News From Vatican Information Services 10/04/2005

The following is news from V.I.S., the Vatican Information Services, for 10/04/2005 , reproduced by permission from V.I.S.

SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: OCTOBER 3 - 4

- Second General Congregation
- Third General Congregation
- Members of Commission for Information Announced

OTHER NEWS:

- Cardinal von Galen to be Beatified on Sunday

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SECOND GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2005 (VIS) - The Second General Congregation of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops began at 4.30 p.m. in the Synod Hall. The Holy Father was present for the free discussions which took place from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The president delegate on duty on Cardinal Francis Arinze, and there were 241 Synod Fathers present.

Following are excerpts from a number of the speeches given:

CARDINAL JOSE SARAIVA MARTINS C.M.F., PREFECT OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE CAUSES OF SAINTS. "The Eucharist is, in the first place, source of the deepest, most sublime and radical communion with the Redeemer. ... But the intimate and mysterious communion with Christ achieved in the Eucharist cannot be fully understood or experienced outside "ecclesial communion". The former necessarily leads to the latter. ... The Eucharist, therefore, by vitally uniting men to Christ, also unites them to one another. In the Eucharist, Christ Himself becomes a living link between the members of His Body. The Eucharist breaks down all cultural and social barriers, to make of those who receive it one community of faith, hope and love, directing them towards that unity which has its model and perfection in the union of the Holy Trinity itself. ... Never as in the celebration of the Eucharist, does the Church appear so perfectly united, a 'koinonia,' a communion. The Church is one because the Eucharist is one."

BISHOP PHILIPPE GUENELEY OF LANGRES, FRANCE. "One of the main worries of pastors in Christian communities is the initiation to the Eucharist. This initiation involves children preparing for first communion, as well as youth and adults presented with a catechumenal path proper to their age and which progressively leads them to the celebration of the sacraments of Christian initiation, such as the Eucharist. ... It would be opportune for this Synod to insist on the close bond between Baptism and the Eucharist. In order for it to be seen as the summit of baptismal life. ... If Eucharistic practice is weak, is this not because the meaning of the Eucharist has yet to be discovered? It is important to take the time to discover what the Eucharist is. Celebrations in preparation for the Eucharist should be proposed. True education should be undertaken."

FR. JOSEPH WILLIAM TOBIN C.SS.R., SUPERIOR GENERAL OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE MOST HOLY REDEEMER. "The 'Instrumentum laboris' makes frequent reference to the relationship between Eucharist and Penance and the relationship between the two Sacraments is most often presented as a reason for concern. How can we help people to regain an affection for the Sacrament of Penance and appreciate the gift of the Eucharist as a supreme motivation for loving God Who has given Himself to us? ... The human realities of both Sacraments are important, but not as essential as the fact that the Sacraments receive their deepest significance from the Paschal Mystery of Christ, which is the key to understanding the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the freeing from the bonds of grave sins in the Sacrament of Penance."

ARCHBISHOP BRUNO FORTE OF CHIETI-VASTO, ITALY. "The second chapter of part one of the 'Instrumentum laboris' is dedicated to the theme 'The Eucharist and Ecclesial communion.' In particular, para. 11 deals with the Eucharistic mystery as an 'expression of Ecclesial unity.' Other paragraphs consider the relationship between the Eucharist and the Church. ... Despite these references, it seems to me that little value is given to the potential of Eucharistic ecclesiology, in other words, of that relationship between the Eucharist and the Church which was conceived by Christian tradition as being part of and essential to the life and actions of the Church herself. ... We ask ourselves how, in the Synod of Bishops, we can best express and achieve that 'synodality' or 'collegiality' of bishops 'cum Petro et sub Petro,' founded and expressed in the Eucharistic 'communio' of the Churches in the one Church. And it is up to the bishop of the Church that presides in love, the Pope, to indicate or establish other possible ways to favor the practice of episcopal collegiality, in the light of the 'communio' generated and expressed by the Eucharist."

BISHOP SALVATORE FISICHELLA, AUXILIARY OF ROME AND RECTOR OF THE PONTIFICAL LATERAN UNIVERSITY. "In a period such as our own, weighed down by a culture that imposes endless acquisition simply on the basis of desire to possess, or that, vice versa, demands rights simply in order to see desires realized, the Eucharist becomes an expression of how to approach the essentials of life through a form of behavior that finds strength in 'gratuity.' Without such a rediscovery it is difficult to imagine a future in which we can achieve the goals that qualify individual existence and create progress in all human history. ... Until the coming of the Lord, we are called to bring everyone to share in the mystery we celebrate. This calls for the capacity to transform the world in such a way that everyone can express themselves in the best possible manner. It requires an opportunity to reach out to others, sharing their journey in search of truth, accompanying them on their way. In any case, while respecting each person's needs, the believer knows how to indicate the path to find the definitive answer to the search for meaning."

