Pope Benedict XVI Blog

Pope's Angelus reflection: the Eucharist renews the world with the love of Christ

Agenzia Fides
September 26, 2005

VATICAN
In his Angelus reflection the Pope speaks about Eucharist and charity: “The Eucharist is a source of spiritual energy which renews the world with the love of Christ”. Special mention of victims of natural disasters in America and in other parts of the world.

Castel Gandolfo (Fides Service) - Addressing the people gathered yesterday for his last Sunday Angelus prayer at his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo before he returns to the Vatican, Pope Benedict XVI continued his reflections on the bond between the Eucharist and charity. “Charity - agape in Greek, caritas in Latin - does not mean primarily a good act or sentiment - the Pope explained -, it refers to the spiritual gift of God’s love poured into the human heart by the Holy Spirit which moves the heart to make an act of self-giving to God and neighbour.

The whole earthly life of Jesus was “one act of love”: “Jesus’ words in the Upper Room anticipate his death and show the attitude with which he faced it transforming it into a gift of self, an act of total self-giving love. In the Eucharist the Lord gives himself to us with his body, his soul, his divinity and we become one with him and among ourselves. Therefore our response to his love must be concrete and expressed through authentic conversion with love, forgiveness, reciprocal acceptance and attention for the needs of all. There are many different forms of service we can render to neighbour in every day life. The Eucharist is a source of spiritual energy which renews the world with the love of Christ.”

The Pope recalled some of the Saints “who drew strength from the Eucharist for a life of active charity and not rarely heroic”: St Vincent de’ Paul, Blessed Mother Teresa. In particular the Blessed Virgin Mary who after the Annunciation went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth. “Let us pray that every Christian nourished by the Body and Blood of the Lord - the Holy Father said -, may grow in ever deeper love for God and generous service of brothers and sisters”.

After the prayer, the Pope addressed the different groups of visitors and said among other things “I greet all the English-speaking visitors present at today’s Angelus. Our thoughts go especially to those who are affected by the natural disasters in the United States and other parts of the world. I invite you to join me in prayer to the Lord for all who suffer, for the victims and their loved ones, and for the rescue workers. May God grant them consolation and strength in their trials.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/9/2005; righe 25, parole 379)

Links:
See the Pope's address
http://www.evangelizatio.org/portale/adgentes/pontefici/pontefice.php?id=363

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 9:09 AM