Ecclesia de Eucharistia: Part II

Let us resume our document study of Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia. In his Introduction the Holy Father expressed his intent of rekindling in the faithful our amazement at the gift of the Eucharist. In Chapter One was emphasized the presence of the entire Paschal Mystery of Jesus Christ – Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity – in every Eucharistic consecration at Holy Mass. From this foundation St. John Paul II then looks to how the Eucharist “Builds the Church” and at its “Apostolicity”.

Chapter 2, “The Eucharist Builds the Church”, begins by quoting Lumen Gentium:

As often as the sacrifice of the Cross by which “Christ our pasch is sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7) is celebrated on the altar, the work of our redemption is carried out. At the same time in the sacrament of the Eucharistic bread, the unity of the faithful, who form one body in Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 10:17), is both expressed and brought about.

A few paragraphs later, it is noted that the faithful are incorporated into the Body of Christ through the Sacrament of Baptism. Fervent reception of the Eucharist renews our Baptismal incorporation into Christ, for in this Communion “each of us receives Christ” and “Christ receives each of us.” As each of us grow in union with our Lord through reception of the Eucharist, so too is the unity of the Church as the body of Christ strengthened.

 United in Christ and strengthened by the Holy Spirit the Church then stands as a witness of fraternal charity and unity in a world wounded by division.

The second chapter ends with a beautiful exhortation that the faithful not only receive our Eucharistic Lord at the Sacrifice of the Mass, but that they spend time with Him in Adoration outside of Holy Mass. “It is pleasant to spend time with Him, to lie close to His breast like the Beloved Disciple (c.f. Jn. 13:25) and to feel the infinite love present in His Heart.” This is a practice, the Saint states, which continues the good work begun in our souls by reception of the Eucharist at Mass.

Chapter 3: “The Apostolicity of the Eucharist and of the Church” powerfully describes the relationship ordained by Jesus Christ between Bishops and Priests and the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Citing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. John Paul II reiterates the three ways the Eucharist is said to be Apostolic. First, it has its foundation in the Apostles “because it was entrusted by Jesus to the apostles and has been handed down to us by them and by their successors.” Second, the Eucharist is celebrated “in conformity with the faith of the apostles.” Lastly, there would be no Eucharist without apostolic succession.

It is this last point which the Holy Father expounds upon for the rest of the chapter. While all of the faithful participate in Christ’s royal priesthood by virtue of their Baptism, it is only “the ordained priest who, ‘acting in the person of Christ, brings about the Eucharistic Sacrifice and offers it to God in the name of all the people.’” The phrase “in the person of Christ” is absolutely essential, and means so much more than “by the power of” or “in the name of”. A man ordained to the priesthood or episcopacy participates in a “sacramental identification” with Christ. The Eucharist is the center of a priest’s life, and without the priest there is no Eucharist.

Let us pray for holy and Eucharistic centered priests and bishops!