ARCHBISHOP TADEUSZ KONDRUSIEWICZ OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF THE MOTHER OF GOD IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA. "Liturgical reform has led to more active, fruitful and conscious participation of the faithful in the Eucharist. However, alongside the positive aspects, this has also led to some negative ones. Insufficient liturgical discipline ... in the celebration of the Eucharist also has a negative effect on ecumenical relationships. The violation of liturgical norms clouds the faith and the doctrine of the Church on the Eucharist, and leads to betrayal of the rule 'Lex orandi - Lex credendi.' ... Pope Benedict XVI calls us back to Eucharistic devotion, to clear and courageous expression of faith in the real presence of the Lord in all its solemnity and correctness. It is, therefore, necessary to accept the fact that the nature of the Liturgy is 'established from above and not libertarian' and that it is, by its essence, 'incorruptible.' ... The corruption of liturgical life requires the approval of a new doctrinal document emphasizing the observation of liturgical norms. Christ should not suffer because of abuses in the celebration of the Eucharist, which should always be received and experienced by the faithful as 'sacrum,' as the mysterious renewal of Chris's sacrifice, as His saving energy that transforms man and the world, as reinforcement of faith and the source of morality."

ARCHBISHOP CRISTIAN CARO CORDERO OF PUERTO MONTT, CHILE. "My proposal is that, given the close theological, spiritual and pastoral relationship between the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Penance, and taking into account the shadows in the latter, a year be dedicated to the Sacrament of Penance, taking as fundamental points the following: the meaning of the true and living God, and His eclipse in modern culture; the need of salvation and the announcement of Jesus Christ; ... the sense of sin, which is diminished or annulled, due to the loss of God and moral relativism; conversion and the virtue of penance; spiritual guidance or accompaniment; the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance as an encounter between the sinner, who converts from his misery, and God who, in His mercy in Christ, welcomes and forgives him; the conditions for receiving Holy Communion; new life in Christ, as His disciples and members of the Church. With respect to the relationship between the Eucharist and the pastoral care of vocations, I propose that in the 'Year of Penance' priests be formed and motivated to give spiritual direction to young people and to give time to the Sacrament of Reconciliation which, together with the Eucharist, are fundamental in spiritual guidance.
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THIRD GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 2005 (VIS) - The Third General Congregation of the Eucharistic Synod of Bishops began in the Vatican's Synod Hall at 9.00 a.m., in the presence of the Pope and of 243 Synod Fathers. The president delegate on duty was Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico, and the meeting closed at 12.30 p.m.

Following are excerpts from a number of the speeches given during this morning's session:

BISHOP JUAN ABELARDO MATA GUEVARA S.D.B., SECRETARY OF THE EPISCOPAL CONFERENCE OF NICARAGUA. "Secularization as a cultural process has been internalized in our environments. It is unraveling the cultural tapestry of our people, some signs of which are already clear in the reality in which we live: there is a social plague that dehumanizes the atmosphere and makes it immoral, due to its distance from God and the rejection of Christian principles. ... At the same time, the moral crisis denigrates the dignity of the human person. Together with these evils, the asphyxiating consumer propaganda taints our reality, and the idolatry of money and pleasure is imposed on us. ...The damage derived from the spread of secularism ... shows the urgent need for bold evangelization in all social fields, which could transform and humanize these structures, in such a way that they could return to their true unity in Christ. ... The Eucharistic year has invited us to a renewal of the spirit of communion, reconciliation, fraternal love, solidarity, and missionary spirit. ... In this way, the Eucharistic year is for us a strong call to unity and communion of all the Church of Nicaragua, and to a return to the roots of the Christian faith that has made our communities fruitful."

BISHOP PAUL-ANDRE DUROCHER OF ALEXANDRIA-CORNWALL, CANADA. "The Cross of Christ, formed of a trunk and a beam, recalls the two dimensions of His salvific death: vertical, the glorification of the Father; horizontal, the salvation of humanity. ... The doxological and missionary dimensions need to be developed in cultivating the art of celebration, while remaining attentive to the possibilities of praise and openness already present in the heart of the liturgy, to the development of new prayer formulae, new prefaces, and a new closing rite. All this should be done with the aim of finally realizing in the celebration what the cross of the procession already symbolizes."

