Benedict XVI to Brazil: Rediscover the Eucharist

VATICAN CITY, MAY 9, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The heart of Brazil is the Eucharist, Benedict XVI said today ahead of the 16th National Eucharistic Congress, to be held May 13-16 in Brasilia.

In his greetings after praying the Regina Caeli with those gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope expressed his spiritual closeness to the Brazilian people, "who are going to gather in their capital, Brasilia, from next Thursday to Sunday, to celebrate the 16th National Eucharistic Congress, with the presence of my special envoy, cardinal Cláudio Hummes."

He said in Portuguese: "May you all, pastors and faithful people, rediscover that the heart of Brazil is the Eucharist."

"In the motto of the Congress appear the words of the disciples of Emmaus, 'Stay with us, Lord,' expression of the desire that beats in the heart of every human being," he continued.
 
"It is in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar where Jesus shows his will to be with us, to live with us, to give himself to us," the Pontiff added.
 
Benedict XVI explained that "this adoration leads us to recognize the primacy of God, as He can transform men's hearts, raising them to union with Christ in only one Body," to the point that "we experience communion with a Love that we cannot keep for ourselves: it calls for being communicated to others so as to be able to build a more just society."
 
Recalling the forthcoming closure of the Year for Priests, the Holy Father invited all priests to "cultivate a profoundly Eucharistic spirituality, following the example of the Holy Curé d'Ars that, who, seeking to unite his personal sacrifice with Christ's actualized on the altar, exclaimed: 'What good a priest does in offering himself in sacrifice to God every morning!'"
 
Benedict XVI took leave of the pilgrims imploring the intercession of the patroness of Brazil, Our Lady of Aparecida, "so that, nourished by the Eucharist, bread of Unity, you will be true Missionary Disciples."