#PopeFrancis "which meant, if we can not celebrate the Eucharist, we can not live, our Christian life will die." Audience FULL TEXT + Video
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
We begin today with a new set of catechesis, which will look at the "heart" of the Church, that is, the Eucharist. It is fundamental for us Christians to understand well the value and meaning of the Holy Mass to live more and more fully our relationship with God.
We can not forget the great number of Christians who, throughout the world, in two thousand years of history, have endured to death to defend the Eucharist; and those who, even today, risk life to participate in Sunday Mass. In the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian, a group of Christians from North Africa were surprised while celebrating Mass in a house and arrested. The Roman proconsul, in the interrogation, asked them why they had done so, knowing that it was absolutely forbidden. And they replied, "Without Sunday we can not live," which meant, if we can not celebrate the Eucharist, we can not live, our Christian life will die.
In fact, Jesus told his disciples: "If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life, and I will raise him up in the last day "(Jn 6: 53-54).
Those Christians in North Africa were killed because they celebrated the Eucharist. They have left the witness that we can renounce the earthly life for the Eucharist, for it gives us eternal life, making us part of Christ's victory over death. A testimony that intercepts us all and asks for an answer on what it means for each of us to participate in the Sacrifice of Mass and approach us at the Lord's Meal. Are we looking for the source that "zampilla living water" for eternal life, which makes our life a spiritual sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving and makes us one body with Christ? This is the deepest sense of the Holy Eucharist, which means "thanksgiving": thanksgiving to God Father, Son and Holy Spirit who entails us and transforms us into his communion of love.
In the next catechesis, I would like to answer some important questions about the Eucharist and the Mass, to rediscover or discover how through this mystery of faith shines the love of God.
Vatican Council II was strongly animated by the desire to lead Christians to understand the greatness of faith and the beauty of the encounter with Christ. For this reason, it was necessary first to implement, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, an adequate renewal of the liturgy, for the Church continually lives in it and renews it thanks to it.
A central theme that the Fathers emphasized is the liturgical formation of the faithful, indispensable for a true renewal. And this is also the purpose of this cycle of catechesis that we begin today: to grow in the knowledge of the great gift God has given us in the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is a wonderful event in which Jesus Christ, our life, is made known. Participating in Mass "is to live the Lord's redeeming passion and death another time. It is a theophany: the Lord is present on the altar to be offered to the Father for the salvation of the world "(Homily in the Mass, House S. Marta, February 10, 2014). The Lord is here with us, present. Many times we go there, look at things, chat with us while the priest celebrates the Eucharist ... and we do not celebrate near him. But it is the Lord! If today the President of the Republic or some very important person of the world came here, it is certain that we would all be close to him, that we would like to say good-bye to him. But think: when you go to Mass, there is the Lord! And you're distracted. It is the Lord! We have to think about this. "Father, is that the messes are boring" - "But what do you say, the Lord is boring?" - "No, no, no, the priests" - "Ah, convert the priests, but it is the Lord who stay there!". I got it? Do not forget it. "Participating in the Mass is to live the Lord's passion and redemption again."
Let's try and ask a few simple questions. For example, why is the sign of the cross and the penitential act at the beginning of Mass? And here I would like to make another bracket. Have you seen how the children make the sign of the cross? You do not know what they are doing, whether it is the sign of the cross or a drawing. They do so [makes a confused gesture]. We need to teach the children to do the sign of the cross well. So begins the Mass, so life begins, so the day begins. This means that we are redeemed with the Lord's cross. Look at the children and teach them to do the sign of the cross well. And those Letters, in Mass, why are they there? Why do you read the Three Readings on Sunday and the other two days? Why are they there, what does Mass Reading mean? Why do they read and what are they doing? Or, because at some point the priest who presides over the celebration says, "Up our hearts?" It does not say, "Up our phones to do photography!" No, it's a bad thing! And I tell you that it gives me so much sadness when I celebrate here in Piazza or Basilica and I see so many raised mobiles, not just of the faithful, even of some priests and even bishops. But please! Mass is not a show: it is to meet the passion and resurrection of the Lord. For this reason the priest says, "Up our hearts." What does this mean? Remember: no phones.
It is very important to go back to the foundations, to rediscover what is essential, through what is touched and seen in the celebration of the Sacraments. The question of the apostle Saint Thomas (cf. Jn 20: 25), to see and touch the wounds of nails in Jesus' body, is the desire to somehow "touch" God in believing him. What St. Thomas asks the Lord is what we all need: to see him, to touch him to recognize him. The Sacraments meet this human need. The Sacraments, and the Eucharistic celebration in particular, are the signs of God's love, the privileged ways to meet with Him.
Thus, through these catecheses that begin today, I would like to rediscover with you the beauty that is hidden in the Eucharistic celebration, and which, once revealed, gives a full meaning to each one's life. Our Lady will accompany us on this new stretch of road. Thank you.
Saluti:
Je suis heureux de saluer les pèlerins francophones, ceux venus de Belgique, de Suisse, du Liban, de France, et en particulier les jeunes du Collège Fénelon-Sainte-Marie de Paris. A travers ce nouveau cycle de catéchèses, que le Seigneur nous aide à redécouvrir la valeur et la signification de la Sainte Messe, pour vivre toujours plus pleinement notre relation avec Lui. Que Dieu vous bénisse !
[Sono lieto di salutare i pellegrini francesi di Belgio, Svizzera, Libano, Francia e soprattutto i giovani del Collège Fénelon-Sainte-Marie di Parigi. Attraverso questo nuovo ciclo di catechesi, il Signore può aiutarci a riscoprire il valore e il significato della Santa Messa, a vivere più pienamente il nostro rapporto con Lui. Dio vi benedica!]