ARCHBISHOP PEDRO RICARDO BARRETO JIMENO S.J., OF HUANCAYO, PERU. "The world today is full of anguish and disillusion in the face of the breakdown of human hopes, an anguish associated with the environment and extreme poverty because 'God has been exiled from public life. Hence, 'the ecological crisis is not only a scientific and technical problem, it is also, and principally, an ethical and moral one.' The Church is convinced 'that the technology that contaminates can also decontaminate; that the production that accumulates can also distribute fairly, so long as an ethic prevails of respect for the life and dignity of man, and for the rights of human generations, both present and future.' ... As 'fruit of the earth,' bread and wine represent the creation with which our Creator entrusted to us. For this reason, the Eucharist has a direct relationship with the life and hope of humanity and must be a constant concern of the Church. ... Faith in the Risen Christ makes the Eucharist 'a project of solidarity,' to share wealth with the poorest and to experience Eucharistic spirituality in the Church."

CARDINAL JORGE ARTURO MEDINA ESTEVEZ, PREFECT EMERITUS OF THE CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP AND THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS. "Intimately united to the sacrificial nature of the Eucharistic celebration is its propitiatory element, as much for the living as for the dead. Obsequial liturgy aims above all to support the soul of the deceased, and it is a misapplication to convert the obsequial homily into a tribute of the person who has passed away."

BISHOP CLEMENT FECTEAU OF SAINTE-ANNE-DE-LA-POCATIERE, CANADA. "Paragraph 38 of the 'Instrumentum laboris' again exhorts this assembly to affirm that 'the Lord's enduring, substantial presence in the Sacrament is not a mere type or metaphor.' On this subject, we have reason to ask for an 'explanation of the theology of consecration' to facilitate ecumenical dialogue and to facilitate the understanding of Catholics themselves. ... It often happens that the Eucharist is considered as something static when in reality it is dynamic. The Eucharist is not just the person of Christ; He is not merely present, but is in the constant and permanent act of sacrifice, even in the form of a memorial. It is to be hoped that the specialists may suggest a new language for this subject."

BISHOP PETER KANG U-IL OF CHEJU, KOREA. "In the Church in Korea the attendance of children at Eucharist decreases drastically as they move on to higher age. The children who don't attend the Mass say it is because Mass is too tedious and not interesting. Adults also say that because they find it very boring, they cannot motivate themselves to attend. As a priority we have to motivate and give rise within the hearts of Catholics to a desire and aspiration to participate in the Eucharist. ... In order to communicate to modern people the mystery of the Eucharist it is not enough to strictly enforce the rules and regulations regarding the celebration of the Sacrament. For our part, as bishops we need to more actively research ways to make it easier for modern Catholics to experience the real value of the Eucharist, to participate fully in it and to experience the joy of it."
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MEMBERS OF COMMISSION FOR INFORMATION ANNOUNCED

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 2005 (VIS) - At the end of the Third General Congregation, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, announced the following officials and members of the Commission for Information of the Assembly of the Synod of Bishops:

President: Archbishop John Patrick Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.

Vice-presidents: Bishop Sofron Stefan Mudry, O.S.B.M., eneritus of Ivano-Frankivsk, Stanislav, Ukraine; Bishop Evaristus Thatho Bitsoane of Qacha's Nek, Lesotho; Archbishop Luciano Pedro Mendes de Almeida, S.J., of Mariana, Brazil; Archbishop Joseph Powathil of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars, India; Bishop Franjo Komarica of Banja Luka, Bosnia Herzegovina; and Bishop Arnold Orewae, coadjutor of Wabag, Papua New Guinea.

Ex-officio members: Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops; and Archbishop Roland Minnerath of Dijon, France.

Ex-officio member and secretary: Joaquin Navarro-Valls, director of the Holy See Press Office.
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CARDINAL VON GALEN TO BE BEATIFIED ON SUNDAY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 4, 2005 (VIS) - At 9.30 a.m. on Sunday, October 9, Cardinal Jose Saraiva Martins C.M.F., prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, will preside at a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica during which Cardinal Clemens August von Galen (1878-1946), bishop of Munster, Germany, will be beatified. Cardinal von Galen was a vocal opponent of the Nazis' persecution of the Jews and of their euthanasia programs.

A note from the Office of Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiff reads: "With the beatification of this generous pastor, the Church invites us to imitate, amid the vicissitudes of our own times, his brave and faithful witness."

At the end of the ceremony, Benedict XVI will arrive in the basilica in order to venerate the relics of the new blessed, greet those present and impart his apostolic blessing.
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V.I.S. -Vatican Information Service.

Copyright © Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City

New from the Vatican Information Services 10/01-03/2005

The following is news from V.I.S., the Vatican Information Services, for 10/01-03/2005 , reproduced by permission from V.I.S.

