austraLasia #1787
Sacramentum caritatis - get your copy here
ROME: 14th March 2007 -- 'Charity' is clearly the present Pope's dominant theme. His only encyclical letter thus far bore that theme in its title and so too does his Apostolic Exhortation, follow up to the special Synod on the Eucharist, 'Sacramentum Caritatis'. You can pick up a copy immediately from Bosconet home page. SC was released yesterday morning in Rome but is signed 22nd February, Feast of the Chair of St Peter.
The document is both profoundly theological, which will make it difficult to tamper with, and sufficiently straightforward and direct to make it readable and usable! That yoking together of what are normally opposites is not a bad achievement methinks! Coming halfway through Lent, it has arrived at a good time for reflection. He writes it in three parts - a mystery to be believed, to be celebrated, to be lived. Pastorally and practically, that division of the text makes for an easy approach.
Obviously one has to read it oneself, but, just as a taste, what are some of the matters it deals with?
The Real Presence: "In the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a 'thing', but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives us the totality of his life...'
The Eucharist as a true sacrifice: two points, one old one modern: "In instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus anticipates and makes present the sacrifice of the cross and the victory of the resurrection. At the same time he reveals that he himself is the true sacrificial lamb, destined in the Father's plan from the foundation of the world..."; "The substantial conversion of bread and wine into his body and blood introduces within creation the principle of a radical change, a sort of 'nuclear fission', to use an image familiar to us today, which penetrates to the heart of all being, a change meant to set off a process which transforms reality..."
The Eucharist and Confession: "The loss of a consciousness of sin always entails a certain superficiality in the understanding of God's love. Brining out the elements within the rite of Mass that express consciousness of personal sin...can prove most helpful tot he faithful". "...it is important that the confessionals in our churches should be clearly visible expressions of the importance of this sacrament. I ask pastors to be vigilant...and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to the cases permitted since individual absolution is the only form intended for ordinary use". (He throws in a note here on the 'balanced and sound practice of gaining indulgences').
The role of the priest: "Any attempt to make themselves the centre of the liturgical action contradicts their very identity as priests. The priest is above all the servant of others...the priesthood...is the office of the Good Shepherd".
On the celibacy of the priesthood: "It is not sufficient to understand priestly celibacy in purely functional terms...it is a profound identification with the heart of Christ the Bridegroom who gives his life for his Bride".
On vocations: "Families should generously embrace the gift of life and bring up their children to be open to doing God’s will. In a word, they must have the courage to set before young people the radical decision to follow Christ, showing them how deeply rewarding it is".
The Pope takes up a number of quite practical issues - the Sign of Peace, use of Latin and chant (just a paragraph so while recommended it is not a dominant theme by any means), placement of the tabernacle...
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AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.
Sacramentum caritatis - get your copy here
ROME: 14th March 2007 -- 'Charity' is clearly the present Pope's dominant theme. His only encyclical letter thus far bore that theme in its title and so too does his Apostolic Exhortation, follow up to the special Synod on the Eucharist, 'Sacramentum Caritatis'. You can pick up a copy immediately from Bosconet home page. SC was released yesterday morning in Rome but is signed 22nd February, Feast of the Chair of St Peter.
The document is both profoundly theological, which will make it difficult to tamper with, and sufficiently straightforward and direct to make it readable and usable! That yoking together of what are normally opposites is not a bad achievement methinks! Coming halfway through Lent, it has arrived at a good time for reflection. He writes it in three parts - a mystery to be believed, to be celebrated, to be lived. Pastorally and practically, that division of the text makes for an easy approach.
Obviously one has to read it oneself, but, just as a taste, what are some of the matters it deals with?
The Real Presence: "In the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a 'thing', but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives us the totality of his life...'
The Eucharist as a true sacrifice: two points, one old one modern: "In instituting the Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus anticipates and makes present the sacrifice of the cross and the victory of the resurrection. At the same time he reveals that he himself is the true sacrificial lamb, destined in the Father's plan from the foundation of the world..."; "The substantial conversion of bread and wine into his body and blood introduces within creation the principle of a radical change, a sort of 'nuclear fission', to use an image familiar to us today, which penetrates to the heart of all being, a change meant to set off a process which transforms reality..."
The Eucharist and Confession: "The loss of a consciousness of sin always entails a certain superficiality in the understanding of God's love. Brining out the elements within the rite of Mass that express consciousness of personal sin...can prove most helpful tot he faithful". "...it is important that the confessionals in our churches should be clearly visible expressions of the importance of this sacrament. I ask pastors to be vigilant...and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to the cases permitted since individual absolution is the only form intended for ordinary use". (He throws in a note here on the 'balanced and sound practice of gaining indulgences').
The role of the priest: "Any attempt to make themselves the centre of the liturgical action contradicts their very identity as priests. The priest is above all the servant of others...the priesthood...is the office of the Good Shepherd".
On the celibacy of the priesthood: "It is not sufficient to understand priestly celibacy in purely functional terms...it is a profound identification with the heart of Christ the Bridegroom who gives his life for his Bride".
On vocations: "Families should generously embrace the gift of life and bring up their children to be open to doing God’s will. In a word, they must have the courage to set before young people the radical decision to follow Christ, showing them how deeply rewarding it is".
The Pope takes up a number of quite practical issues - the Sign of Peace, use of Latin and chant (just a paragraph so while recommended it is not a dominant theme by any means), placement of the tabernacle...
_________________
AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific. It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome. For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use BoscoWiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - subscribe to www.bosconet.aust.com/RSS/rssala.xm To contact austraLasia by voice on Skype, the Skype name is austraLasia.
