Vatican City, Oct 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
This Friday morning, during the 20th Congregation of the General Synod on the Eucharist, the final document “the Eucharist, living Bread for the Peace of the World,” was approved. The final message of the synodal fathers will be made public Saturday in five languages.
The messages, made of 26 paragraphs, and 17 pages, was approved after an extended debate and more than 200 amendments. It will start by saluting the members of the Church and explaining that the message was prepared to enhance the eucharistic pastoral within the Church.
The text also invites to prayer, in order to fulfill the full unity and reconciliation between local churches, including China, which was specially present in the minds of the Bishops. The Document mentions as well the challenge of secularization and its consequences in the ethical relativism, in front of which, the conviction of the Church is reaffirmed, that in the Eucharist, the real presence of Jesus Christ is found.
The synodal fathers support the reform of the Church initiated 40 years ago at the Vatican II council, but warn of the existence of numerous abuses, deriving from the mentality of those who view themselves as “owners” of the liturgy of the Church.
The document includes a message to the divorced and remarried, to the families and an invitation to the “joy of being Christian.”
A call for unity of Christians is made as well, expressing the pain of separation , which prevents a common celebration of the Eucharist. The conclusion, in the last paragraph, talks about the hopes of peace in the world, and explains therefore the title of the document.