杏MAP导航

杏MAP导航 Francis has reminded the faithful that the Eucharist is a wonderful event during which Jesus Christ, our life, becomes present.

Speaking to the crowd gathered in St. Peter鈥檚 Square for the Wednesday General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis began a new series of reflections focusing on the Eucharist and highlighting the importance of how we attend and of how we participate in Mass in order to really experience our relationship with God.

To the some 13,000 pilgrims present for the weekly audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis said that while at Mass 鈥渢he Lord is present with us but many times we talk among ourselves and we are not close to Him鈥� during the celebration.

Importance of rediscovering the meaning of the Sacraments

He explained that for us Christians it is essential to understand the meaning and the value of Holy Mass in order to be able to fully live our relationship with God. 

Remembering Christians who have died to defend the Eucharist

鈥淲e cannot forget the great number of Christians who, in the entire world, in two thousand years of history, have resisted until death in order to defend the Eucharist鈥� he said. 

And he remembered those whom, he said , 鈥渟till today, risk their lives to participate at Sunday Mass鈥�.

The 杏MAP导航  recalled the history of Christians in North Africa who were caught celebrating Mass in 304, during the persecutions by the Roman Emperor Diocletian: 鈥淲hen asked why they had faced such danger, the Christians said that their Christian life would end if they did not go to Mass.鈥� 

Those Christians, he said, were killed and became witnesses of the Eucharist, which they chose over their mortal lives.

Noting that it is important to go back to the roots and rediscover what is the true meaning of the actions we carry out during the celebration of the Sacraments, the 杏MAP导航 said the Eucharist allows us 鈥渢o take part in the sacrifice of Mass and approach the table of the Lord.鈥�

The word Eucharist means thanksgiving

He explained that the word Eucharist means thanksgiving, because we thank God for allowing us to receive him.

Francis also referred to the Second Vatican Council which, he said, pushed forward a series of liturgical renewals in order to encourage the encounter between the faithful and Christ.

'Boring' priests must convert

Describing the Sacrament of the Eucharist as 鈥渁n amazing event during which the Lord is present鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 noted that too often the faithful describe the Mass as boring: 鈥淚s the Lord boring? He asked those present: No, no, it鈥檚 the priest. It鈥檚 the priests? Then the priests must convert!鈥�

Children must learn how to make the sign of the cross properly

 And explaining why we do certain things during Mass he posed the question: 鈥淗ave you seen the way children make the sign of the Cross?鈥�

鈥淲e must teach them, he said, how to do it well, because that is how Mass begins, that is how life begins, that is how the day begins!鈥�

Lift up your hearts not your cellphones

And furthering his comments on how, too often, the Mass is lived in a superficial way, 杏MAP导航 Francis remarked on the fact that the priest who celebrates says 鈥淟ift up your hearts鈥� not 鈥淟ift up your cellphones  to take a photo!鈥�

鈥淭his is a bad thing鈥� he said, 鈥淚t makes me very sad when I celebrate Mass here in the Square or in the Basilica and I see many cellphones raised. And it鈥檚 not only the faithful, but also many priests and bishops. Please! Mass is not a show!鈥� 

It is very important, 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded, to rediscover the meaning of the Eucharist and of the other Sacraments which are the signs of God鈥檚 love, the privileged ways to meet with Him.