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Vatican City (Fides Service) - “The Post Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis on the Eucharist, Source and Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church signed by Pope Benedict XVI is the mature fruit of the long and articulated itinerary of the 11th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops” said Cardinal Angelo Scola, Patriarch of Venice Relator at the 11th Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held 2 - 23 October 2005, this morning at the presentation of the document at the Holy See Press Office. Also present the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops Bishop Nikola Eterović.
“If on the one hand the document is the mature fruit of an itinerary - the Cardinal said -, on the other its objective is to open the way for more study. It aims in fact to «to offer some basic directions aimed at a renewed commitment to Eucharistic enthusiasm and fervour in the Church (5) ». A precious contribution in this sense will be a future Compendium on the Eucharist proposed by the Synod Fathers.”
The Exhortation has three parts: Eucharist, a Mystery to be Believed; Eucharist, a Mystery to be Celebrated: Eucharist, a Mystery to be Lived. The three parts “are so closely connected that their contents are reciprocally illuminating. In fact an important achievement of the synod was to overcome certain dualisms - for example Eucharistic faith and rite, celebration and adoration, doctrine and pastoral care - sometimes present in the life of the ecclesial community and in theological reflection.”
Cardinal Scola underlined the importance of ars celebrandi (the art of proper celebration) in view of ever more full, active and fruitful participation and said “One particular novelty is the document’s insistence with regard to celebration that actuosa participatio depends on ars celebrandi”. Pope Benedict XVI affirms “The primary way to foster the participation of the People of God in the sacred rite is the proper celebration of the rite itself. The ars celebrandi is the best way to ensure their actuosa participatio. (114) The ars celebrandi is the fruit of faithful adherence to the liturgical norms in all their richness; indeed, for two thousand years this way of celebrating has sustained the faith life of all believers, called to take part in the celebration as the People of God, a royal priesthood, a holy nation (cf. 1 Pet 2:4-5, 9) (115)..” (38)
With regard to the structure and contents of the document Cardinal Scola mentioned doctrinal themes and pastoral indications found in the three parts. In Part One the Holy Father illustrates the mystery of the Church beginning with her Trinitarian origin which guarantees the permanent nature of gift, he recalls the institution of the Eucharist in relation with the Jewish Passover supper and firmly indicates the criterion for liturgical creativity. The Church’s Eucharistic origin explains why she is “communio” and guarantees her sacramental nature. The Exhortation then dwells on the centrality of the Eucharist among the seven sacraments.
Part Two of the Exhortation treats the with the celebration of the Eucharist, indicating elements requiring further study and making some important pastoral suggestions. In particular the Pope underlines the benefits gleaned from the liturgical reform promoted by the Second Vatican Council: difficulties and occasional abuses which have since occurred “cannot overshadow the benefits and the validity of the liturgical renewal, whose riches are yet to be fully explored” (3). A description of “the theological and liturgical category of beauty” (34) is followed by practical indications with regard to the connection between “ars celebrandi - actuosa participatio”.
In its third and final part the apostolic Exhortation “demonstrates the capacity of the mystery believed and celebrated to constitute the ultimate and definitive horizon of Christian life”. The Cardinal concluded “Benedict XVI reaffirms from the first lines of the document that the gift of the Eucharist is for every man and woman and it is the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart in every era, but especially today... The Eucharistic Mystery represents the dynamic factor which transfigures life. Born to new life in Baptism and incorporated through the Eucharist in the Church men and women experience fulfilment learning to offer ‘their body - their whole self - as a living and holy sacrifice pleasing to God”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/3/2007, righe 47, parole 613)