SUMMARY OF SYNOD OF BISHOPS: OCTOBER 1 - 3

- Synod Will Be Streamlined and More Collegial
- Remain United to God, Live off the Power of the Eucharist
- Eucharist, a 'Lens' through Which to Monitor the Church
- First General Congregation
- Maintain the Centrality of the Eucharist

OTHER NEWS: OCTOBER 1 - 3

- Communications Media: an Avant-Garde Apostolate
- Transmit the Legacy of Vatican Council II
- Audiences

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SYNOD WILL BE STREAMLINED AND MORE COLLEGIAL

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, presented some information concerning the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church." The synod will be inaugurated tomorrow with a Mass in St. Peter's Basilica presided by the Holy Father and concelebrated by about 350 Synod Fathers and other participants in the general assembly.

In his talk, Archbishop Eterovic recalled how the Eucharistic synod is taking place on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Synod by Paul VI, with his Motu Proprio "Apostolica sollicitudo" on September 15, 1965.

Two hundred and fifty six Synod Fathers from 118 nations will take part in the gathering. This is the highest ever number of participants in a synodal assembly. Among them are 55 cardinals, 8 patriarchs, 82 archbishops, 123 bishops, 36 presidents of episcopal conferences and 12 religious. There are also 32 experts and 27 auditors from five continents.

The secretary general explained that 12 Churches and ecclesial communities have been invited to send delegates, of which ten have so far given the name of their representative. He made it clear that "the fraternal delegates participate in the work, they may intervene but they cannot vote; this prerogative belongs to the Synod Fathers."

After pointing out that "23 General Congregations and seven sessions for the Working Groups have been scheduled," Archbishop Eterovic recalled how "Benedict XVI willingly approved some novelties to the synodal methodology, the aim of which is to make the synod meeting more streamlined, more participatory, and therefore more collegial. Considering the synod will last three and not four weeks, and the number of participants is rather high, it has been necessary to reduce the time of the interventions of the Synod Fathers from 8 to 6 minutes, as also the number of the sessions of the Working Groups."

Another novelty is that of the free discussions in the Synod Hall from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the end of the daily General Congregations.

Furthermore, "the Synod Hall has been modernized, in particular with improvements to the lighting, air conditioning and video services."
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REMAIN UNITED TO GOD, LIVE OFF THE POWER OF THE EUCHARIST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2005 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 9.30 a.m., the Holy Father presided at a Eucharistic concelebration for the opening of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which is meeting to consider the theme: "The Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church." Concelebrating with the Pope were 55 cardinals, 7 patriarchs, 59 archbishops, 123 bishops and 81 priests.

In his homily, the Pope commented on the reading from Isaiah and from today's Gospel, which both use the image of the vine. "God waits for us. ... In this very moment when we are celebrating the Eucharist, when we are inaugurating the Synod on the Eucharist, He comes to meet us. ... Will this find a reply? Or does it happen with us as with the vineyard, about which God says in Isaiah: 'He expected it to yield fine grapes; wild grapes were all it yielded'? Is our Christian life often not perhaps rather vinegar than wine? Is it self-pity, conflict, indifference?"

Benedict XVI went on: "The good grapes which God was expecting - says the prophet - should have consisted in justice and uprightness. Instead, wild grapes bring violence, bloodshed and oppression, which make people groan under the yoke of injustice. In the Gospel the image changes: the vine produces good grapes, but the tenants keep them for themselves They are not willing to give them to the owner. ... We men to whom creation was, so to say, entrusted to manage, usurp it. We alone want to be the landlords. We want to own the world and our own lives in an unlimited way. God is our stumbling block. Either we simply make Him a devout expression or we deny Him everything, He is banished from public life, thus losing all meaning.

"Tolerance, which admits God... in private, but denies Him in the public domain, the reality of the world and of our lives, is not tolerance but hypocrisy. Yet, wherever man makes himself the only master of the world and of himself, justice cannot exist. There, the only arbiter is power and interest."

The Holy Father went on to point out how in today's readings "the judgement proclaimed by our Lord Jesus refers above all to the destruction of Jerusalem in the year 70. But the threat of judgement also concerns us, the Church in Europe, Europe and the West in general. With this Gospel, the Lord is also crying out to us the words which in the Apocalypse He addressed to the Church of Ephesus: 'If you will not repent, I shall come to you and take your lamp-stand from its place.' Light can also be taken away from us. ... Lord, help us to convert! Give us all the grace of true renewal! Do not allow your light in our midst to go out!"

"However, at this point we ask ourselves ... is the last word a threat? No! The promise is there, and it is the last, the essential, word. ... 'I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty.' With these words of the Lord, John shows us the last, and true outcome of the story of God's vineyard. God never fails. In the end He wins, love wins."

