VATICAN - The Pope’s annual Letter to Priests for Holy Thursday: “The words of institution of the Eucharist must be more than a formula of consecration: they must be a "formula of life".

Friday, 18 March 2005

Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Dear priests, I particularly welcome our annual spiritual encounter for Holy Thursday, the day when Christ's love was manifested "to the end" (cf. Jn 13:1), the day of the Eucharist, the day of our priesthood. My thoughts turn to you, dear priests, as I spend this time recuperating in hospital, a patient alongside other patients, uniting in the Eucharist my own sufferings with those of Christ. In this spirit I want to reflect with you on some aspects of our priestly spirituality.” This is how the Holy Father, Pope John Paul II began his annual Letter the Priests for Holy Thursday this year, made public today. The Pope took his inspiration from the institution of the Eucharist: “These words provide us with illuminating insights for priestly spirituality: if the whole Church draws life from the Eucharist, all the more then must the life of a priest be "shaped" by the Eucharist. So for us, the words of institution must be more than a formula of consecration: they must be a "formula of life".
The Holy Father reflects on various attitudes which should mark the life of the priest. Gratitude “for the gift of faith, which it is his task to proclaim, and for the gift of the priesthood, which consecrates him totally to the service of the Kingdom of God”. Self-giving: “if he is able to offer himself as a gift, placing himself at the disposal of the community and at the service of anyone in need, his life takes on its true meaning”. The experience of salvation worked by Christ, of which priests must be “privileged heralds”: “Holiness, in fact, is the full expression of salvation. Only if our lives manifest the fact that we are saved do we become credible heralds of salvation.”. Remembrance: “Through his daily repetition in persona Christi of the words of the "memorial", the priest is invited to develop a "spirituality of remembrance"»… the priest is called to be, within the community entrusted to him, the man who faithfully remembers the entire mystery of Christ”.
The Pope highlights three more attitudes proper to the priest: a life of “holiness” which must “shine forth from our whole way of being, but above all from the way we celebrate”. Above all in the context of new evangelisation people have a right to turn to priests “in the hope of "seeing'' Christ in them (cf. Jn 12:21). The young feel the need for this especially; Christ continues to call them, to make them his friends and to challenge some to give themselves completely for the sake of the Kingdom.”. Lastly the Pope recalls the very close relationship of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Eucharist: “Who more than Mary can help us taste the greatness of the Eucharistic mystery? She more than anyone can teach us how to celebrate the sacred mysteries with due fervour and to commune with her Son, hidden in the Eucharist.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 18/3/2005; righe 31, parole 450)


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