Vatican City, Feb 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Saturday morning, the Vatican household concluded the annual Lenten spiritual excercises preached by Bishop Renato Corti of Novara, Italy.
Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano presided at Mass and adoration of the Eucharist, concluding the exercises, which took place this past week.
Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, read a message from the Pope following Mass, which was addressed to Bishop Corti. The Holy Father thanked him for the reflections he had proposed over these days, focused on the theme: "The Church at the service of the new and eternal covenant."
Pope John Paul II wrote that the theme, "in making reference to the Blood that flowed from the wounds of the Crucified Christ, especially from the wound in his side, evoke the significance of the Eucharistic Sacrament.’
“The Church,” he wrote, “'de Eucharistia vivit' (lives on the Eucharist), because from that Blood she comes into being and draws vigor for her daily commitment to the task of announcing the Gospel."
The Pope concluded the letter saying, "In the heart of the Church, we have come together around the mystery of the altar, in the knowledge that this is the pulsating center of the communion and the mission of the entire Christian people.”
Thanks also to the contribution that you have offered over these days - strengthened by a pastoral sensibility ripened through ministry by so many priests, seminarians and faithful - we feel a renewed and fervent zeal to start again from the Eucharistic Christ, and bear witness to the world of God's new and eternal covenant with humanity."
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need and, occasionally, breaking news.
As part of this free service you may receive occasional offers from us at EWTN News and EWTN. We won't rent or sell your information, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Click hereOur mission is the truth. Join us!
Your monthly donation will help our team continue reporting the truth, with fairness, integrity, and fidelity to Jesus Christ and his Church.
Donate to CNA