AAS 70 [1978] - El Vaticano

420
fìce. 2
Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale
It goes on to state that "the ministry of priests is directed to­
wards this work and is perfected in it. For their ministry, which takes
its start from the Gospel proclamation, derives its power and force from
the Sacrifice of Christ ". 3
And then it spécifies that priests fulfill their
chief dnty in the mystery of the Eucharistie Sacrifice. 4
For us, Urethren,
as for ali our collaborators in the priesthood, who have dedicated their
lives in order to lead the faithful to the fullness of the Paschal Mystery,
this teaching is extremely important. It gives a décisive orientation to
ail our activities as shepherds of God's people, and as heralds of the
Gospel of salvation, whose highest proclamation is enacted in the Eu­
charistie Sacrifice.
Besides determining the priorities of our own ministry and that of
our priests, the teaching of the Second Vatican Council gives immense
joy to the Catholic people, reminding them that because the Eucharist
contains Christ himself it therefore contains " the Church's entire spiri­
tual wealth ". 5
A few months before the promulgation of the Council's Decree on
the Priestly Ministry and Life, we ourself reiterated the Church's doc­
trine on the Real Présence of Christ in the Eucharist, stating that " it is
présence in the füllest sensé : because it is a substantial présence by
which the whole and complete Christ, God and man, is présent." 6
went on to state that the Catholic Church " has át all times given to this
great Sacrament the worship which is known as latria and which may
be given to God alone ". 7
We
And we are convinced today that an ever
greater emphasis on this teaching will be a source of strength to all
the pilgrim people of God. For this reason we encourage you and all
your priests to preach frequently this rich doctrine of Christ's pré­
sence : the Eucharist, in the Mass and outside of the Mass, contains
the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ and is therefore deserving of the
worship that is given to the living God, and to him alone.
Another clear enunciation oì the importance of the Eucharist is
contained in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, in which partici­
pation in the Eucharistie Sacrifice is called "the source and summit
4
5
6
7
2
J
Cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 14.
Ibid., 2.
Cf. ibid., 13.
Ibid., 5.
Mysterium Fidei, 39.
Ibid., 55.