Pope: Christian witness 'fruit' of the Mass
The Eucharist, "increasing our union with Christ", "separates us from sin", "renews, strengthens and deepens our bond with the Christian community to which we belong" and "commits us to the poor". A "Happy Easter" to Benedict XVI.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "As the Mass ends, the commitment of Christian witness is opened up", in daily activities, in our homes, in the workplace, among the occupations of the earthly city. Speaking of the Conclusion of the Mass, Pope Francis today concluded his cycle of catechesis dedicated to the celebration of the Eucharist, emphasizing that "the fruits" of Mass "are set to mature in everyday life."
Speaking to the 20 thousand people present in Saint Peter's Square, in spite of the occasional rainfall, Francis stressed how the Eucharist, "increases our union with Christ", "separates us from sin", "renews, strengthens and deepens our bond with the Christian community to which we belong "and "commits us to the poor ".
"You can see these beautiful flowers that indicate joy” - he said at the beginning of his address. “In some places it is called Easter flowered because our justification blooms ", and then he added: "I would like us to wish a Happy Easter to Pope Benedict who follows us".
"With this catechesis we conclude the cycle dedicated to Mass, and our attention now goes to the Concluding Rites. After the prayer after the communion, the Mass ends with the blessing given by the priest and the people leave (cf. General Order of the Roman Missal, 90). As it had begun with the sign of the cross, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, it is still in the liturgical action is also sealed with the name of the Trinity."
"However, we know that while the Mass ends, the commitment of Christian witness is opened up. Christians do not go to Mass as a weekly task and then forget. No they go to Mass to live the passion ". "We leave the church to" go in peace "to bring God's blessing to our daily activities, to our homes an workplaces, among the occupations of the earthly city, 'glorifying the Lord with our life'. But if we leave the Mass chatting, 'look at this, look at that', the Mass has not entered. " "Every time I go to Mass I have to come out more Christian".
"Through the Eucharist, the Lord Jesus enters into us, into our hearts and our flesh, so that we may" express in the life the sacrament received in faith "(Roman Missal, Collect of Monday in the Easter Octave). From celebration to life, therefore, we are aware that the Mass finds fulfillment in the concrete choices of those who are involved in the first person in the mysteries of Christ. We must not forget that we celebrate the Eucharist to learn how to become Eucharistic men and women. What does this mean? It means letting Christ act in our works: that his thoughts are our thoughts, his feelings ours, his choices our choices. And this is holiness ".
St. Paul expresses this precisely, speaking of his assimilation to Jesus: "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. And this life, which I live in the body, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me "(Gal 2: 19-20). Paul's experience also illuminates us: to the extent that we mortify our egoism, that is, that we let die that which is opposed to the Gospel and to the love of Jesus, so that a greater space is created within us by the power of his Spirit. Christians are men and women who allow themselves to be enlarged by the Holy Spirit after receiving the Body and Blood of Christ ".
"We can say, to some extent, that the mass is like the grain of wheat that then matures in the everyday life. The fruits of the Mass, therefore, are destined to mature in everyday life. In truth, by increasing our union with Christ, the Eucharist updates the grace that the Spirit has given us in Baptism and Confirmation, so that our Christian witness may be credible (cf. ibid., 1391-1392). Again, by igniting divine charity in our hearts, the Eucharist separates us from sin: "The more we participate in the life of Christ and progress in his friendship, the more difficult it is to separate us from him with mortal sin" (ibid., 1395 ). The regular approach to the Eucharistic Conviction renews, strengthens and deepens the bond with the Christian community to which we belong, according to the principle that the Eucharist makes the Church (cf. ibid., 1396). It unites us all. Finally, participating in the Eucharist commits us to the poor, educating us to pass from the flesh of Christ to the flesh of our brothers, in which he expects to be recognized, served, honored, loved (cf. ibid., 1397)".
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