Text 2312, 46 rader
Skriven 2007-03-21 21:23:50 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
===================================================
Hello All!
                This Area is READ ONLY.  Do not post to this area.
                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

THE EUCHARIST, THE SOURCE OF CHRISTIAN JOY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 18, 2007 (VIS) - Having returned from his visit to the "Casal
del Marmo" youth detention center in Rome, the Holy Father appeared at the
window of his study overlooking St. Peter's Square to pray the Angelus with the
thousands of pilgrims gathered there.

"Today," said the Pope, "the liturgy invites is to be joyful because Easter is
approaching, the day of Christ's victory over sin and death. ... The source of
Christian joy" is in the Eucharist which "nourishes in believers of all times
that profound happiness which is one and the same as love and peace, and which
has its roots in communion with God and with our brothers."

Benedict XVI then referred to last Tuesday's presentation of the post- Synodal
Apostolic Exhortation "Sacramentum caritatis," dedicated to the subject of the
Eucharist, and he emphasized how in this Sacrament "Christ wished to give us
His love," the love that "brought Him to offer His life on the cross for us. At
the Last Supper, washing the feet of his disciples, Jesus left us the
commandment of love: 'Just as I have loved you, you also should love one
another.' But since this is possible only by remaining united to Him like
branches to the vine, He chose to remain among us in the Eucharist, so that we
could abide in Him.

"For this reason," the Holy Father added, "when we faithfully nourish ourselves
of His Body and His Blood, His love passes into us and makes us, in our turn,
capable of giving our life for our brothers and sisters. This is the source of
Christian joy, the joy of love."

Pope Benedict concluded by recalling the figure of St. Joseph, whose solemn
liturgical feast falls tomorrow, and he called for the intercession of the
saint "so that, believing, celebrating and living the Eucharistic mystery with
faith, the People of God may be pervaded with the love of Christ and spread the
fruits of joy and peace to all humanity."
ANG/EUCHARIST/...VIS 070320 (350)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)