Pope's Eucharistic exhortation could bring renewal, says Ouellet

By DEBORAH GYAPONG
Canadian Catholic News
Quebec City

Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec believes the pope's apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist could bring about an "extraordinary renewal in attendance at Sunday Mass," if it is given a careful reading.

Ouellet said the document challenges the rampant individualism in democratic society and shows how the Church can "give the sign of fraternity, of sharing together, of coming closer to one another."

Sunday

"That's at the heart of the document, to awaken a new awareness of the centrality of Sunday," Ouellet said in a telephone interview March 15.

"The sacrament of the Eucharist is the heart of the Church, where we are brought together by the person of the Risen Lord, to receive nourishment, energy, and a new impulse to bring the Gospel everywhere."

Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Charity) is Pope Benedict's summation of the 2005 Synod on the Eucharist. Ouellet, who was primary author of the synod's message, finds the pope's exhortation "very much faithful to the discussion among the fathers of the synod."

The exhortation covers the Eucharist as a "mystery to be believed;" "a mystery to be celebrated," and "a mystery to be lived."

"We cannot communicate to the Body of Christ, the crucified love of Christ, without being available or ready to be given ourselves, to sacrifice ourselves to others," Ouellet said. "The love we receive we have to share it, otherwise it is lost, it doesn't give its fruit."

"It is not a sort of moralistic commandment: you have to this, you have to do that," he said. "It is an interior request of the Lord from within, leading us to our brothers and sisters."

He pointed out the document's first paragraph refers to Jesus' washing the disciples' feet.

Wash our feet

"That's exactly it," Ouellet said. "That's the meaning of the Holy Eucharist. God descending among us, and descending so low, to wash our feet in the Holy Eucharist so that we go out and we wash the feet of our brothers and sisters. That's exactly the summary of the whole document."

Ouellet thinks the document's call for more use of Latin will be welcomed in Canada. He said many people can already sing the Pater Noster. They know the Sanctus and the Agnus Dei and are used to hearing Gregorian Chant.

"It's part of the treasure of the Church, and it is normal that we try to maintain the knowledge of these prayers," Ouellet said. Latin provides a common language for international meetings and is "an important sign of unity in the Church."

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