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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