"Thus, in the end, these parables lead to the mystery of the Eucharist, where the Lord gives us the bread of life and the wine of His love, and invites us to the feast of eternal love. ... If we remain united to Him, then we will also bear fruit; then we will no longer produce the vinegar of self-sufficiency, of discontentment with God and His creation, but the good wine of joy in God and of love towards our neighbor."

Benedict XVI concluded by invoking the Lord's grace so that, during the Synod, "not only will we say beautiful things about the Eucharist, but above all we live off its strength."
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EUCHARIST, A 'LENS' THROUGH WHICH TO MONITOR THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, OCT 2, 2005 (VIS) - Following this morning's Mass for the opening of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Benedict XVI appeared at the window of his study in order to pray the Angelus with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square below.

"The Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist," he said, "authoritatively defined by the Council of Trent, must be absorbed, experienced and transmitted by the ecclesial community in ways that are ever new and adapted to the times. The Eucharist may also be seen as a 'lens' through which the countenance and the progress of the Church may be continuously monitored."

Going on to note how the closure of the Synod on October 23 coincides with World Mission Day, the Pope emphasized how this coincidence "helps us to contemplate the Eucharistic mystery from a missionary standpoint. In fact, the Eucharist is the driving force at the core of Church's evangelizing activity, rather like the heart is in the human body. Without the celebration of the Eucharist, Christian communities ... would lose their true character. Only in as much as they are 'Eucharistic' can they transmit to mankind the figure of Christ, and not simply ideas and values, noble and important though they may be."

The Pope concluded by recalling how the Eucharist "has formed eminent missionary apostles," both religious and lay people, active and contemplative. He specifically mentioned St. Francis Xavier "whom the love of Christ drove to the Far East to announce the Gospel," and St. Therese of Lisieux, who "lived her ardent apostolic spirit in the cloister, meriting her proclamation, along with St. Francis Xavier, as patron of the missionary activity of the Church."
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FIRST GENERAL CONGREGATION

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Synod Hall, the first General Congregation of the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops was held. The meeting was presided by the Pope, and 241 Synod Fathers were present.

"One of the functions of collegiality," said Benedict XVI, addressing some words of greeting to the assembled prelates, "is to help us to know our own shortcomings, which we do not want to see. It is never easy to contemplate one's own defects, and others notice them better than we do."

In this context, he went on, "fraternal correction helps us become more open, .... (it helps) each person find his own truth, his own integrity as an instrument of God. All this calls for humility, not placing ourselves above others, but helping one another."

In this way "we can help ourselves with a great act of love, an act of true collegial affection. When someone is desperate, he cannot see how to keep going, he needs consolation, someone to be with him, to give him courage, to play the role of the consoling Holy Spirit."

"This is an invitation for us to carry out the work of the Holy Spirit Paraclete," said Benedict XVI, asking "how can we do so if we do not share together the faith that was not invented by any one of us, but is the faith of the Church?"

"The faith is the common foundation upon which we stand and work." The words of St. Paul contain "an invitation to always remain upon this foundation that precedes us, to maintain this shared faith. ... Each person must experience the faith in his or her own uniqueness, but always knowing that this faith precedes us."

The Holy Father concluded his greetings by encouraging the participants in the Synod to be "instruments of Christ," and to "enter into the thoughts and feelings of the Lord."

For his part, Cardinal Francis Arinze, president delegate on duty, also pronounced some brief words at the beginning of this morning's session. "We come," he said, "to reflect on a topic that touches the heartbeat of the life of the Church. In fact, in the Most Holy Eucharist, as Vatican Council II says, 'is contained the entire spiritual wealth of the Church, namely Christ Himself, our Easter.' The Eucharist 'stands at the center of the Church's life'."

Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, then reported on the activities of the council of the secretariat general in the period since the last Synod assembly, highlighting that it was John Paul II who began preparations for the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly, and Benedict XVI who would conclude them.

Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy, relator general of the Synod, then read out the "Relatio ante disceptationem," (report before the discussion) of which some extracts are given below:

"After referring to Eucharistic wonder, the Introduction ('Eucharist: the freedom of God encounters the freedom of man') emphasizes the connection of the Eucharist with evangelization and with the 'ratio sacramentalis' of the Revelation. In chapter one ('The Novum of Christian Worship') I will try to highlight the new aspects of Christian worship. Chapter two ('Eucharistic action') will deal with Eucharistic action and its distinctive characteristics, and the essential link between 'ars celebrandi' and 'actuosa participatio.' Chapter three ('Anthropological, cosmological and social dimensions of the Eucharist') will seek to show how the Eucharist intrinsically contains an anthropological, cosmological and social dimension. The Conclusion ('Eucharistic presence in the ordeals of the present day') will offer a brief summary of the subjects discussed, ending with a brief expression of best wishes for our work."

