Pope John Paul II: Encyclical Letter Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Part 7

In 2003, on Holy Thursday, 2003. Pope John Paul II issued what would be his final encyclical: Ecclesia de Eucharistia, "On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church." This encyclical contains much to prayerfully ponder/meditate on. The encyclical's Introduction continues as follows:

"7. From the time I began my ministry as the Successor of Peter, I have always marked Holy Thursday, the day of the Eucharist and of the priesthood, by sending a letter to all the priests of the world. This year, the twenty-fifth of my Pontificate, I wish to involve the whole Church more fully in this Eucharistic reflection, also as a way of thanking the Lord for the gift of the Eucharist and the priesthood: 'Gift and Mystery'.⁴ By proclaiming the Year of the Rosary, I wish to put this, my twenty-fifth anniversary, under the aegis of the contemplation of Christ at the school of Mary. Consequently, I cannot let this Holy Thursday 2003 pass without halting before the 'Eucharistic face' of Christ and pointing out with new force to the Church the centrality of the Eucharist.

"From it the Church draws her life. From this 'living bread' she draws her nourishment. How could I not feel the need to urge everyone to experience it ever anew?"

Note

⁴ This is the title which I gave to an autobiographical testimony issued for my fiftieth anniversary of priestly ordination.