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                               VIS-Press releases

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS"

VATICAN CITY, MAR 13, 2007 (VIS) - In the Holy See Press Office at 11.30 a.m.
today, the presentation took place of the post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation
"Sacramentum Caritatis" on the Eucharist, source and summit of the life and
mission of the Church. Participating in the press conference were Cardinal
Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy, relator general of the 11th Ordinary
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, and Archbishop Nikola Eterovic,
secretary general of the Synod of Bishops.

The exhortation, which is dated February 22, Feast of the of the Chair of St.
Peter, is the final document of the synodal assembly held in Rome from October
2 to 23, 2005. It has been published in Latin, Italian, English, French,
Spanish German, Portuguese and Polish.

Archbishop Eterovic explained how the Apostolic Exhortation forms part of the
"series of great documents on the sublime Sacrament of the Eucharist such as,
for example, those of Servant of God John Paul II 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' and
'Mane nobiscum Domine.' 'Sacramentum Caritatis' is part of this continuity and,
at the same time, re-proposes in an updated form certain essential truths of
Eucharistic doctrine, calling for the dignified celebration of the sacred rite
and recalling the urgent need to include Eucharistic life as part of everyday
life."

The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops pointed out that the document,
"in presenting the great truths of Eucharistic faith in a way accessible to
modern man, considers various current aspects of [Eucharistic] celebration and
calls for a renewed commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, in
which the Bread broken for everyone's life becomes ... the exemplary cause in
the fight against hunger and against all forms of poverty."

For his part, Cardinal Angelo Scola recalled how the title of the Apostolic
Exhortation, "Sacramentum Caritatis," reaffirms "the Holy Father's insistence
over these two years of his pontificate on the truth of love," clearly
indicating that this is "one of the crucial themes upon which the future of the
Church and of humanity depend."

The Exhortation is founded "on the indissoluble bond of three elements:
Eucharistic mystery, liturgical action and new spiritual worship." Hence, the
text "is divided into three sections, each one of which considers one of the
three dimensions of the Eucharist." The sections are entitled: "the Eucharist,
a Mystery to be believed," "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," and
"the Eucharist, a Mystery to be lived."

"The Holy Father's teaching," Cardinal Scola went on, "clearly illustrates how
liturgical action (the mystery to be celebrated) is that specific action which
makes it possible for Christian life (the mystery to be lived, new worship) to
be conformed by faith (the mystery to be believed)." In "a second and very
important doctrinal novelty," Benedict XVI also highlights "the importance of
'ars celebrandi' (art of celebration) for an ever greater 'actuosa
participatio' (full, active and fruitful participation)."

The first section of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed,"
highlights the "free gift of the Blessed Trinity" and illustrates "the mystery
of the Eucharist on the basis of its Trinitarian origin, which ensures it
always remains a gift. ... In this teaching are the profound roots of what the
Exhortation says concerning adoration and its intrinsic relationship with
Eucharistic celebration."

With reference to Christology and the work of the Spirit, the Holy Father
considers "the institution of the Eucharist in relation to the Jewish Paschal
supper," in a "decisive passage that illuminates the radical 'novum' that
Christ brought to the ancient ritual meal.

"Indeed," the cardinal added, "in the rites we do not repeat an act
chronologically situated during Jesus' Last Supper, rather we celebrate the
Eucharist as a radical 'novum' of Christian worship." Jesus calls us to enter
"the mystery of death and resurrection, the innovative beginning of the
transformation ... of all history and all the cosmos."

The chapter on "the Eucharist and the Church" highlights how "the Eucharist is
the causal principle of the Church: 'We too, at every celebration of the
Eucharist, confess the primacy of Christ's gift. The causal influence of the
Eucharist at the Church's origins definitively discloses both the chronological
and ontological priority of the fact that it was Christ Who loved us first.'
Benedict XVI, while affirming the circularity between the Eucharist that builds
the Church and the Church herself that celebrates the Eucharist, makes a
significant magisterial option for the primacy of Eucharistic over ecclesial
causality."

"The Holy Eucharist brings Christian initiation to completion and represents
the center and goal of all sacramental life" said Cardinal Scola quoting from
the Exhortation, and he pointed out how the document goes on to consider the
Eucharist and the seven Sacraments. "Concerning the Sacrament of Reconciliation
the Holy Father insists on the need for 'a reinvigorated catechesis on the
conversion born of the Eucharist'," while "the Anointing of the Sick and the
Viaticum 'unites the sick with Christ's self-offering for the salvation of
all'."

"The irreplaceable nature of priestly ministry for the valid celebration of
Mass," is emphasized in the chapter dedicated to "the Eucharist and the
Sacrament of Holy Orders," said the patriarch of Venice, adding that the Holy
Father "reaffirms and underlines the relationship between priestly ordination
and celibacy: 'while respecting the practice and tradition of the Eastern
Churches, there is a need to reaffirm the profound meaning of priestly
celibacy, which is rightly considered a priceless treasure'."

The great decrease in the number of clergy on some continents "must be faced in
the first place by bearing witness to the beauty of priestly life," and by
"careful vocational formation."

In the chapter entitled "the Eucharist and Matrimony" the Holy Father maintains
that "the Eucharist, par excellence a nuptial Sacrament, 'inexhaustibly
strengthens the indissoluble unity and love of every Christian marriage'."