"In the final analysis, the decrease in Eucharistic wonder depends on the limitations and the sins of the individual. Often however, this finds fertile terrain in the fact that the Christian community celebrating the Eucharist is distant from reality. It lives on an abstract plane and no longer addresses the real man, his feelings, his work, his rest, his need for unity, truth, goodness, beauty. ... The Synodal Assembly will need to look into this state of affairs carefully and suggest some possible remedies."

"Because of its nature as the source of 'logiken latreian,' ritual Eucharistic action also becomes objectively the most essential and decisive of all human actions. In fact, in the Eucharistic rite the definitive meaning of history, and thereby its truth, erupts forth at a precise moment in time. ... Considering the rite in all its fullness makes it possible to avoid any kind of fragmentation or juxtaposition between Eucharistic action and the needs of the new evangelization, which range from announcing and bearing witness in all fields of human life, to the necessary anthropological, cosmological and social implications that the Eucharist objectively brings forth. It also allows the Christian community to maintain, at the same time, close fidelity to the liturgy, and attentive flexibility to the requirements of inculturation."

"The Eucharistic celebration makes the Church. ... It is an act of worship called to express the unique Paschal event in an exceptional way. ... This Sacrament was given for the communion of men in Christ. ... Outside of this Eucharistic and sacramental communion the Church is not complete."

"The Bishop does not preside the Eucharist merely for juridical reasons, because he is the 'head' of the local church, but rather out of faithfulness to the Lord's own commandment, Who entrusted the memorial of His Easter to Peter and the Apostles. ... Communion with the bishop is the condition that legitimizes the Eucharistic celebration in favor of the people of God."

"A second confirmation of how the Eucharistic celebration actually makes the Church, lies in the radical differences between Christian, pagan and even Jewish places of worship. While the pagan temple and Jewish synagogue are characterized by the presence of the divinity, and because of this presence considered sacred and sacralized, the 'place' of Christian worship consists, in a certain sense, in the very act of celebrating the mystery."

"One must underline the substantial communion of faith between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church on the theme of the Eucharist and the priesthood, communion that is destined to grow through greater and deeper reciprocal understanding of the Eucharistic celebration and divine liturgy. We should also welcome positively the new climate on the Eucharist in those ecclesial communities that came into being at the time of the Reformation. In different degrees and with few exceptions, even these communities always underline the importance of the Eucharist as the key element in dialogue and in ecumenical practice. ... Can 'inter-communion' of the faithful belonging to different Churches and ecclesial communities constitute an adequate instrument to favor the path towards Christian unity? The answer depends upon careful consideration of the nature of the Eucharistic action in all of its fullness as 'mysterium fidei'."

"In the historical evolution going from the Last Supper of Jesus Christ to the Eucharist, off which the Church still lives today, the essential and permanent nucleus of ritual comes from the close bond between the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the Eucharist."

"Eucharistic action's characteristic nature of being a gift - which implies the communication of the freedom of the 'Deus Trinitas' in Jesus Christ to the freedom of men - requires that its gratuitous nature never be misunderstood. Even if its absence provokes great suffering, this does not mean that the faithful or the people of God have any right to the Eucharist. ... For the same reason, the gift of the Eucharist can never be idolatrously 'possessed' by man; it makes no allowance for a quasi-Gnostic pretension to dominatation."

"The problem of the lack of priests must be faced with courage. ... This state of things has given rise to a considerable increase of 'Sunday assemblies awaiting a priest'. ... Local Churches are never deprived of the Eucharist. For this reason it is good pastoral practice to encourage as much participation as possible in the Eucharist in one of the communities of the diocese, even where this requires a certain degree of sacrifice. ... Wherever a certain amount of mobility is not possible, the appropriateness of these Assemblies will be seen in their capacity to accentuate in the people the ardent desire for the Eucharist."

"In order to make up for the lack of priests, some, guided by the principle of 'salus animarum suprema lex,' advance the request for the ordination of married faithful of proven faith and virtue, so-called 'viri probati.' The request is often accompanied by the positive recognition of the validity of the age-old discipline of priestly celibacy. However, this law should not, they affirm, prevent the Church from being supplied with an adequate number of ordained ministers, when the scarcity of candidates to celibate priesthood is assuming extremely grave proportions. It is superfluous to reiterate, in this context, the profound theological motives which have led the Latin Church to unite the conferring of ministerial priesthood to the charism of celibacy. Rather, the following question presents itself: are such a choice and such practice pastorally valid, even in extreme cases such as those mentioned above? It seems reasonable to answer positively. Being intimately tied to the Eucharist, ordained priesthood participates in its nature of a gift and cannot be the object of a right. ... It has become very difficult to ascertain the ideal number of priests in the Church, because the Church is not a 'business' to be equipped with a designated quota of team managers. ... Therefore, the proposals made in this Synodal Assembly to identify the criteria for an adequate distribution of clergy in the world, will be very useful. In this area, the journey still seems very long."

