In the general audience, the Pontiff explains the meaning of Communion
Pope Francis illustrated the faithful about communion in Holy Mass. He did it this Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at the general audience in St. Peter’s Square.
“The Church desires fervently that the faithful also receive the Body of the Lord with the consecrated hosts at the same Mass; and the sign of the Eucharistic banquet is more complete if Holy Communion is given under both species, knowing that Catholic doctrine teaches that under one species all the Christ is received (cf. General Instruction of the Roman Missal, 85; 281-282 ) “.
“According to the ecclesial practice, – continued the Pope – the faithful approaches the Eucharist normally in the form of a procession and communicates standing with dedication, or on his knees, as determined by the Episcopal Conference, receiving the Sacrament in the mouth or, where allowed, in the hand, as preferred ( see OGMR, 160-161) “.
After Communion, he indicated that in order to guard the received gift in the heart, “silent prayer” helps us, as does a psalm or a hymn of joy. ”
In this way, the Pope clarifies any doubt about how to prepare to receive the host during the mass.
The Pontiff also illustrated that by receiving Christ in Communion, he takes us away from “our selfishness, Communion opens us and unites us all those who are one in Him. Here is the miracle of Communion: we become what We received!”.
On the other hand, he affirmed the mass is to “nourish ourselves on Christ, who is given to us in the Word and in the Sacrament of the Altar”.
“In the moment of communion that we contemplate today, Jesus continues to give us in his Body and in his Blood, for the ministry of the Church, as he did with the disciples at the Last Supper.”
He also explained that after the “Fraction of Bread”, the priest “invites us to look at the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world”, recognizing the distance that separates us from the holiness of God and his goodness.
The Blood of Christ “as medicine”, “shed for the forgiveness of sins”. And he insisted: “We are, therefore, summoned” to the wedding feast of the Lamb, “recognizing ourselves unworthy of entering our house, but trusting in the strength of his saving Word”.
He also pointed out that “we walk towards the altar to nourish ourselves with the Eucharist, to let ourselves be transformed by the one we receive, as St Augustine says:” I am the food of the adult souls; grow and you will eat me. But you will not transform me into you as you assimilate the foods of the flesh, but you will become me. ”
He then indicated that the Liturgy concludes with the prayer of communion. “In it we thank God for this ineffable gift and we also ask him to transform our life, being medicine in our weakness, to heal the diseases of our spirit and assure us of his constant protection.”
The Pope greeted the faithful and pilgrim of the Spanish language and exhorted them to frequent communion, “making present the mystery of love that is enclosed in the Sacrament, so that unity with Christ and with his Church is manifested in our daily actions and witness to our new life in Christ. ”
