austraLasia
#1787
Sacramentum caritatis - get your copy
here
ROME: 14th March
2007 -- 'Charity' is clearly the
present Pope's dominant theme. His only encyclical letter thus far bore that
theme in its title and so too does his Apostolic Exhortation, follow up to the
special Synod on the Eucharist, 'Sacramentum Caritatis'. You can pick up a
copy immediately from Bosconet home page. SC was released yesterday morning in
Rome but is signed 22nd February, Feast of the Chair of St
Peter.
The document is both profoundly theological, which
will make it difficult to tamper with, and sufficiently straightforward and
direct to make it readable and usable! That yoking together of what are
normally opposites is not a bad achievement methinks! Coming halfway
through Lent, it has arrived at a good time for reflection. He writes it
in three parts - a mystery to be believed, to be celebrated, to be lived.
Pastorally and practically, that division of the text makes for an easy
approach.
Obviously one has to read it oneself, but, just
as a taste, what are some of the matters it deals with?
The Real Presence: "In the Eucharist Jesus does not give us a 'thing',
but himself; he offers his own body and pours out his own blood. He thus gives
us the totality of his life...'
The Eucharist as a true
sacrifice: two points, one old one modern: "In instituting the Sacrament of
the Eucharist, Jesus anticipates and makes present the sacrifice of the cross
and the victory of the resurrection. At the same time he reveals that he himself
is the true sacrificial lamb, destined in the Father's plan from the foundation
of the world..."; "The substantial conversion of bread and wine into his body
and blood introduces within creation the principle of a radical change, a sort
of 'nuclear fission', to use an image familiar to us today, which penetrates to
the heart of all being, a change meant to set off a process which transforms
reality..."
The Eucharist and Confession: "The loss
of a consciousness of sin always entails a certain superficiality in the
understanding of God's love. Brining out the elements within the rite of Mass
that express consciousness of personal sin...can prove most helpful tot he
faithful". "...it is important that the confessionals in our churches should be
clearly visible expressions of the importance of this sacrament. I ask pastors
to be vigilant...and to limit the practice of general absolution exclusively to
the cases permitted since individual absolution is the only form intended for
ordinary use". (He throws in a note here on the 'balanced and sound practice of
gaining indulgences').
The role of the priest: "Any
attempt to make themselves the centre of the liturgical action contradicts their
very identity as priests. The priest is above all the servant of others...the
priesthood...is the office of the Good Shepherd".
On
the celibacy of the priesthood: "It is not sufficient to understand priestly
celibacy in purely functional terms...it is a profound identification with the
heart of Christ the Bridegroom who gives his life for his
Bride".
On vocations: "Families should generously
embrace the gift of life and bring up their children to be open to doing God’s
will. In a word, they must have the courage to set before young people the
radical decision to follow Christ, showing them how deeply rewarding it
is".
The Pope takes up a number of quite practical issues
- the Sign of Peace, use of Latin and chant (just a
paragraph so while recommended it is not a dominant theme by any means),
placement of the tabernacle...
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