"The radical difference between the One who gives Himself and the one who receives the gift ... opens the faithful to the consciousness of the 'mysterium tremendum' of the Eucharist. One cannot approach it without perceiving one's own unworthiness and preparing oneself by asking for the forgiveness of one's sins. ... For this reason, adequate Eucharistic catechesis can never be separated from the idea of a penitential journey. It is in the attitude of confession that the venerable practice of the Eucharistic fast has its roots. It would be useful to dedicate some reflection to this subject in this assembly."

"No one can ignore the widespread tendency of divorced and remarried people to take part in Eucharistic communion, despite what the teaching of the Church indicates. ... Those divorced and remarried people need to be supported by the whole Christian community in the knowledge that they are not excluded from ecclesial communion. Their participation in the Eucharistic celebration permits, in all cases, that spiritual communion which, if correctly lived, mirrors the sacrifice of Jesus Christ Himself. ... During the present Assembly we must further delve into and pay great attention to complex and diverse cases, the objective methods for verifying the hypothesis of nullity of canonical marriage."

"The conscious, active and fruitful participation of the People of God - above all on Sundays - actually coincides with adequate celebration of the holy mysteries. ... It is a question of obeying the Eucharistic rite in its extraordinary completeness, recognizing its canonical and constitutive strength because it has assured, and not by mere chance, the existence of the Holy Church of God for two thousand years."

"The consideration of the Eucharistic rite as a sacramental action that is, by itself, capable of presenting the Eucharist as source and summit of the life and mission of the Church, would not be complete if one did not show its transforming strength in the personal and community life of the faithful."

"The Eucharistic celebration represents the Paschal Event which, of itself, creates the conditions for communicating it to all human cultures. ... In order to express the intercultural dimension of the Eucharist ... the use of the Latin language is valuable."

"If the Eucharist is the gift of the sacramental encounter between humanity and the God of Jesus Christ who makes us 'truly free', then such an event has by its very nature a fundamental anthropological dimension."

"The community dimension of Eucharistic action allows Christians not to forget that the creation-cosmos is a common and universal good and that commitment thereto extends not only to the demands of the present, but also to those of the future."

"To gather every Sunday, anywhere on earth, to have part of the same Body and the same Blood of Christ imposes the duty of a tenacious battle against all forms of marginalization and economic, social and political injustice to which our brothers and sisters - especially women and children - are submitted."

"The marvels of divine grace are enclosed in the holy species of the bread and the wine transubstantiated into the Body and Blood of Christ. ... The Church celebrates these mysteries, is nourished by this heavenly food and adores Him, recognizing in the sacramental Jesus the Way to the Truth and to Life."
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MAINTAIN THE CENTRALITY OF THE EUCHARIST

VATICAN CITY, OCT 3, 2005 (VIS) - This morning in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Angelo Scola, patriarch of Venice, Italy, presented the work program for the Eleventh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, of which he is the relator general.

Also participating in the press conference were Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle of Imus, Philippines, and Archbishop Pierre-Antoine Paulo O.M.I., coadjutor of Port-de-Paix, Haiti.

After illustrating the main points contained in the address he delivered this morning at the First General Congregation, Cardinal Scola explained that his hope for this Synod is, first of all, "to recover the primacy of the rite of celebration of the Eucharist," the foundation of the Church. "We cannot," he said, "reduce the Eucharist to an act of community piety. 'Rite' is the most comprehensive word to describe how the Trinity, in Christ Jesus, comes out to meet my own individuality. The Eucharist is not a right or a possession, it is a gift."

The patriarch of Venice also briefly outlined some of the central themes contained in the Synod's "Instrumentum laboris," explaining that the subject arousing most interest is that of "maintaining the centrality of the Eucharist in all its plenitude," although other important themes include a more profound study of the relationship between the Eucharist and the priesthood, the question of "viri probati" (the priestly ordination of married men), and the relationship between the Eucharist and celibacy.

Next to speak was Archbishop Pierre-Antoine Paulo O.M.I., who reaffirmed that "the Eucharist is the Church and the Church is the Eucharist," expressing the hope that the Synod would favor ecumenism. "We ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of unity," he said.

