Bishop of Parramatta


	To review previous writings visit the archive	July 2003
	Encyclical on the Eucharist By Bishop Kevin Manning Catholic Outlook, July 2003 I WAS irritated recently when I read the title of an article in AD 2000, which read: "John Paul's new Encyclical on the Eucharist targets liturgical abuses". This slanted headline does not do justice to the beautiful Encyclical, which Pope John Paul II issued on Holy Thursday. This Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, on the Holy Eucharist offers both a compendium of Church teaching and an inspiring spiritual reflection on the Holy Eucharist, the central sacramental mystery of the Christian life. I intend in this and subsequent articles to explain something of the positive teaching that it contains. Life from the Eucharist The first words of the Encyclical explain its intent: "The Church draws her life from the Eucharist." In his introductory paragraph the Pope explains that we experience daily refreshment and life in the Holy Eucharist and in this way we "draw life" from the Mass and Holy Communion. But, in another way, he says, we can also say that the Church has drawn her life from the Eucharist. At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ made the Eucharist a Sacrament, and a living sign of what was to take place the next day through His death and resurrection. Because, according to the Pope, "the Church was born of the Pascal Mystery, the Eucharist, which is in an outstanding way the Sacrament of the Paschal Mystery, stands at the centre of the Church's life." (n. 3) The institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ is a "decisive moment" in the Church's "taking shape". The Easter Mystery - Christ's dying and rising as the cause of our salvation - is, according to the Pope, "gathered up, foreshadowed and consecrated forever in the gift of the Eucharist." (n. 5) Contemplation In his introduction, the Holy Father sets out these pivotal insights in the context of the new Millennium, the Marian Year of the Rosary, and in his own personal reflection on his priesthood. They are for Pope John Paul II, and should be for us, a source of "profound amazement and gratitude". They are substantial food for deep "contemplation, with Mary, on the face of Christ". This contemplation is something that the Pope has called us to do so that we can be ready to "put out into the deep" with enthusiasm for the new evangelisation. The Encyclical is divided into six main sections with an introduction and conclusion. In this first of a series of three articles I want to briefly look at the first part of the Encyclical and in subsequent issues of Catholic Outlook offer further thoughts on the remaining sections. Section I: Mystery of Faith At the end of the introduction, which highlights the Encyclical's themes, the Pope acknowledges that amid the positive signs of "lights" of Eucharistic faith and love that sustain hope in the Church there are also some shadows. "In some ways," he says, "the Holy Eucharist is ignored or its meaning distorted." And he seeks to renew our knowledge and love for this Sacrament, which is "too great a gift" to depreciate "with ambiguity and depreciation." (n. 10) Sacrificial Nature The first of these concerns is overshadowed by the Pope's strong emphasis in the very first chapter on the sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is first and foremost the means by which "the central event of salvation becomes really present and the work of our redemption is carried out. The sacrifice is so decisive for the salvation of the human race that Jesus Christ offered it and returned to the Father only after He had left us a means of sharing in it as if we had been present there." (n. 11) The Pope says "at times one encounters an extremely reductive understanding of the Eucharistic Mystery. Stripped of its sacrificial meaning it is celebrated as if it were simply a fraternal banquet." (n. 10) In this first main section the Pope affirms that "the Church draws her life from the redeeming sacrifice - this sacrifice made present ever anew is sacramentally perpetuated in every community which offers it at the hands of the consecrated minister." The Eucharist is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and inexhaustively applies the reconciliation He accomplished by His death and resurrection. Builds the Church The significance of the Eucharist as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is most fully realised when the Lord's Body and Blood are received in Communion. The second chapter in the Encyclical develops the Church's understanding that the Eucharist is not only a cause of the Church at her origins, but our sharing in the Eucharistic sacrifice in Holy Communion is the mystery by which our incorporation into Christ - brought about by Baptism - is "constantly renewed and consolidated". (n. 22) The Eucharist builds the Church for "we can say not only that each of us receives Christ (in the Eucharist) but also that Christ receives each of us. He enters into friendship with us." A Sacrament for Humanity This communion that we experience is not something apart or isolating, but causes us to become "a sacrament for humanity, a sign and instrument of the salvation achieved by Christ … for the redemption of all." (n. 22) The Church's mission is in continuity with Christ's mission for "the Eucharist precisely by building up the Church creates human community". (n. 24) In this section Pope John Paul strongly recommends the worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass. Eucharistic adoration, which is always "strictly linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice", is directed towards a deepening of our communion with Christ, he says. The Pope rejects the tendency to minimise this Eucharistic worship. He confirms the long history of the Church that cherishes this very intimate prayer from which we can draw strength, consolation, and support. (n. 25) Give Priority to Eucharistic Devotion Personally, I am encouraged by the attention that is given throughout the Diocese of Parramatta to the promotion of Eucharistic adoration and it is my dearest desire that when the new Cathedral is opened we will be able to have continuous adoration therein. In my Strategic Pastoral Plan for the Diocese I have made Eucharistic devotion a strong priority because it intensifies our love of the Mass and supports our fervent prayers for vocation to the priesthood. Nearly every one of our parishes has maintained a weekly opportunity for the faithful to come and visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Father speaks of this adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as an occasion for us to draw strength from "contemplating the face of Christ". I am renewed in hope when I see in such a concrete way how the Eucharist builds the Church. To be continued in the August 2003 issue of Catholic Outlook.

