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John Edwards - who is training for the Diaconate - encourages us to read the recent Papal document on the Eucharist, as a source of reflection for the coming year
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Stay
with us, Lord|
The latest Apostolic Letter from Pope John Paul II was given on 7th October 2004 and is titled "Mane Nobiscum Domine" - Stay with us, Lord. The Pope has given us this letter opening the year of the Eucharist. It will culminate in October 2005 with an Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, whose theme will be "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church". The Pope has also taken into account that it will embrace World Youth Day in Cologne, [see paragraph 4]. The letter is a reflection on the "Road to Emmaus" episode in Luke's gospel and a flavour of the whole letter is captured in paragraph [1]: "Stay with us, Lord, for it is almost evening" (cf. Lk 24:29). This was the insistent invitation that the two disciples journeying to Emmaus on the evening of the day of the resurrection addressed to the Wayfarer who had accompanied them on their journey. Weighed down with sadness, they never imagined that this stranger was none other than their Master, risen from the dead. Yet they felt their hearts burning within them (cf. v. 32) as he spoke to them and "explained" the Scriptures. The light of the Word unlocked the hardness of their hearts and "opened their eyes" (cf. v. 31). Amid the shadows of the passing day and the darkness that clouded their spirit, the Wayfarer brought a ray of light which rekindled their hope and led their hearts to yearn for the fullness of light. "Stay with us", they pleaded. And he agreed. Soon afterwards, Jesus' face would disappear, yet the Master would "stay" with them, hidden in the "breaking of the bread" which had opened their eyes to recognize him. Throughout the letter the Pope returns to this gospel passage and reflects on its meaning in relationship to the Eucharist. Within the letter he refers back to many of his encyclicals. He continues his recent themes of encouraging us to "rediscover the celebration of the Eucharist as the heart of Sunday" [7] and "... to stress particularly the Sunday Eucharist and Sunday itself, experienced as a special day of faith, the day of the Risen Lord and of the gift of the Spirit, the true weekly Easter."[8] Both these quotes are from his letter 'Dies Domine' but are rooted in the Vatican II Constitution 'Gaudium et Spes'. In paragraph 8 he also recommends, "as training in prayer" celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, something we have been promoting here in the Goodnews with our series on the Office of Readings.
In his conclusion the Pope has words for all members of the Church community Bishops, Clergy, those with particular ministries and all the lay faithful to whom he writes: "May all of you, the Christian faithful, rediscover the gift of the Eucharist as light and strength for your daily lives in the world, in the exercise of your respective professions amid so many different situations. Rediscover this above all in order to experience fully the beauty and the mission of the family." [30] The whole encyclical is available through the Vatican website www.vatican.va and is available as a CTS document "Abide with us. Lord". There are also ideas for the Year of the Eucharist on the Bishop's
Conference website www.catholic-ew.org.uk/ liturgyframe.htm
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As
you would expect the Pope focuses on the real presence using "They
recognized him in the breaking of bread" (cf. Lk 24:35) and "I
am with you always..." (Mt 28:20) as platforms of reflection.
Emphasis is made of the Eucharist as a great mystery and the fact
that it: ".. .must be well celebrated. Holy Mass needs to be
set at the centre of the Christian life and celebrated in a dignified
manner by every community ..."[17]. We are also encouraged to
spend even more time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament outside
of mass. Paragraphs 24 to 28 extol us to use the strength gained through
the Eucharist for engagement with the Church's mission. "The
encounter with Christ, constantly intensified and deepened in the
Eucharist, issues in the Church and in every Christian an urgent summons
to testimony and evangelisation."[24] We are told that: "The
Christian who takes part in the Eucharist learns to become a promoter
of communion, peace and solidarity in every situation."[27] We
are also to be practical: "It is the impulse which the Eucharist
gives to the community for a practical commitment to building a more
just and fraternal society."[28] The Pope calls on diocesan and
parish families to address the many forms of poverty in the world
today with a practical commitment.