"Taking the nuptial nature of the Eucharist as his starting point," said
Cardinal Scola, "Benedict XVI reconsiders the theme of the unicity of Christian
marriage, with reference to the question of polygamy and to the indissolubility
of the marriage bond.

"The text contains important pastoral suggestions" concerning Catholics who
have divorced and remarried, he added. "The Exhortation, having reaffirmed that
despite their situation such people 'continue to belong to the Church, which
accompanies them with special concern,' lists nine ways to participate in the
life of the community for these faithful who, even without receiving Communion,
can adopt a Christian style of life."

Mention is also made in the text "of people who, having celebrated a valid
marriage, ... find themselves unable to obtain a nullity of the marriage bond,
suggesting that, with appropriate pastoral assistance they commit themselves
'to living their relationship in fidelity to the demands of God's law, as
friends, as brother and sister,' in other words transforming their bond into a
fraternal friendship."

The second part of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated,"
is dedicated, the cardinal said, "to describing the development of liturgical
action in celebration, indicating the aspects that deserve the greatest
attention and making a number of significant pastoral suggestions."

"The Pope offers a number of indications concerning the richness of liturgical
symbols (silence, vestments, gestures, the standing and kneeling positions,
etc.) and of art at the service of celebration." In this context the document
recalls the importance of the tabernacle being visible in the church and marked
by a lamp.

The unity between Eucharistic mystery, liturgical action and new spiritual
worship becomes clear "when the Pope highlights the personal conditions for
active participation."

The document highlights certain pastoral aspects that favor a more active
participation in the sacred rites. These include use of the communications
media, participation by the sick, prisoners and emigrants, large-scale
concelebrations (which must be limited to "extraordinary situations"), and
Eucharistic celebrations in small groups. "It also proposes a more widespread
use of the Latin language, especially in the great international celebrations,
without overlooking the importance of the Gregorian chant."

"The Pope," the cardinal went on, "recalls 'the inherent unity of the rite of
Mass' which must also be expressed in the way in which the Liturgy of the Word
is practiced." Benedict XVI highlights "the great educational value for the
life of the Church, especially at this moment in history, of the presentation
of the gifts, the sign of peace and the 'Ite, missa est.' And the Holy Father
entrusts the study of possible modifications to these latter two aspects to the
competent curial offices."

The third and final part of the Apostolic Exhortation, said the cardinal,
"demonstrates the power of the mystery - believed and celebrated - to become
the ultimate and definitive horizon of Christian existence."

From its opening lines, the patriarch of Venice went on, the Apostolic
Exhortation highlights the fact "that the gift of the Eucharist is for man,
that it responds to man's hopes. ... In the Eucharistic celebration, Christians
find the true and living God, capable of saving their lives. And the
interlocutor of this salvation is human freedom." On this subject, Benedict XVI
writes: "Precisely because Christ has become for us the food of truth, the
Church turns to every man and woman, inviting them freely to accept God's
gift."

The cardinal continued: "The anthropological importance of the Eucharist
emerges with all its power in the new worship characteristic of Christians. ...
On the basis of Eucharistic action, all the circumstances of life become, so to
say, 'sacramental.' ... Regenerated by Baptism and 'eucharistically'
incorporated into the Church, man can finally be completely fulfilled, learning
to offer his 'own body' - in other words, all of himself - as a living
sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God."

The patriarch of Venice indicated that "all the faithful are called to a
profound transformation of their own lives" which is, as the Pope writes, "'a
heartfelt yearning to respond to the Lord's love with one's whole being, while
remaining ever conscious of one's own weakness.'

"In this context, the responsibility of Christians in public and political life
becomes particularly important." Catholic politicians and legislators must,
then, "introduce and support laws,' the Holy Father writes, "inspired by values
grounded in human nature. There is an objective connection here with the
Eucharist."

Another chapter of the document deals with the question of the Eucharist and
witness. "The first and fundamental mission that we receive from the sacred
mysteries we celebrate is that of bearing witness by our lives," the Holy
Father writes.

"The Exhortation," said the cardinal, "strongly recommends that everyone, and
in particular the lay faithful 'cultivate a desire that the Eucharist have an
ever deeper effect on their daily lives, making them convincing witnesses in
the workplace and in society at large'."

The document, Cardinal Scola said, does not hesitate to affirm that "the
Eucharist ... compels all who believe ... to become 'bread that is broken for
others,' and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world."

"Eucharistic celebration involves the offer of bread and wine, the fruits of
the earth, and of the life and labor of mankind. ... The question of protecting
creation is developed and becomes more profound in relation to the Lord's
design for all creation, The truth is not mere neutral matter at the mercy of
technical and scientific manipulation, it is desired by God with a view to the
recapitulation of all things in Christ. Hence the responsibility to protect
creation, a responsibility that falls to Christians who are nourished by the
Eucharist."

Cardinal Scola expressed the conviction that "in the authenticity of faith and
of Eucharistic worship lies the secret for a revival of Christian life capable
of regenerating the People of God. The mystery of the Eucharist throws opens
the way to the reality of God, which is love."

At the beginning and end of the document, Benedict XVI highlights the
relationship between the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary: "In Mary Most Holy, we
also see perfectly fulfilled the 'sacramental' way that God comes down to meet
His creatures and involves them in His saving work. ... From Mary we must learn
to become men and women of the Eucharist and of the Church."

Click here to read the complete text of the document.
EXOR/SACRAMENTUM CARITATIS/...VIS 070313 (2040)

SUMMARY

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