London, England, Sep 18, 2010 / 04:47 am
The unity of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and his eternal priesthood is seen in Christ's Most Precious Blood, said Pope Benedict XVI at Saturday Mass. Calling it “the source of the Church's life,” he explained that the Church continues to share in Christ's Passion through the Eucharist and to be unified to Him through suffering and priestly dedication.
The Pope's homily on Saturday morning focused on the name of the cathedral where he was celebrating in London's city of Westminster, the Cathedral of the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The celebration of the votive Mass of the Most Precious Blood in place of the day's regular liturgy and the red vestments worn by the concelebrants reinforced the pontiff's message.
Greeting the Holy Father after a phenomenal procession to the altar punctuated by the organ, trumpets, cymbal crashes and solemn song was Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, who pledged the fidelity of the Church to the Pope's pastorship and called him a "sign and servant of unity in the whole church."
During his homily, the Holy Father referred to the symbolism of the cathedral's massive cross showing the "crushed" Christ on a red background. He said that the mystery of the Precious Blood illustrates the unity of Christ's sacrifice on the cross and his eternal priesthood.