Sacramentum Caritatis
Post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation of the Holy Father Benedict XVI to the bishops, clergy, consecrated persons, and the lay faithful on the Eucharist as the source and summit of the Church’s life and mission
The sacrament of charity (1), the Holy Eucharist is the gift that Jesus Christ makes of himself, thus revealing to us God’s infinite love for every man and woman. This wondrous sacrament makes manifest that “greater” love which led him to “lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Jesus did indeed love them “to the end” (Jn 13:1). In those words the Evangelist introduces Christ’s act of immense humility: before dying for us on the Cross, he tied a towel around himself and washed the feet of his disciples. In the same way, Jesus continues, in the sacrament of the Eucharist, to love us “to the end,” even to offering us his body and his blood. What amazement must the Apostles have felt in witnessing what the Lord did and said during that Supper! What wonder must the eucharistic mystery also awaken in our own hearts!
Reflection – based on a prayer by Br Roger of Taizé
Lord Jesus, here with us,
Help us to remember that since our Baptism,
The Holy Spirit, The breath of your love
is dwelling in us, is praying in us.
You are loving in us.
So no matter how poor our prayer is
We can seek you with confidence,
Because no one, Yes no one,
Is excluded from your love
Or your forgiveness.
Your love and mercy finds a way
through our hesitations, our fears, our doubts.
Like the small boy in the Gospel with just a few loaves and fish,
We come to you with the little we have
And we entrust it to you.
When we remain in your presence,
Silent and at peace,
That is already a prayer.
You understand everything about us
All that upsets us,
And all our joys,
So much so that even a simple sigh can be a prayer