<DIV><A target=_blank name=60105><FONT color=#000040><B>Pope Hopes Year Boosts "Culture of Eucharist"</B></FONT></A><BR>Issues Apostolic Letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine" <BR><BR>VATICAN CITY, OCT. 8, 2004 (<A href="http://www.zenit.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>Zenit.org</FONT></A>).- John Paul II hopes the Year of the Eucharist serves to promote the "culture of the Eucharist" in Catholic communities, in order to witness to God's presence in the world.<BR><BR>The Pope articulates this objective in a new 30-page apostolic letter, "Mane Nobiscum Domine" (Stay with Us, Lord), in which he reinforces the importance of this sacrament for the life of Catholics.<BR><BR>The Holy Father suggests that the celebration of Sunday Mass be intensified, as well as Eucharistic adoration outside of Mass, the rosary and Eucharistic processions, especially on the feast of Corpus Christi.<BR><BR>John Paul II believes that the above are ways of "witnessing with greater force the presence of God in
the world." Therefore, he asks Catholics not to "be afraid to speak of God and to be proud to manifest "the signs of the faith."<BR><BR>Cardinal Francis Arinze, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, presented the document to journalists today.<BR><BR>He explained that in those dioceses where a procession might cause problems, in particular where Catholics are a minority, it's up to the bishops to decide the most appropriate ways to practice these manifestations of faith.<BR><BR>"Anyway, we have nothing to hide," the Nigerian cardinal said. "In my Church, we feel proud to block the traffic with our processions."<BR><BR>This culture of the Eucharist implies a public presence of the faith, the Pope states: "It is a mistake to think that a public reference to the faith can affect the just autonomy of the state and of civil institutions, or that it might even encourage attitudes of intolerance."<BR><BR>John Paul II emphasizes the etymological value of the
word Eucharist ("to give thanks") and says that "whoever learns to give thanks may be a martyr like Christ crucified, but never an executioner."<BR><BR>It is urgent, he adds, that this "thanksgiving" take place especially "in our secularized culture, which breathes the forgetfulness of God and cultivates the self-sufficiency of man." <BR>ZE04100804<BR><BR><A href="http://www.zenit.org/english/send_friend/index.phtml?sid=60105" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>email this article</FONT></A><BR><BR><A href="http://us.f201.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter?MsgId=4977_354392_1692_1220_18613_0_30448_45113_3456898071&Idx=5&YY=58033&inc=25&order=down&sort=date&pos=0&view=&head=&box=Inbox#top"><FONT color=#003399>TOP</FONT></A><BR><BR><FONT color=#003399>
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<BR></FONT><A target=_blank name=60107><FONT color=#000040><B>Depth, Not Novelty, Is Sought in Year of Eucharist</B></FONT></A><BR>Pope's New Apostolic Letter Lists 2 Objectives <BR><BR>VATICAN CITY, OCT. 8, 2004 (<A href="http://www.zenit.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>Zenit.org</FONT></A>).- John Paul II doesn't want the Year of the Eucharist to be full of novel events.<BR><BR>Rather, he prefers that the "Eucharistic dimension be accentuated" in the pastoral programs of local Churches.<BR><BR>The Pope explains this in his new apostolic letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine" (Stay with Us, Lord), published today, for the Eucharistic Year that begins Oct. 17. That date will mark the close of the International Eucharistic Congress in Guadalajara, Mexico.<BR><BR>The Year of the Eucharist, which will end in October 2005 with the Synod of Bishops of the World on the Eucharist, seeks to recover the meaning of the Eucharist at a time when the world experiences "dark shadows of violence and
blood which do not cease to sadden us," the Holy Father writes.<BR><BR>John Paul II invites the Church to return to the Eucharist and to "celebrate it decorously," and especially to take it to daily life, according to Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, who spoke at a press conference to present the apostolic letter.<BR><BR>At the end of the document, John Paul II says that he hopes two objectives will be achieved during the Year: to value Sunday Mass and to intensify Eucharistic adoration.<BR><BR>"If the fruit of this Year is only to revive in all Christian communities the celebration of Sunday Mass and to increase Eucharistic adoration outside of Mass, this Year of grace will have achieved a significant result," the Pope writes.<BR><BR>The Pontiff also hopes that the apostolic letter will help all the faithful to rediscover "the gift of the Eucharist as light and strength for your daily life in the world, in the
exercise of the respective professions and in contact with the most diverse situations."<BR><BR>In particular, John Paul II suggests rediscovering the Eucharist "to live fully the beauty and mission of the family."<BR><BR>"For my part, with this letter I wish to offer some basic guidelines," states the Holy Father, who signed the document on Thursday.<BR><BR>The apostolic letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine" may be read in the Documents <A href="http://www.zenit.org/italian/visualizza.php?sid=2495" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>section</FONT></A> of the Italian edition of ZENIT's Web page. Within days, ZENIT expects to post an English translation. <BR>ZE04100802<BR><BR><A href="http://www.zenit.org/english/send_friend/index.phtml?sid=60107" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>email this article</FONT></A><BR><BR><A
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<BR></FONT><A target=_blank name=60108><FONT color=#000040><B>Eucharist Is School of Peace, Asserts John Paul II</B></FONT></A><BR>In Apostolic Letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine" <BR><BR>VATICAN CITY, OCT. 8, 2004 (<A href="http://www.zenit.org/" target=_blank><FONT color=#003399>Zenit.org</FONT></A>).- John Paul II has presented the Eucharist to the world as "a great school of peace" which can form men and women to be "weavers of dialogue and communion."<BR><BR>This is one of the convictions the Pope repeats in the apostolic letter "Mane Nobiscum Domine" (Stay with Us, Lord), published today, for the forthcoming Year of the Eucharist.<BR><BR>"The lacerated image of our world, which has begun the new millennium with the specter of terrorism and the tragedy of war, invites Christians more than ever to live the Eucharist as a great school of peace," the Pontiff writes.<BR><BR>"The Christian who participates in the Eucharist learns" to "make himself a promoter of communion, peace and
solidarity," he states.<BR><BR>Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, explained at the press conference to present the document that the "Eucharist and peace are very related."<BR><BR>"The Eucharist and peace are united in spirituality; it is not something automatic," the archbishop said. However, as "it is necessary to have the power of prayer, whoever goes to Mass learns the logic of fraternity and peace and applies it. This is the school of peace."<BR><BR>John Paul II reminds the faithful that the Eucharist must lead to "a more just and fraternal society."<BR><BR>He invites them to make this "Year of the Eucharist a period in which communities commit themselves in a special way to seek out, with fraternal commitment, some of the many poverties of our world."<BR><BR>"The criteria according to which the authenticity of our Eucharistic celebrations will be verified" is "love" and "attention for those who are in need," he
adds.<BR><BR>The Pope believes it is important to remember that "the Eucharist is the manifestation of communion." In this connection, he clarifies that "the Church puts conditions to be able to participate fully in the Eucharistic celebration," and refers to the directives and documents already published by the Holy See on the topic.<BR><BR>Archbishop Sorrentino disclosed that on Oct. 15 a document will be presented entitled "Year of the Eucharist: Suggestions and Proposals," which will offer guidelines for an appropriate celebration of this sacrament. <BR>ZE04100803<BR></DIV><BR><BR><DIV>
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<DIV><EM><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#0000bf>Like a deer that longs for running waters so my soul longs for you, O God.</FONT></EM></DIV></FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000bf><EM><FONT face="comic sans ms">Ps 42:1</FONT></EM></FONT></DIV>
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