Pope: In the Eucharist the "cause" of communion with Jesus is humanity
Celebrating Corpus Christi, Benedict XVI says that "especially in our time when globalization makes us increasingly dependent upon each other, Christianity can and must ensure that this unity will not be built without God, without true Love. This would give way to confusion and individualism, the oppression of some against others.”
Rome (AsiaNews) – The unity of the human family has always been a goal of the Gospel, "a unity not imposed from above, or by ideological or economic interests, but from a sense of responsibility towards each other, because we identify ourselves as members of the same body, the body of Christ, because we have learned and continually learn from the Sacrament of the Altar that sharing, love is the path of true justice." On the day of Corpus Christi, Pope Benedict XVI points out how the participation in the Eucharist, which "assimilates" Jesus, "unites me to the person next to me, and with whom I might not even have a good relationship, but also to my brothers and sisters who are far away, in every corner of the world. Thus the deep sense of social presence of the Church is derived from the Eucharist."
The Pope celebrated Mass in front of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome where, at the end of the rite, he led the Eucharistic procession that ended at the Basilica of Santa Mary Major that saw the presence of Roman confraternities, along with priests, religious, associations, movements and thousands of faithful. Torches and candles accompanied the journey, illuminating the evening.
“Especially in our time when globalization makes us increasingly dependent upon each other,” said Pope Benedict, “Christianity can and must ensure that this unity will not be built without God, without true Love. This would give way to confusion and individualism, the oppression of some against others.”
It is a concept that comes from the Last Supper, from the institution of the Eucharist, in which there "is the transformation of the gifts of this land - the bread and wine - intended to transform our lives and usher in the transformation of the world… This transformation is possible thanks to a communion stronger than division, the communion of God himself. The word ‘communion’, which we use to designate the Eucharist, sums up the vertical and horizontal dimension of the gift of Christ. The beautiful and eloquent expression ‘receive communion’ refers to the act of eating the bread of the Eucharist. In fact, when we carry out this act, we enter into communion with the very life of Jesus, in the dynamism of this life, which is given to us and for us. From God, through Jesus, to us: a unique communion is transmitted in the Holy Eucharist.”
But while “bodily food is assimilated by the body and contributes to its maintenance, the Eucharist is a different bread: we do not assimilate it, but it assimilates us to itself, so that we become similar to Jesus Christ and members of his body, one with Him. This is a decisive passage. Indeed, precisely because it is Christ who, in Eucharistic communion, transforms us into Him, our individuality, in this encounter, is opened up, freed from its self-centeredness and placed in the Person of Jesus, who in turn is immersed in the Trinitarian communion. Thus, while the Eucharist unites us to Christ, we open ourselves to others, making us members one of another: we are no longer divided, but one thing in Him.”
“Through the consecrated bread and wine, in which his Body and Blood is truly present, Christ transforms us, assimilating us in him: he involves us in his redeeming work, enabling us, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to live according to his same logic of gift, like grains of wheat united with Him and in Him. Thus unity and peace, which are the goal for which we strive, are sown and mature in the furrows of history, according to God's plan.”
The Pope celebrated Mass in front of the Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome where, at the end of the rite, he led the Eucharistic procession that ended at the Basilica of Santa Mary Major that saw the presence of Roman confraternities, along with priests, religious, associations, movements and thousands of faithful. Torches and candles accompanied the journey, illuminating the evening.
“Especially in our time when globalization makes us increasingly dependent upon each other,” said Pope Benedict, “Christianity can and must ensure that this unity will not be built without God, without true Love. This would give way to confusion and individualism, the oppression of some against others.”
It is a concept that comes from the Last Supper, from the institution of the Eucharist, in which there "is the transformation of the gifts of this land - the bread and wine - intended to transform our lives and usher in the transformation of the world… This transformation is possible thanks to a communion stronger than division, the communion of God himself. The word ‘communion’, which we use to designate the Eucharist, sums up the vertical and horizontal dimension of the gift of Christ. The beautiful and eloquent expression ‘receive communion’ refers to the act of eating the bread of the Eucharist. In fact, when we carry out this act, we enter into communion with the very life of Jesus, in the dynamism of this life, which is given to us and for us. From God, through Jesus, to us: a unique communion is transmitted in the Holy Eucharist.”
But while “bodily food is assimilated by the body and contributes to its maintenance, the Eucharist is a different bread: we do not assimilate it, but it assimilates us to itself, so that we become similar to Jesus Christ and members of his body, one with Him. This is a decisive passage. Indeed, precisely because it is Christ who, in Eucharistic communion, transforms us into Him, our individuality, in this encounter, is opened up, freed from its self-centeredness and placed in the Person of Jesus, who in turn is immersed in the Trinitarian communion. Thus, while the Eucharist unites us to Christ, we open ourselves to others, making us members one of another: we are no longer divided, but one thing in Him.”
“Through the consecrated bread and wine, in which his Body and Blood is truly present, Christ transforms us, assimilating us in him: he involves us in his redeeming work, enabling us, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to live according to his same logic of gift, like grains of wheat united with Him and in Him. Thus unity and peace, which are the goal for which we strive, are sown and mature in the furrows of history, according to God's plan.”
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