VATICAN - The Pope reminds parents that they are “called to help their children discover the value and importance of responding to Christ who convokes the entire Christian family to Sunday Mass” and announces a special October 15 Meeting of Catechesis for children who made their First Holy Communion during this year

Vatican City (Fides Service) - In this eighth month of the special Year of the Eucharist once again Pope Benedict XVI underlined the importance of Sunday, the Lord’s Day and duty of parents to educate their children in this awareness. At the midday Angelus prayer on Sunday 12 June recalling the recent Italian national Eucharistic Congress and the Holy Father said “Sunday must not be felt as a burden or imposition it must be a joy. Coming together to listen to the Word of God and be nourished by Christ immolated for us, is an experience which gives meaning to life, fills hearts with peace. Without Sunday we Christians cannot live.”
The Holy Father recalled that parents have a duty to “help children discover the value and importance of responding to Christ who convokes the entire Christian family to Sunday Mass ”. On the path of this education, a most important step is First Holy Communion, “a celebration for the parish community as it welcomes its youngest members to the Lord’s table for the first time”. The Pope went on to say that to underline the importance of this event on 15 October there will be a “special meeting of catechesis for children mainly from Rome and the Lazio region who made their First Holy Communion during this year. This festive event comes almost at the end of the Year of the Eucharist during the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops which will focus on the mystery of the Eucharist. It will be a good opportunity to underline the essential role played by the sacrament of the Eucharist for the spiritual formation and growth of children” the Pope said.
Before leading the recitation of the Angelus the Pope entrusted the planned event to the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, “may she help us love Jesus more and more through constant meditation on his word and adoration of his presence in the Eucharist and may she help us lead the young generations to discover the ‘precious pearl’ of the Eucharist which gives full and authentic meaning to life”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/6/2005; righe 26, parole 349)