Finally, Bishop Luis Antonio G. Tagle explained the situation in his country, Philippines, where "we cannot speak of a lack of priests, because there are numerous vocations and the seminaries are full." However, Catholic communities are so many and so large that there are still not enough priests for everyone to be able to enjoy a "full" Sunday Eucharist.
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COMMUNICATIONS MEDIA: AN AVANT-GARDE APOSTOLATE

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2005 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today received in audience representatives of the Society of St. Paul, a congregation founded in 1914 by the Italian Blessed Giacomo Alberione. The society's members, present in more than 30 countries, dedicate themselves to spreading the Christian message using modern communications technology. Among other publications, the Society of St. Paul owns the Italian weekly magazine "Famiglia Cristiana" and is responsible for the St. Paul Publishing House. It also has a number of bookshops, both in Italy and other countries.

The Pope began his brief address by thanking the Paulines for "the service they give to propagating the Gospel via the modern media of social communications, following the example and the teaching of the founder."

He went on: "Yours is an avant-garde apostolate in a vast and complex field, one that offers many opportunities, and at the same time entails no small number of problems; a multi-faceted activity that calls for preparation, specific competencies and constant aggiornamento, if we wish to respond effectively to the challenges of the modern world."

This must be accompanied, stressed the Holy Father, by "a firm personal adherence to the Divine Master," such as that of Blessed Giacomo Alberione who always asked his disciples "to cultivate a robust interior life, one rich in equilibrium and discernment," presenting the example of St. Paul who "knew how to adapt his announcement to the cultural context in which he found himself but, at the same time, did not fail to present with courage and frankness, the absolute novelty that is Christ." On this subject, Benedict XVI observed how the recent Pauline general chapter had again emphasized Don Alberione's exhortation to "be St. Paul today."

The Holy Father then recalled that "since Vatican Council II, there has been a growing awareness in the Church of the great value and importance that the communications media have in spreading the Gospel and in forming consciences."

He concluded: "I therefore call on you to renew that commitment, which is your own, to be an educational presence at the service of the Christian community, that it ... may be able to develop an ever more effective capacity to communicate, in the image of the Lord Jesus in Whom communication between God and humanity reached perfection."
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TRANSMIT THE LEGACY OF VATICAN COUNCIL II

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2005 (VIS) - Made public today was a message sent by Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano, in the name of the Pope, to participants in the plenary assembly of the Council of European Episcopal Conferences (CCEE), which closes on October 2.

In the message, Cardinal Sodano communicates the Holy Father's reflections on the three principle themes examined during the plenary.

Referring to the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of Vatican Council II, Benedict XVI calls for "reflection on the topical importance of the lessons of the Council in the current situation of the Church and society in Europe." After recalling the reference made by Servant of God Paul VI to the cultural context in which the Council was celebrated, "characterized by secularism, laicism and irrationalism," the Pope asks, "how can we not think of Europe today?"

Despite the fact that "these negative tendencies have spread through the old continent," it must be noted that the "beneficial influence of the Council, ... over the course of the years, has preserved humanity and the Church herself from a crisis that, at the end of the second millennium, could have been much worse. Now it is up to us to take up and transmit the conciliar legacy in order not to lose the guidance the Lord has given His Church."

As for the second theme considered by the CCEE plenary - evangelization and faith in Europe - the Holy Father notes that "over the last few decades there has been a growing awareness that the task of evangelization is becoming ever more indispensable for Europe." Furthermore, he adds, "religious pluralism has been growing in Europe, with a strong increase in the presence of Muslims. In this context, it is even more urgently important for Christians to become aware of the fact that the Gospel cannot be witheld. Then there is Europe's responsibility to evangelize the world."

The papal message also refers to the plenary's third theme, that of evangelization and dialogue through catechesis, school, university, and the communications media. After highlighting "the legacy of Popes Paul VI and John Paul II, who knew how to unite, in an extraordinary fashion, missionary drive and tireless openness to dialogue," it concludes with an exhortation "not to be afraid to face current pastoral challenges."
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 1, 2005 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Paul Josef Cordes, president of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum."

- Benjamin Mkapa, president of the Republic of Tanzania, accompanied by his wife and an entourage.

- Five prelates from the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate, on their "ad limina" visit:

- Bishop Jose Luis Amezcua Melgoza of Colima.

- Bishop Jose Guadalupe Martin Rabago of Leon.

- Bishop Benjamin Castillo Plascencia of Tabasco.

- Bishop Pedro Pablo Elizondo Cardenas L.C., prelate of Cancun-Chetumal, accompanied by Bishop Jorge Bernal Vargas L.C., prelate emeritus of the same territorial prelature.

- Archbishop Michael A. Blume S.V.D., apostolic nuncio to Benin and Togo, accompanied by members of his family.

- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
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