Cardinal Sandoval calls on Christians to attend Mass “worthily”

Mexico City, Mexico, Jan 9, 2005 / 22:00 pm

In a message aimed at inviting Catholics to live fully the Year of the Eucharist, the Archbishop of Guadalajara, Mexico, Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez, called on Catholics to renew the practice of attending Mass every Sunday.

The cardinal pointed out in his message that, “As 2005 begins, I desire God’s blessings upon you all, and I remind you that the Year of the Eucharist has begun, as Pope John Paul II so declared at the end of the International Eucharistic Congress.  Therefore, we believers must spread the knowledge and love of this great Mystery of the Eucharist.”

Cardinal Sandoval recalled that Guadalajara was the first city to host a National Eucharistic Congress in 1906.

“That this city has been the host of the first Congresses, national and international, is a sign of God’s plan that He wants it to be close to the Eucharist,” he added.

“In this Eucharistic year,” he continued, “based on the commitments derived from the International Congress, I wish to remind Catholics, first, that Sunday Mass is obligatory and is the principal source of devotion to the Most Holy Eucharist and the celebration of the Pascal Mystery of the Death and Resurrection of the Lord.”

The cardinal also pointed out that, “Frequent communion for all believers is a sign of the real presence of the Father as nourishment of Eternal Life; and when it is received by those who living in friendship with God, in his grace, confession before every reception of Communion is not required.”