"Reflections On Sacramentum Caritatis"

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It was with great joy that I received and read the magnificent Post-Synodal Exhortation of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Love), on the Most Holy Eucharist. Having written a pastoral letter on this same subject last August 15, 2006 (Gift of Life, Gift Eternal: The Most Holy Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass), I am so encouraged by the Holy Father's Exhortation which renews and emphasizes the centrality of this Most August Sacrament in the Life of the Church.

The Exhortation is imbued with Augustinian themes of the saintly Bishop of Hippo who wrote: "What does our soul desire more passionately than truth?" (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 2). Saint Augustine found in the Eucharist the essence of all truth, Truth itself, Jesus the Christ, but He who also is the Truth about love! In our own journey of faith, we too search for truth and for love. Our quest in order to be complete must lead to the Eucharist. Who we are, who we hope to be, is defined by the Eucharist. Benedict XVI, again in reference to Saint Augustine, illustrates this very union of our own identity to the identity of Christ: "The great Bishop of Hippo, speaking specifically of the Eucharistic mystery, stresses the fact that Christ assimilates us to himself: 'The bread you see on the altar, sanctified by the word of God, is the body of Christ. The Chalice, or rather what the chalice contains, sanctified by the word of God, is the blood of Christ. In these signs, Christ the Lord willed to entrust to us his body and the blood which he shed for the forgiveness of our sins. If you have received them properly, you yourselves are what you have received." (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 36).

Thus, our Holy Father points out that everything we do must be motivated by our union with Christ in the Most Holy Eucharist: how we live, the decisions we make, how we establish our priorities, our moral code of conduct, our relationships with others, and the list is endless, for indeed we have become the bearers of Christ! Each in his or her chosen vocation becomes a reflection of Jesus and His command to love one another. Solemn commitments made in the call to priesthood, religious life, marriage and the call to perfection addressed to all the members of the Church in ecclesial communion are not intended to make life burdensome but are an outgrowth and a living manifestation of our communion with Christ. Thus, our "worship of God in our lives cannot be relegated to something private and individual, but tends by its nature to permeate every aspect of our existence. Worship pleasing to God thus becomes a new way of living our whole life, each particular moment of which is lifted up, since it is lived as part of a relationship with Christ and as an offering to God. The glory of God is the living man (cf. 1 Cor 10:31)." (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 71).

Our Holy Father's Exhortation demands our serious attention as its subject, Jesus dwelling among His people in the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, is united intimately to the formation of one's conscience (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 73), and determines the path we follow in life: to walk with God or to walk away from God. "Today there is a need to rediscover that Jesus Christ is not just a private conviction or an abstract idea, but a real person, whose becoming part of human history is capable of renewing the life of every man and woman." (Sacramentum Caritatis, no. 77).

Thus, I ask that you read and meditate upon this beautiful Exhortation of Pope Benedict XVI. It presents no new teaching but illuminates and emphasizes what have always been the truths of our cherished faith. This Exhortation urges the entire Catholic family to rediscover this profound and real presence of Jesus Christ among us in the Most Holy Eucharist, to approach the Eucharist with the greatest reverence, to celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice with deep devotion and solemnity, to adore Him Who is our salvation.

I pray that as a diocesan family, our unity in faith will be strengthened and nurtured through our participation in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. In particular, I plead with those who have been away from the Church to return, for indeed "Happy are those who are called to his supper." (Roman Missal, Rite of the Reception of Holy Communion).

Invoking the intercession of our Mother Mary, who allowed the Word to become flesh, I remain, with prayerful and cordial best wishes

Devotedly yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano
Bishop of Burlington

March 23, 2007