Pope: The Eucharist is the synthesis of Jesus' entire existence
On the solemnity of Corpus Christi, Pope Francis recalls the Mass and the Eucharistic procession in Casal Bertone, where he will visit in the afternoon. "From the logic of "every manfor himself" to that of "sharing". "Let us never become used to" the Eucharist, because "it is Jesus". A round of applause for the Spanish martyrs Maria Carmen Lacaba Andía and 13 sisters of the Franciscan Order of the Immaculate Conception.
Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Eucharist is the synthesis of Jesus' entire exsistence, which was a single act of love for the Father and brethren," said Pope Francis this Sunday commenting on the Gospel of today's solemnity of Corpus Christi, celebrated in Italy and other countries.
Before the prayer of the Angelus, speaking to the pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, he explained that the miracle of the loaves, which today's Gospel narrates (Luke 9: 11-17), invites the disciples above all "to perform a true conversion from the logic of 'every man for himself' to that of sharing, starting from the little that Providence makes available to us ”.
But above all, that miracle "manifests the power of the Messiah and, at the same time, his compassion for the people. That prodigious gesture not only remains as one of the great signs of Jesus' public life, but anticipates what will eventually be the memorial of his sacrifice, that is, the Eucharist, the sacrament of his Body and his Blood given for the salvation of world".
"The Eucharist is the synthesis of the whole existence of Jesus, which was a single act of love for the Father and brethren. There too, as in the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, Jesus took the bread in his hands, raised the prayer of blessing to the Father, broke the bread and gave it to the disciples; and he did the same with the cup of wine. But at that moment, on the eve of his Passion, he wanted to leave in that gesture the Testament of the new and eternal Covenant, a perpetual memorial of his Easter of death and resurrection."
"Every year the feast of Corpus Christi invites us to renew our amazement and joy for this wonderful gift of the Lord, which is the Eucharist. Let us welcome him with gratitude, not in a passive, habitual way, but truly renewing our 'amen' to the Body of Christ, so that the dynamism of his love may transform our life into a pure and holy offering to God and for the good of those we meet on our Street". "Let us not grow used to it", he added speaking off the cuff, "we welcome the Eucharist with joy" because there is Jesus there, it is Jesus! ".
"An expression of the Eucharistic faith of the holy people of God - he concluded - are the processions with the Blessed Sacrament, which take place everywhere in the Catholic Church on this Solemnity. This evening, in the Casal Bertone district of Rome, I will celebrate Mass, followed by a procession. I invite everyone to participate, even spiritually, through radio and television. May Our Lady help us to follow Jesus with faith and love whom we adore in the Eucharist ”.
After the Marian prayer, Francis recalled that yesterday in Madrid were proclaimed Blessed Maria Carmen Lacaba Andía and 13 sisters of the Franciscan Order of the Immaculate Conception, killed in hatred of the faith during the religious persecution between 1936 and 1939. "These cloistered nuns - he explained - like the prudent virgins, awaited the arrival of the divine Spouse with heroic faith. Their martyrdom is an invitation for all of us to be strong and persevering especially in the time of trial ". And he invited those present to applause for the new blessed.
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