I greet the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today’s Audience, particularly the groups from New Zealand, the Philippines, Korea, Canada and the United States of America. Upon all of you, and your families, I invoke joy and peace in our Lord Jesus Christ.
[Saluto i pellegrini di lingua inglese presenti all’odierna Udienza, specialmente quelli provenienti da Nuova Zelanda, Filippine, Corea, Canada e Stati Uniti d’America. Su tutti voi e sulle vostre famiglie invoco la gioia e la pace del Signore nostro Gesù Cristo.]
Mit Freude heiße ich die Brüder und Schwestern aus den Ländern deutscher Sprache willkommen. Besonders grüße ich die Limburger Domsingknaben und danke ihnen für ihren Gesang. Die Eucharistie ist die Quelle des Lebens eines jeden Christen. Lassen wir uns von dieser Gegenwart der Liebe des Herrn verwandeln. Von Herzen segne ich euch und eure Lieben.
[Sono lieto di accogliere i fratelli e le sorelle provenienti dai paesi di lingua tedesca. Saluto in particolare il gruppo dei Limburger Domsingknaben e li ringrazio per il loro canto. L’eucaristia è la sorgente della vita di ogni cristiano. Lasciamoci trasformare da questa presenza dell’amore del Signore. Di cuore benedico voi e i vostri cari.]
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en modo particular a los grupos provenientes de España y América Latina. Saludo a la delegación sindical argentina. Pidamos a la Virgen María que interceda por nosotros para que sintamos el deseo de conocer y amar más el misterio de la Eucaristía, sacramento del Cuerpo y la Sangre de su Hijo Jesús. Que el Señor los bendiga a todos. Muchas gracias.
Saúdo cordialmente os peregrinos de língua portuguesa, em particular os fiéis da diocese de Santo Ângelo, desejando-vos que cresçais sempre mais no amor e na adoração da Eucaristia, para que este Sacramento possa continuar a plasmar as vossas comunidades na caridade e na comunhão, segundo o coração do Pai. De bom grado vos abençoo a vós e aos vossos entes queridos!
[Saluto cordialmente i pellegrini di lingua portoghese, in particolare i fedeli della diocesi di Santo Angelo, augurando di crescere sempre più nell’amore e nell’adorazione dell’Eucaristia, affinché questo Sacramento possa continuare a plasmare le vostre comunità nella carità e nella comunione, secondo il cuore del Padre. Volentieri benedico voi e i vostri cari!]
أُرحِّب بالحجاج الناطقين باللغة العربيّة وخاصة بالقادمين من الشرق الأوسط. أيُّها الإخوة والأخوات الأعزاء، الافخارستيا هي يسوع نفسه، الذي يهب ذاته لنا بكاملها. إِن تغذَّينا منه وثَبُتنا فيه بواسطة المناولة الإفخارستيّة، يجعل من حياتنا عطية لله والأخوة. لندخُل في ديناميكيّة الحبِّ هذه وسنصبح على مثال يسوع أشخاص سلام ومغفرة ومصالحة. ليبارككم الرب!
[Rivolgo un cordiale benvenuto ai pellegrini di lingua araba, in particolare a quelli provenienti dal Medio Oriente. Cari fratelli e sorelle, l’Eucaristia è Gesù stesso che si dona interamente a noi. Nutrirci di Lui e dimorare in Lui mediante la Comunione eucaristica, trasforma la nostra vita in un dono a Dio e ai fratelli. Entriamo in questo dinamismo di amore e diventeremo, sull’esempio di Gesù, persone di pace, di perdono e di riconciliazione. Il Signore vi benedica!]
Pozdrawiam serdecznie wszystkich Polaków. W najbliższą niedzielę z inicjatywy Konferencji Episkopatu Polski i Stowarzyszenia Pomoc Kościołowi w Potrzebie, już po raz dziewiąty będziecie obchodzili w Polsce Dzień Solidarności z Kościołem Prześladowanym, wspierając duchowo i materialnie braci i siostry na Bliskim Wschodzie. Niech wasze modlitwy i ofiary będą dla nich konkretną pomocą i znakiem łączności ze wszystkimi, którzy cierpią dla imienia Chrystusa na całym świecie. Wam tu obecnym i waszym bliskim, szczególnie redakcji i słuchaczom Radia Katowice, które obchodzi w tym roku 90-lecie swego istnienia, z serca błogosławię.
[Greeting all Poles. On Sunday, on the initiative of the Polish Bishops' Conference and the Helping Association of the Suffering Church, you will celebrate the ninth Day of Solidarity with the Persecuted Church, sustaining spiritually and materially the brothers and sisters of the Middle East. Your prayers and offers are a concrete help and a sign of the bond with all the sufferers of the world in the name of Christ. To you, and to your family members, especially to the editors and listeners of Radio Katowice, in the 90th of their business, I heartily impart my blessing.]
I cordially welcome Italian pilgrims.
I am delighted to welcome the participants to the International Congress of Benedictine Oblates and the Carmelite Schools; the Brothers of Christian Schools, on the occasion of the Training Course and the Blind Missionaries, in their Renewal Course. I wish everybody that this encounter revitalized communion with the universal ministry of the Successor of Peter.
I greet parishes, especially that of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Andria and San Michele in Minervino Murge; the AVIS Association of Pianezza; the prayer group Pro Fatima and Lourdes of Afragola; the Fanelli Therapy Community of Castellamare di Stabia and the Early Workers Group.
Finally, I greet the young people, the sick and the newlyweds. Today's memory of the Saints Martyrs, whose relics are kept here in St. Peter's Basilica, increases in you, dear young people, the attention to Christian testimony even in difficult contexts; Help you, dear ones, to offer your suffering to support the many persecuted Christians; encourage you, dear new brides, to trust in God's help and not just in your abilities.
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