Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Guadalajara (Agenzia Fides) - The main purpose of the Eucharistic Congress is to consider more profoundly the Mystery of the Eucharist as the Light and Life of the New Millennium. “Men and women of our day with their thirst for eternity not correctly satisfied, are in search of Christ”. Therefore the Church “must not only speak of Him, it must reflect His light through teaching on the Gospel and personal and community witness of life”. To do this we must first of all be contemplators of Jesus. Then we must be with Him so as to have a contemplative experience and feel the need to spend time in spiritual conversation, silent adoration, filled with love in front of Jesus in the Eucharist. This was the exhortation which Card. Juan Sandoval Íniguez, Archbishop of Guadalajara and President of the International Eucharistic Congress organising committee, ha made in the introductory conference which he gave on Monday 11 October at Expo-Guadalajara, where the Congress is taking place.
In his address with the significant title “Lord, we want to see your face!”, Cardinal Sandoval said that to discover the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist and to contemplate his Face in the Eucharist, it is necessary to revive our faith. The Eucharistic Congress “is an event of special grace a Kairos which Christ offers us in his mercy”. Therefore “Our purpose is to revive Eucharistic wonder in our hearts and minds in order to live the experience of the disciples at Emmaus, to recognise the Lord in the breaking of the bread and enjoy his presence ever new which illuminates our ecclesial journey and offers is the gift of fullness of life”.
Cardinal Sandoval illustrated the significance of the activities during the Congress: the Eucharistic Celebration necessary and irreplaceable centre of the daily activities of the Congress and tangible sign of the universal Church gathered around the Lord’s table to make present Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross; public catechesis and sharing of experiences on eucharistic life in the world, which accompanied by reflection lead to concrete commitment to Christian life; adoration of the Eucharist to contemplate the Face of Christ truly present in the Eucharist; public profession of our faith in the Eucharistic Mystery expressed in participation in solemn Eucharistic Processions.
At the end of his address the Cardinal Sandoval mentioned that the Congress is a point of departure for the Year of the Eucharist announced by Pope John Paul II and also a good way to prepare for the 11th Synod of Bishops to be held in 2005 in Rome. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 12/10/2004; Righe 32; Parole 401)
