Each month Bishop Manning writes a Letter to the Catholic Community of Parramatta Diocese, which is published in 'Catholic Outlook', the official diocesan newspaper. Click here to view a pdf of the latest issue.
To review previous letters from the Bishop visit the archive.
February 2007
The Bishop's Letter
The Sunday Mass obligation
By Bishop Kevin Manning, Bishop of Parramatta.
My Dear People,
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In the early days of Christianity when the followers of Jesus were trying to carve their identity, and differentiate themselves from the Jews and other groups, Sunday was the day for gathering for the Eucharist.
The reason was given: "this day is holy, for in the beginning it first saw light created, and it gleamed bright in witness of our Lord's resurrection.1
The personal love of God who so loved us that He sent His Son, who through His death and resurrection won eternal life and light for us was what made Christianity novel. Sunday was associated with the resurrection.
At this time, when people are thinking about New Year resolutions it would be most appropriate to reconsider our attitude to Sunday Mass in the light of a recent letter of Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 43rd anniversary of the Second Vatican Council's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
The Holy Father stresses that Sunday Mass must remain the focal point of authentic Catholic life and development. It remains the fundamental nucleus of the liturgical year, which originated in Christ's resurrection.
New Testament witness
With the event of the resurrection, creation and redemption reached their
fulfillment on the "first day after Saturday" when the women,
then the disciples, met the Risen Lord, and understood that this was
"the day which the Lord has made".
From early Christian times, participation in the Sunday celebration was the natural expression of Christians belonging to Christ, of communion with His mystical body, and the joyful expectation of His glorious return.
Witness of martyrs
This belonging was expressed heroically in what happened to the martyrs of
Abitene who faced death exclaiming: "without coming together on
Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist we cannot live", and, so, it is
very necessary today to reaffirm the sacredness of the Lord's day and the
need to take part in Sunday Mass.
Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council makes explicit the connection between the
resurrection and the hope of the Eucharistic community: on this day,
Christ's faithful should come together into one place so that, by hearing
the Word of God and taking part in the Eucharist, they may call to mind
the passion, resurrection and glorification of the Lord Jesus, and may
thank God who has "begotten us again, through the Resurrection of
Christ from the dead, into a living hope". (1 Peter 1:3)
Sunday, then, is the day on which the Risen Lord makes Himself present among His followers, invites them to His banquet and shares Himself with them.
A central place
We must always try to give a central place to the Eucharist as a
fundamental pillar of Sunday and of all ecclesial life. Indeed, at every
Sunday Eucharistic celebration the sanctification of the Christian people
takes place as it will take place until the Sunday that never ends, the
day of Christ's second coming.
With the Holy Father, I encourage you all to give ever greater importance to the Lord's Day and never omit to attend the Eucharist unless excused for a serious reason. Of course, those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin.
It is my dearest wish that the Day of the Lord regains in your eyes all its importance and is perceived, and lived to the full, in the celebration of the Eucharist in which the Christian community grows authentically and on which it depends.
Bishop Kevin Manning,
Bishop of Parramatta.
1Gregory of Tours, Histories, 10.30
