Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale564

NUNTIUS

Exeunte L Eucharistico Internationali Congressu Dublini habito.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

With great affection in the Lord, I greet all of you who have gathered in

Dublin for the Fiftieth International Eucharistic Congress, especially Cardi-

nal Brady, Archbishop Martin, the clergy, religious and faithful of Ireland,

and all of you who have come from afar to support the Irish Church with

your presence and prayers.

The theme of the Congress - Communion with Christ and with One

Another - leads us to reflect upon the Church as a mystery of fellowship

with the Lord and with all the members of his body. From the earliest times

the notion of koinonia or communio has been at the core of the Church's

understanding of herself, her relationship to Christ her founder, and the

sacraments she celebrates, above all the Eucharist. Through our Baptism,

we are incorporated into Christ's death, reborn into the great family of the

brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ; through Confirmation we receive the seal

of the Holy Spirit; and by our sharing in the Eucharist, we come into

communion with Christ and each other visibly here on earth. We also

receive the pledge of eternal life to come.

The Congress also occurs at a time when the Church throughout the world

is preparing to celebrate the Year of Faith to mark the fiftieth anniversary of

the start of the Second Vatican Council, an event which launched the most

extensive renewal of the Roman Rite ever known. Based upon a deepening

appreciation of the sources of the liturgy, the Council promoted the full and

active participation of the faithful in the Eucharistic sacrifice. At our dis-

tance today from the Council Fathers' expressed desires regarding liturgical

renewal, and in the light of the universal Church's experience in the inter-

vening period, it is clear that a great deal has been achieved; but it is equally

clear that there have been many misunderstandings and irregularities. The

renewal of external forms, desired by the Council Fathers, was intended to

make it easier to enter into the inner depth of the mystery. Its true purpose

was to lead people to a personal encounter with the Lord, present in the

Eucharist, and thus with the living God, so that through this contact with

Christ's love, the love of his brothers and sisters for one another might also