PASTORAL LETTER ON THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST
FROM THE ARCHBISHOP OF WESTMINSTER
(Read at all Masses on 8th-9th Jan 05)
My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of my earliest memories as a child is attending church with my father and mother, my brothers and sister. Even before I could really understand much at all I was aware of two things; that Sunday was special and that it is the Mass that matters. I think of that today because the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, has asked the whole Catholic world to reflect upon the Holy Eucharist during this year. He has expressly said that he does not wish any other programme within the diocese to be interrupted. Rather, he invites every parish, every diocese, every Catholic, to think, pray and reflect upon the great Mystery that is at the heart of our faith. The life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is made present and focussed for us in the celebration of the Mass.
Today is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We are reminded of the gift of Faith in our own Baptism. Through Baptism we are made members of the Holy Church of God. Our Baptism is directed towards our full participation in the Eucharist. I wish to make some suggestions to you today regarding ways in which all of us in our diocese can deepen our love and understanding for the Eucharist, for the Mass.
Firstly, priests and people should all take great care that the Mass is celebrated in a dignified manner, with great reverence and devotion and in accordance with Norms of the Church. Of course, this particularly concerns the priest himself and those who minister with him at the altar. Readers, Eucharistic ministers and musicians all have important roles to fulfil. But it concerns the whole People of God, for each one has a unique role in the celebration of the Eucharist, and each person must strive for a deeper reverence and devotion in its celebration.
Secondly, I would ask that every effort is made during this year to experience Sunday as the Day of the Lord and the Day of the Church. That is vital if we are to effectively witness to our baptismal faith. It is surely important, amidst the distractions of our present day society, to mark Sunday in a way that is fitting for Christian people. Please make Sunday the day on which you prepare, celebrate and reflect on the Mass. Help your children to appreciate that the Day of the Lord is different from other days of the week, a day devoted to Him; a day when the greatest Mystery is celebrated at the Altar of the Lord. Repeat those familiar words; it is the Mass that matters.
Thirdly, we need to remember the Holy Eucharist is both a meal and a sacrifice. The Mass is a meal, because on the evening of Holy Thursday, at the Last Supper, Jesus said, Take, eat, this is my body given for you. He took a cup and gave it to the apostles, saying, Take and drink, all of you. The Mass expresses the communion which God wishes to have with us in Jesus. It creates communion with one another. But we must never forget that the Holy Eucharist is also a sacrifice. In the Eucharist, Christ makes present to us anew the sacrifice offered once for all on Calvary. Every Mass is a memorial, a living memory of Christ's passion and death on the cross. We need to cultivate a lively awareness of Christ's real presence, both in the celebration of Mass and in the worship of the Holy Eucharist outside of Mass. The manner in which we treat the Blessed Sacrament should be marked by a profound respect. Great importance should be attached to the moments of silence, both in the celebration of Mass and in Eucharistic devotion.
My dear people, we are at a very important time in the work of spiritual and pastoral renewal in our diocese. I am grateful that At Your Word, Lord has helped us to appreciate the Mass more. Every time we attend Mass we meet Christ and hear His voice as He urges us to give witness to Him by the way in which we live. When you leave the church Sunday, you are filled with the Spirit of Christ, because you have listened to His Word and have been nourished by Him in the Holy Eucharist. This means that you are invited, then, to work for the spread of the Gospel and to bring into our society Christ's presence amongst the people with whom you live and work. I would like to repeat to you some of the words of John Paul II in his letter on the Eucharist:
To my dear Brothers in the Priesthood, each day you repeat the words of consecration and you, in a particular manner, are witnesses of the great miracle of love which takes place at your hands. Be challenged by the grace of this special year and celebrate the Holy Mass with the same joy and fervour with which you celebrated your first Mass and willingly spend time in prayer before the tabernacle. May this year be especially a year of grace for you.
To you, dear Consecrated Men and Women, never forget that Jesus in the tabernacle wants you to be at His side so that He can fill your hearts with the experience of His friendship which alone gives meaning and fulfilment to your lives.
To all of you, dear Christian faithful, rediscover the gift of the Eucharist as light and strength for your daily lives in the world, in the exercise of your tasks, your professions, amid so many different situations.
To all of you who are young, try and understand and gather round the Eucharist as a vital source which nourishes your faith and enthusiasm.
As Bishop of this great Diocese of Westminster I would like to echo the Holy Father's words by asking you during these months ahead to read, reflect, pray and deepen your understanding and love for the Holy Eucharist. It is the core of our faith. It is the source of our strength. Stay with us, Lord, said the disciples on the way to Emmaus. He is with us, in word, in sacrament, in His Presence in the Holy Eucharist. I give thanks today for this great gift which God has left to us in Jesus Christ - the Holy Eucharist, the core and heart of our faith. My prayer is that each one of you will continue to deepen your own love and appreciation for this wonderful sacrament.
With an assurance of my prayers and kindest wishes for a happy and peaceful New Year. May God bless you all.
Yours devotedly in Christ
† Cormac Murphy O'Connor
Archbishop of Westminster
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