Ecclesia de Eucharistia
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Overview
Ecclesia de Eucharistia (Church of the Eucharist) was promulgated by Pope John Paul II in 2003. The encyclical focuses on the Eucharist as the "source and the summit" of Christian life and as the most precious possession of the Church. The pope calls for a renewal of Eucharistic devotion, asserts the sacrificial character of the Mass, and re-iterates the necessity of the ministerial priesthood and the reality of apostolic succession. The letter is divided into six sections: "The Mystery of Faith," "The Eucharist Builds the Church," "The Apostolicity of the Eucharist and the Church," "The Eucharist and Ecclesial Communion," "The Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration," and "At the School of Mary, 'Woman of the Eucharist.'"
Top Highlights
“For the most holy Eucharist contains the Church’s entire spiritual wealth: Christ himself, our passover and living bread.” (source)
“Stripped of its sacrificial meaning, it is celebrated as if it were simply a fraternal banquet” (source)
“Taking part in the Eucharistic Sacrifice, which is the source and summit of the whole Christian life, they offer the divine victim to God, and offer themselves along with it’” (source)
“The Eucharistic Sacrifice is intrinsically directed to the inward union of the faithful with Christ through communion” (source)
“the Eucharistic sacrifice is ‘the source and summit of the Christian life’” (source)