Pope Benedict XVI Blog

A witness to the power of the Eucharist---testimony from Siberia

Our Holy Father has emphasized not only the beauty of the Eucharist but its power. For those persecuted Christians around the world the Eucharist truly is the Bread of Life:

Fides News
October 14, 2005

“The Eucharist and its miracles”: testimonial from Siberia

Vatican City (Fides Service) - We give a testimonial by Mgr. Massimo Camisasca, founder and Superior general of the Priestly Fraternity of the Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo, on how the faith survived through long years of persecution in Siberia.

“In his homily during Mass for the opening of the Synod of Bishops on 2 October the Pope urged the bishops not only to speak of the beauty of the Eucharist but to draw life from its power. And the Eucharist is vital energy, the tangible sign of Christ’s presence. This emerges clearly from direct experience and stories of my missionaries serving in many different parts of the world.

In Siberia, where the Christian faith was persecuted for over 70 years, miraculously many small Catholic communities survived. Most of these people were farmers of German or Polish origin deported by Stalin to that cold and inhospitable region. All through the long years without a priest or the sacraments, the faith was kept alive thanks to some of the women who led the small communities in prayers and hymn singing.

Since 1991 a group of priests of our Fraternity have worked in the area. They were given a warm welcome by minute groups of Catholics, some of them only two or three people. They had been waiting for someone to bring them Christ and his saving presence in the Eucharist.

One of our priests told me the story of grandmother Agda who lived in Rescjoti a tiny village in the steppe land. Our priest was called to the bedside of Grandmother Agda, babushka (grandmother in Russian) who was 96. When he arrived he was met by her son who said his mother’s condition was serious. When he entered the room grandmother Agda recognised him. Although extremely weak she was overjoyed at the sight of the priest. Fr Francesco recited the Our Father and the Hail Mary. Babushka opened wide her mouth to receive Holy Communion. Her son could not hold back his tears. Neither could the priest, he was certain the woman was a saint.

Grandmother Agda summoned her last energy to receive the Body of Christ with joy and content. As he prayed silently beside her Fr Francesco remembered other meetings. A year earlier after receiving Communion Agda, sat up in bed and began to sing a hymn in German. Her daughter was also there and repeated the words of the hymn a faction later as she heard her mother singing. That day Agda gave birth to her daughter a second time, giving birth to her in the faith. These are the miracles of the Eucharist . (Mgr. Massimo Camisasca) (Agenzia Fides 14/10/2005; righe 32, parole 444)

posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 10:22 AM