Encyclical on the Eucharist

By Bishop Kevin Manning
Catholic Outlook, July 2003

I WAS irritated recently when I read the title of an article in AD 2000, which read: "John Paul's new Encyclical on the Eucharist targets liturgical abuses".

This slanted headline does not do justice to the beautiful Encyclical, which Pope John Paul II issued on Holy Thursday. This Encyclical, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, on the Holy Eucharist offers both a compendium of Church teaching and an inspiring spiritual reflection on the Holy Eucharist, the central sacramental mystery of the Christian life.

I intend in this and subsequent articles to explain something of the positive teaching that it contains.

Life from the Eucharist
The first words of the Encyclical explain its intent: "The Church draws her life from the Eucharist."

In his introductory paragraph the Pope explains that we experience daily refreshment and life in the Holy Eucharist and in this way we "draw life" from the Mass and Holy Communion. But, in another way, he says, we can also say that the Church has drawn her life from the Eucharist.

At the Last Supper, Jesus Christ made the Eucharist a Sacrament, and a living sign of what was to take place the next day through His death and resurrection. Because, according to the Pope, "the Church was born of the Pascal Mystery, the Eucharist, which is in an outstanding way the Sacrament of the Paschal Mystery, stands at the centre of the Church's life." (n. 3)

The institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ is a "decisive moment" in the Church's "taking shape". The Easter Mystery - Christ's dying and rising as the cause of our salvation - is, according to the Pope, "gathered up, foreshadowed and consecrated forever in the gift of the Eucharist." (n. 5)

Contemplation
In his introduction, the Holy Father sets out these pivotal insights in the context of the new Millennium, the Marian Year of the Rosary, and in his own personal reflection on his priesthood.

They are for Pope John Paul II, and should be for us, a source of "profound amazement and gratitude". They are substantial food for deep "contemplation, with Mary, on the face of Christ". This contemplation is something that the Pope has called us to do so that we can be ready to "put out into the deep" with enthusiasm for the new evangelisation.

The Encyclical is divided into six main sections with an introduction and conclusion. In this first of a series of three articles I want to briefly look at the first part of the Encyclical and in subsequent issues of Catholic Outlook offer further thoughts on the remaining sections.

Section I: Mystery of Faith
At the end of the introduction, which highlights the Encyclical's themes, the Pope acknowledges that amid the positive signs of "lights" of Eucharistic faith and love that sustain hope in the Church there are also some shadows.

"In some ways," he says, "the Holy Eucharist is ignored or its meaning distorted." And he seeks to renew our knowledge and love for this Sacrament, which is "too great a gift" to depreciate "with ambiguity and depreciation." (n. 10)

Sacrificial Nature
The first of these concerns is overshadowed by the Pope's strong emphasis in the very first chapter on the sacrificial aspect of the Eucharist. The Eucharist is first and foremost the means by which "the central event of salvation becomes really present and the work of our redemption is carried out. The sacrifice is so decisive for the salvation of the human race that Jesus Christ offered it and returned to the Father only after He had left us a means of sharing in it as if we had been present there." (n. 11)

The Pope says "at times one encounters an extremely reductive understanding of the Eucharistic Mystery. Stripped of its sacrificial meaning it is celebrated as if it were simply a fraternal banquet." (n. 10)

In this first main section the Pope affirms that "the Church draws her life from the redeeming sacrifice - this sacrifice made present ever anew is sacramentally perpetuated in every community which offers it at the hands of the consecrated minister."

The Eucharist is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and inexhaustively applies the reconciliation He accomplished by His death and resurrection.

Builds the Church
The significance of the Eucharist as the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is most fully realised when the Lord's Body and Blood are received in Communion. The second chapter in the Encyclical develops the Church's understanding that the Eucharist is not only a cause of the Church at her origins, but our sharing in the Eucharistic sacrifice in Holy Communion is the mystery by which our incorporation into Christ - brought about by Baptism - is "constantly renewed and consolidated". (n. 22)

The Eucharist builds the Church for "we can say not only that each of us receives Christ (in the Eucharist) but also that Christ receives each of us. He enters into friendship with us."

A Sacrament for Humanity
This communion that we experience is not something apart or isolating, but causes us to become "a sacrament for humanity, a sign and instrument of the salvation achieved by Christ … for the redemption of all." (n. 22)

The Church's mission is in continuity with Christ's mission for "the Eucharist precisely by building up the Church creates human community". (n. 24)

In this section Pope John Paul strongly recommends the worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass. Eucharistic adoration, which is always "strictly linked to the celebration of the Eucharistic Sacrifice", is directed towards a deepening of our communion with Christ, he says.

The Pope rejects the tendency to minimise this Eucharistic worship. He confirms the long history of the Church that cherishes this very intimate prayer from which we can draw strength, consolation, and support. (n. 25)

Give Priority to Eucharistic Devotion
Personally, I am encouraged by the attention that is given throughout the Diocese of Parramatta to the promotion of Eucharistic adoration and it is my dearest desire that when the new Cathedral is opened we will be able to have continuous adoration therein.

In my Strategic Pastoral Plan for the Diocese I have made Eucharistic devotion a strong priority because it intensifies our love of the Mass and supports our fervent prayers for vocation to the priesthood. Nearly every one of our parishes has maintained a weekly opportunity for the faithful to come and visit Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

The Holy Father speaks of this adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament as an occasion for us to draw strength from "contemplating the face of Christ".

I am renewed in hope when I see in such a concrete way how the Eucharist builds the Church.

To be continued in the August 2003 issue of Catholic Outlook.