| Sunday´s Meaning Is Lost Without the Eucharist, Says Pope VATICAN CITY, JUNE 2, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Rediscovering the meaning of Sunday and of the Eucharist are urgent priorities for the Church, says John Paul II. On the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope addressed several thousand pilgrims gathered in St. Peter´s Square to pray the midday Angelus. He explained from the window of his study that "the Eucharist is the beating center of the community," and "its most precious treasure: Christ really present under the species of consecrated bread and wine." Because of this John Paul II said, "I again proposed a reappraisal of Sunday and, in it, of the eucharistic celebration." He cited the recommendations in his 2001 apostolic letter "Novo Millennio Ineunte." "From the very beginning, from the early community of Jerusalem, Christians gathered on the day of the Lord to renew in the Holy Mass the memorial of the death and resurrection of Christ. Sunday is the day of rest and praise, but its real meaning is lost without the Eucharist," the Pontiff added. "Faith is necessary, or rather faith vivified by love is necessary, to explore the fascinating depth of this presence of Christ under the ´signs´ of bread and wine," said the Pope, who plans to write an encyclical on the Eucharist. "Only the one who believes and loves can understand something of the ineffable mystery, thanks to which God comes close to our littleness, seeks our infirmity, reveals himself for what he is, infinite saving love," the Holy Father added. Before bidding the pilgrims farewell, the Holy Father, who sounded tired but wished to remain with the faithful, greeted groups from Ukraine, Spain and Italy, and reminded them that the month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. "May each one be able to receive constant help from that inexhaustible source of grace to grow in love and in generous service to one´s neighbor," he concluded. |
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John Paul II's Angelus address, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Sunday, 2 June 2002
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. Today in Italy and in some other countries the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is being celebrated. The Christian community gathers round the Eucharist and in it adores its most precious treasure: Christ really present under the appearances of bread and wine.
The whole People of God comes out of the churches and carries the Blessed Sacrament through the streets and squares of the city. The Risen Christ walks the highways of humanity and continues to offer his "flesh" to human beings as the true "Bread of Life" (cf. Jn 6,48.51). Just as was the case 2,000 years ago, "this is a hard saying" (Jn 6,60) for human intelligence which is overwhelmed by the mystery.
To explore the fascinating depths of Christ's presence under the "signs" of the bread and the wine, faith is necessary, or rather faith animated by love. Only those who believe and love can understand something of this ineffable mystery through which God draws close to our littleness, seeks to save our weakness, and reveals himself for what he is: infinite, saving love.
2. For this reason the Eucharist is the beating heart of the community. From the very outset, ever since the primitive community of Jerusalem, Christians have gathered on the Lord's Day to renew at Mass the memorial of Christ's Death and Resurrection. "Sunday" is the day of rest and praise, but without the Eucharist it loses its real meaning. Therefore, in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, I again proposed as a primary pastoral commitment the recovery of the value of Sunday and, of the Eucharistic celebration on the day: "it is a fundamental duty, to be fulfilled not just in order to observe a precept but as something felt as essential to a truly informed and consistent Christian life" (n. 36).
3. In adoring the Eucharist we can only think with gratitude of the Virgin Mary. The famous Eucharistic hymn that we often sing suggests this: "Ave verum corpus / natum de Maria Virgine" (Hail true Body, born of the Virgin Mary). Today, let us ask the Mother of the Lord to obtain that everyone may taste the sweetness of communion with Jesus and, thanks to the Bread of eternal life, receive a share in his mystery of salvation and holiness.
After leading the prayer of the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in Italian and Spanish. Here is a translation of his Italian remarks.
I affectionately greet Italians today and express my best wishes to them for today's national holiday. May God grant Italy peace and prosperity!
I also greet with affection the group of Ukrainians of the Greek-Catholic communities of Naples and Rome, whom I cordially bless, together with their family members in Ukraine. Dear friends, may faith always sustain you in every day life.
In greeting the Italian-speaking pilgrims present, I recall that the month of June is traditionally dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. May each one draw from this inexhaustible source of grace constant help to progress in love and in generous service to neighbour.
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From Inside the Vatican, June-July 2002, pg. 66: [emphasis mine - ELS]
One of Rome's busiest thoroughfares became a via sacra on the Feast of Corpus Christi, when Pope John Paul II processed with the Blessed Sacrament from St. John Lateran to St. Mary Major.
Crowds of people stood along the street and hung out of their apartment windows, praying and singing as the Holy Father knelt in adoration before the Eucharist, both moving slowly through the crowd on a canopied vehicle.
An estimated 20,000 people participated in the annual Eucharistic procession through Rome. The tradition, which began in the 15th century, was revived by John Paul II after it had been abandoned for more than 100 years after the papacy's loss of control over the city of Rome.