Pope announces Eucharistic Year
During Mass on Thursday in St John Lateran Basilica for the solemnity of Corpus Christi, the Pope announced a Eucharistic Year starting in October of 2004 and ending in October of 2005. Commenting on St Paul's words to the Corinthians - "As often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes again" - John Paul II said in his homily that whoever participates in the Lord's banquet "joins in the mystery of the Lord's death, and becomes His herald. Therefore there is an intimate relationship between 'celebrating the Eucharist' and 'announcing Christ'. Entering into communion with Him in the memorial of Easter means, at the same time, becoming missionaries of the event which this rite renews in every age; in a certain sense, it means making it current in every age, until the Lord comes again." He said: "I want to dedicate the first encyclical of the new millennium to the Eucharist and I am happy now to announce a special 'Year of the Eucharist.' It will begin with the World Eucharistic Congress which will take place from October 10 to 17, 2004 in Guadalajara, Mexico and will end with the next ordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops which will take place from October 2-29, 2005 on the theme 'The Eucharist font and culmination of the life and mission of the Church'. " Source: VIS