"'Treasure' of the Church"

VATICAN CITY, JUNE 19, 2006 (Zenit) - Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address Sunday at midday, before and after reciting the Angelus with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square.

* * *

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Today, in Italy and in other countries, the solemnity of Corpus Christi is being celebrated, which already had its intense moment in Rome in the city's procession on Thursday.

It is the solemn and public feast of the Eucharist, sacrament of the body and blood of Christ: On this day, the mystery instituted in the Last Supper and commemorated every year on Holy Thursday, is presented to all, surrounded by the faith and devotion of the ecclesial community.

The Eucharist is, in fact, the "treasure" of the Church, the precious heritage that her Lord has left her. And the Church guards this heritage with the greatest care, celebrating it daily in the holy Mass, adoring it in churches and chapels, distributing it to the sick, and as viaticum to those on their last journey.

However, this treasure, which is destined for those who are baptized, does not exhaust its radius of action in the ambit of the Church: the Eucharist is the Lord Jesus who gives himself "for the life of the world" (John 6:51). At all times and in all places, he wishes to encounter man and give him God's life.

And not only this -- the Eucharist also has cosmic value: The transformation of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ constitutes, in fact, the principle of divinization of creation itself. This is why the feast of Corpus Christi is characterized particularly by the tradition of carrying the Blessed Sacrament in procession, a gesture full of meaning.

By carrying the Eucharist through the streets and squares, we wish to submerge the bread descended from heaven in the everyday of our lives; we want Jesus to walk where we walk; to live where we live. Our world, our lives, must become his temple.

On this feast day, the Christian community proclaims that the Eucharist is everything for it, that it is its very life, the source of love that triumphs over death. From communion with Christ arises the charity that transforms our lives and supports all on the journey toward the heavenly homeland. For this reason, the liturgy invites us to sing: "Good shepherd, true bread … You who know all and can do everything, who nourish us on earth, lead your brothers to the table of heaven, in the glory of your saints."

Mary is the "Eucharistic woman," as Pope John Paul II described her in his encyclical "Ecclesia de Eucharistia." Let us pray to the Virgin that all Christians may deepen their faith in the Eucharistic mystery, so that they live in constant communion with Jesus and are his valid witnesses.

[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in seven languages. In Italian, he said:]

Next Tuesday, June 20, World Refugee Day is being observed, promoted by the United Nations, to call the attention of the international community to the conditions of so many people, forced to flee from their own lands because of grave forms of violence.

These brothers and sisters of ours seek refuge in other countries, animated by the hope of returning to their homeland or, at least, to find hospitality where they have sought refuge.

Assuring them of my remembrance in prayer and the constant solicitude of the Holy See, I hope that the rights of these people will always be respected and I encourage ecclesial communities to respond to their needs.

[Speaking in English, the Pope said:]

I welcome all the English-speaking visitors gathered for this Angelus prayer. My special greeting goes to the Neocatechumenal communities from England and the United States. May your stay in the Eternal City help you to grow in love for the Lord and his Church. God bless you all!

© Copyright 2006 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana [adapted]

Contact

The Vatican
http://www.catholic.org  , VA
Pope Benedict XVI - Bishop of Rome, 661 869-1000

Email

info@yourcatholicvoice.org

Keywords

Pope, Benedict, Eucharist, Angelus, Vatican