Mailnews_old

Views 345 Votes 0 Comment 0
?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
?

Shortcut

PrevPrev Article

NextNext Article

Larger Font Smaller Font Up Down Go comment Print
POPE REPLACES 'LETTER TO PRIESTS' WITH ENCYCLICAL ON EUCHARIST
 
ROME: 16th April -- Pope John Paul II has, this year, offered the Universal Church his long-awaited encyclical on the Eucharist.  For one group in the Church, the presbyterate, it replaces the annual Letter to Priests, always a Eucharistic reflection intended to help priests to focus the celebration of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday in terms of their priestly ministry.
 
The new encyclical, which will be available for distribution in time for the Holy Thursday celebration ('austraLasia' has a copy - if you wish to have an emailed version, please indicate) is called Ecclesia de Eucharistia.  As its name suggests, it considers the Eucharist in its relationship to the Church.  The Pope expresses his 'amazement and gratitude' at the mystery which is celebrated firstly during the 'Triduum' and then down through the ages.  He wishes to rekindle this amazement in the Church by deepening the 'programme' he set out at the beginning of the Millennium - the contemplation of Christ, recognizable especially in the Eucharist.
 
In a particular way, the Pope wishes to 'banish the dark clouds of unacceptable doctrine and practice' which have obscured the Eucharist at times.  But this is not just an 'in-house' document.  Early on, in the first chapter in fact, the Pope underlines the role of the Eucharist in spurring 'us on our journey through history.....daily commitment to the work before us'.  A 'new heaven' yes, but also a 'new earth' with the consequent 'sense of responsibility for the world today'.
 
Ecclesia in Eucharistia reinforces belief and practice in worship of the Eucharist ouside of Mass...but strictly in connection with the eucharistic sacrifice. The 'visit' is still very much in!
 
The Pope shares the pain of those communities deprived of the Eucharist through lack of a priest, and commends the efforts of those Religious and lay people who lead their brothers and sisters in prayer, exercising 'the common priesthood of the faithful based on the grace of Baptism'.  But these are temporary solutions.
 
On the ticklish matter of intercommunion, the Pope reiterates the well-established teaching of the Church, but he does offer a particular slant to it all - there can be no 'legitimate concelebration in the absence of full communion' but 'the same is not true with respect to the administration of the Eucharist under special circumstances to individual persons'.  The intention is to meet a grave spiritual need, not to bring about intercommunion.  None of this is new teaching.
 
Priests are asked to be faithful to liturgical norms for the celebration of Eucharist, in the interests not just of their community but of the universal Church.  "Liturgy is never anyubody's private property', he reminds them.  He has asked the Roman Curia to prepare a more detailed document on the matter of liturgical norms.
 
The encyclical concludes with an emotional and also by now hallmark appeal to the connection between Mary and the subject in hand - reread the Magnificat in a Eucharistic key, he urges.  He then outlines his own faith in the Holy Eucharist: Ave verum corpus natum de Maria Virgine and concludes with the remainder of  the 'poet of Christ', Thomas Aquinas' words on the Eucharist.

  1. No Image 20Mar
    by
    in FIS
    Views 346 

    1662_Pakistan remembers

  2. No Image 20Mar
    by
    in VIE
    Views 346 

    1613_Vietnam ordinations Bishop De's first

  3. No Image 19Mar
    by
    in World
    Views 346 

    1419_Hi, salamat! Congrats to newly ordained Negros Salesian Fr Rex

  4. No Image 18Mar
    by
    in GIA
    Views 346 

    1292_Yokohama: 9 students struck by motorist, two died from injuries

  5. No Image 17Mar
    by
    in RMG
    Views 346 

    0834_The Rector Major asked for a dream....

  6. No Image 15Mar
    by
    Views 346 

    0154_Missing

  7. No Image 20Mar
    by
    in VIE
    Views 345 

    1814_Dalat delight at visit of RM

  8. No Image 20Mar
    by
    in VIE
    Views 345 

    1789_Vietnam celebrates Blessed Artemides Zatti as Brothers Day for the Province

  9. No Image 19Mar
    by
    in Mongolia
    Views 345 

    1528_Easter Growth Part II: Mongolia has 25% increase in Catholics!

  10. No Image 18Mar
    by
    in THA
    Views 345 

    1034_Thailand: from sorrow to joy; in sorrow, joy

  11. No Image 17Mar
    by
    in Indonesia
    Views 345 

    0866_The first group from the first Novitiate in Indonesia

  12. No Image 17Mar
    by ceteratolle
    in World
    Views 345 

    0667_POPE REPLACES 'LETTER TO PRIESTS' WITH ENCYCLICAL ON EUCHARIST

  13. No Image 20Mar
    by
    in Cambodia
    Views 344 

    1705_Church says 'thank you' at Thang Koo, after 450 years

  14. No Image 17Mar
    by
    in World
    Views 344 

    0784_BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE RECOGNITION FOR SDB WEBMASTER

  15. No Image 15Mar
    by
    Views 344 

    0180_Missing

  16. No Image 18Mar
    by
    in India
    Views 343 

    1216_Mumbai province galvanized ino action, faced by widespread destruction and at least two student fatalities

  17. No Image 18Mar
    by
    in India
    Views 343 

    0985_Sri Lanka: Fr Pinto provides some precise details on relief needs and response

  18. No Image 18Mar
    by
    in GIA
    Views 343 

    0936_The First Rector Major to visit Miyazaki!

  19. No Image 17Mar
    by
    in World
    Views 343 

    0626_Pope nominates parish youth centres as priority for Church

  20. No Image 17Mar
    by
    in Mongolia
    Views 342 

    0782_SALESIANS IN MONGOLIA CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS WITH STREET CHILDREN

Board Pagination Prev 1 ... 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 ... 177 Next
/ 177