VATICAN - At the Angelus the Pope speaks of the Eucharist the “Sacrament of Charity”: “in the Eucharist Christ gives us his love, that love which moved him to give his life for us on the Cross”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - The source of Christian joy is the Eucharist “which Christ left us as spiritual Food while we are pilgrims on this earth … The Eucharist nurtures in believers of every epoch that deep joy which is one with love and peace and has its origin in communion with God and with our brothers and sisters”. On Sunday 18 March the subject of Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection before the midday angelus prayer was the Eucharist, “source and summit of the life and mission of the Church”, and the post synodal apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum caritatis recently made public, which contains the fruits of the 11th general assembly of the Synod of Bishops in October 2005.
The Pope said “I intend to come back to it however I wish to underline that this important text is the expression of the universal Church’s faith in the Eucharistic Mystery and is in continuity with Vatican II and the magisterium of my venerable predecessors Paul VI and John Paul II”. The Holy Father explained that he drew the Exhortation’s title “Sacramentum caritatis” from the fact that its contents are closely connected with “Deus caritas est” his first Encyclical. “Yes, in the Eucharist Christ gives us his same love which moved him to give his life for us on the Cross- Pope Benedict XVI said -. At the Last Supper when he washed his disciples feet Jesus gave us the last commandment of love… but since this is only possible if we are united with Him like branches with the vine, He chose to remain with us in the Eucharist that we might remain in Him. When therefore with faith we nourish ourselves with his Body and Blood, his love passes into us and renders us capable of giving our life for others and this produces Christian joy, the joy of love.”
The Pope invoked the intercession of Mary "woman of the Eucharist" par excellence, the “masterpiece of divine grace” since God’s grace rendered her immaculate "before Him in love". The Pope also invoked “great Saint Joseph, that the People of God believing, celebrating and living with faith the Eucharistic Mystery may be filled with Christ’s love and share its fruits of joy and peace with all humanity.”
After the Marian prayer the Pope greeted an Italian group, Collegamento dei Cattolici per una Civiltà dell’Amore, which on the occasion of the Feast of Saint Joseph, also Father’s Day in Italy was re-launching its "Adotta un papà", (Adopting a Dad) campaign in collaboration with missionary institutes for the benefit of poor families in developing countries. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 21/3/2007; righe 30, parole 453)