EUROPE/SPAIN - The only way to change the world is "the silent revolution of love and holiness which comes only from the Eucharist, celebrated, contemplated and adored": Bishop of Cordoba issues pastoral letter for the closing of the Year of the Eucharist and the 17th centenary of the martyrs of Cordoba

Cordoba (Fides Service) - “We cannot live without the Eucharist” was the title of a Pastoral Letter issued by Bishop Juan José Asenjo Pelegrina of Cordoba in Spain, for the closing of the Year of the Eucharist and the 17 centenary of the martyrs of Cordova.
The Bishop called on Catholics to vivify their Christian life in this diocesan Jubilee Year because the only thing which can change the world of today is “the silent revolution of love and holiness which comes solely from the Eucharist celebrated, contemplated and adored”. “Faced with the present situation in Spain - the Bishop wrote - the Lord calls us Catholics to suffer and be scorned because we are Christians, Christian religious sentiment is attacked and ridiculed by certain media". The Bishop said that to support all this Catholics need the Eucharist, “without the Eucharist it is impossible for us to live our Christian vocation with joy, courage, coherence and to aspire to holiness". This Year of the Eucharist, he said, is a call to strengthen our faith in this sacrament and love for it.
In the Letter the Bishop spoke of different aspects of the Eucharist “a mystery before which we can only gaze in wonder”. He underlined the need to keep the norms of decor and dignity due to the Eucharistic Celebration; a sacrifice; real presence of Jesus Christ; Eucharist a source of epiphany and communion with Christ and with others; the Eucharist leads to forgiveness and freely given love for the poor; the importance and value of worship of the Eucharist outside of Mass. The Eucharist is a school of obedience and commitment, humility and service, silence and contemplation, a gift of total love asking only to be corresponded.
The Bishop ended his letter urging Catholics to put the Eucharist at the centre of life: “In the Eucharist we find the sole source of hope...the strength to live our faith with dynamism and joy, even in the present day, to proclaim Jesus everywhere”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 17/10/2005, righe 26, parole 364)