Pope says Eucharist and Priesthood tied together until the end of time
Vatican City (AsiaNews) "Christians want to see us above all as men of prayer. Whoever comes into contact with us must be able to experience God's mercy and faithful love in our words and behavior", urged John Paul II in today's Holy Thursday mass at St. Peter's Basilica as a "veritable prelude to the Pascal Triduum".
The pope has recalled some of themes in the text of his Apr. 6 Letter to Priests, concerning the relationship between the Eucharist and the priesthood. "The Eucharist and the priesthood are due sacraments born together, whose fate is permanently tied together until the end of the world." (n. 3).
At the Lenten mass, before the blessing of the oils, priests renewed their ordination vows, the pope asked: "How can we not return with our thoughts full of the emotion and enthusiasm of our first "yes" on the day of our priestly ordination?"
" 'Here I am!' we responded to He who called us to work for His Kingdom. We must say 'Here I am!' every day, fully aware of being invited to serve a special role for the community of persons saved in persona Christi," the pontiff said.
The pope said "the gift and mystery" priests receive is truly extraordinary. "Daily experience teaches us that it will be preserved, thanks to an unfailing acceptance of Christ and nourished by constant prayer.
"Christians want to see us above all as "men of prayer". Whoever comes into contact with us must be able to experience God's mercy and faithful love in our words and behavior," the pope said.
The mass was concelebrated by John Paul II with cardinals, bishops and diocesan priests in Rome for the occasion.
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