Editorial

Benedict XVI's document on the Eucharist

Michael Gilchrist

Contents - Apr 2007 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Benedict XVI's document on the Eucharist - Michael Gilchrist Book Launch: B.A. Santamaria and Australian Catholicism: Cardinal Pell's tribute - Cardinal George Pell News: The Church Around the World 'Equal opportunity' legislation threatens Christian teachings - Babette Francis Catholicism and secularism in Britain: a test of strength on same-sex adoption - Joanna Bogle History: How much do Catholics know about ecumenical councils? - Frank Mobbs Vocations: New survey of successful US dioceses: lessons for Australia - Michael Gilchrist Rockhampton Lenten program: 'whatever that might mean' - AD2000 Report St Faustina: The Divine Mercy apostolate: a spirituality to transform the world - Eva Kimnes Belief: Christian-Muslim dialogue: major stumbling blocks - Fr Richard Umbers Letters: Liturgy: what next? - Franklin J. Wood Letters: Church leadership - P.W. English Letters: Money talks - Richard Stokes Letters: Saints needed - Arthur N. Ballingall National Church Life Survey clarification - Bob Dixon Letters: Catholic schools Letters: Catholic atmosphere - Stuart Paterson Letters: Free and fair markets and the Church's social doctrine - Chris Hilder Letters: Capital punishment - John Gallagher Letters: Scourge of the West - Kevin McManus Letters: African prisoners seek correspondents - Len Clark Letters: Contraception - Tim Coyle Books: The Way of Love: Reflections on Deus Caritas Est, Livio Melina and Carl Anderson - Tim Cannon (reviewer) Books: Catholic Thought Since the Enlightenment, by Aidan Nichols OP - Michael Daniel (reviewer) Books: Aspects of Authentic Church Teaching, by Fr Sebastian Camilleri OFM - Michael Gilchrist (reviewer) DOES YOUR PARISH STOCK AD2000? Books: Books available from AD2000 and Freedom Publishing Reflection: Benedict XVI on the transforming power of the Resurrection - Pope Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI's long-awaited apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist was released on 13 March, as this journal went to press. Titled Sacramentum Caritatis, the new document summarises and concludes the deliberations of the Synod of Bishops, which met in October 2005 to discuss the different facets of the Eucharist.

Sacramentum Caritatis follows John Paul II's encyclical Ecclesia de Eucharistia (on a deepened appreciation of the central mystery of faith), Redemptionis Sacramentum (on correct liturgy) and Liturgiam Authenticam (guidelines for liturgical translations).

Overall, these documents seek to purify the implementation of liturgical renewal as mandated by the Second Vatican Council, a massive enterprise which could take another generation to accomplish, given the extent of ignorance, misinformation and entrenched practices in parts of the Church.

In 2005, the Synod of Bishops discussed the theme, 'The Eucharist: Living Bread for Peace in the World,' with 256 bishops from 118 countries participating. In a break from the usual custom, the Synod Fathers made public a list of the 50 propositions approved at the conclusion of their deliberations.

The Synod in one proposition noted that the liturgical reforms of Vatican II contained 'riches not fully explored.'

Ordinarily the propositions remain confidential, to be used by the Pope in preparing his apostolic exhortation, however, Benedict made it clear he wanted the propositions made public. In fact, the likely drift of his apostolic exhortation was evident in his extensive writings of the past 20 years.

Among the propositions, clerical celibacy is upheld, as is the reaffirmation of the Church's teaching on Communion for the divorced and remarried and on general inter-communion. Anti-life Catholic politicians are taken to task on their reception of Communion and bishops are told to clamp down on general absolutions.

Benedict's apostolic exhortation will be considered in some depth in next month's AD2000.

Michael Gilchrist, Editor

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 20 No 3 (April 2007), p. 2