVI writes: "Precisely because Christ
has become for us the food of truth, the Church turns to every man and
woman, inviting them freely to accept God's gift."
The cardinal continued: "The anthropological
importance of the Eucharist emerges with all its power in the new worship
characteristic of Christians. ... On the basis of Eucharistic action, all
the circumstances of life become, so to say, 'sacramental.' ... Regenerated
by Baptism and 'eucharistically' incorporated into the Church, man can
finally be completely fulfilled, learning to offer his 'own body' - in other
words, all of himself - as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God."
The patriarch of Venice indicated that "all
the faithful are called to a profound transformation of their own lives"
which is, as the Pope writes, "'a heartfelt yearning to respond to the
Lord's love with one's whole being, while remaining ever conscious of one's
own weakness.'
"In this context, the responsibility of
Christians in public and political life becomes particularly important."
Catholic politicians and legislators must, then, "introduce and support
laws,' the Holy Father writes, "inspired by values grounded in human nature.
There is an objective connection here with the Eucharist."
Another chapter of the document deals with the
question of the Eucharist and witness. "The first and fundamental mission
that we receive from the sacred mysteries we celebrate is that of bearing
witness by our lives," the Holy Father writes.
"The Exhortation," said the cardinal,
"strongly recommends that everyone, and in particular the lay faithful
'cultivate a desire that the Eucharist have an ever deeper effect on their
daily lives, making them convincing witnesses in the workplace and in
society at large'."
The document, Cardinal Scola said, does not
hesitate to affirm that "the Eucharist ... compels all who believe ... to
become 'bread that is broken for others,' and to work for the building of a
more just and fraternal world."
"Eucharistic celebration involves the offer of
bread and wine, the fruits of the earth, and of the life and labor of
mankind. ... The question of protecting creation is developed and becomes
more profound in relation to the Lord's design for all creation, The truth
is not mere neutral matter at the mercy of technical and scientific
manipulation, it is desired by God with a view to the recapitulation of all
things in Christ. Hence the responsibility to protect creation, a
responsibility that falls to Christians who are nourished by the Eucharist."
Cardinal Scola expressed the conviction that
"in the authenticity of faith and of Eucharistic worship lies the secret for
a revival of Christian life capable of regenerating the People of God. The
mystery of the Eucharist throws opens the way to the reality of God, which
is love."
At the beginning and end of the document,
Benedict XVI highlights the relationship between the Eucharist and the
Virgin Mary: "In Mary Most Holy, we also see perfectly fulfilled the
'sacramental' way that God comes down to meet His creatures and involves
them in His saving work. ... From Mary we must learn to become men and women
of the Eucharist and of the Church."
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