From October 2004 to October 2005, the Catholic Church celebrates a Year of the Eucharist, as announced by John Paul II. In Ecclesia de Eucharistia, the Pope proclaims,"Here is the Church's treasure, the heart of the world, the pledge of the fulfillment for which each man and woman, even unconsciously, yearns. A great and transcendent mystery, indeed, and one that taxes our minds ability to pass beyond appearances." (#59)

In this collection of four talks Chiara Lubich explains how the Eucharist opens up unity and reveals its substance. In fact, it is through the Eucharist that humanity's unity with God is completely fulfilled, as well as the unity among people and the unity of the whole cosmos with its Creator. In her introduction, the author shares her deep motivation for preparing these talks: Forgive our daring, for love wants to know better in order to love better. We do not want our journey on earth to be over before we have discovered at least a little about who you are.

These meditations will help the reader respond to John Paul II's invitation to understand, appreciate, and celebrate the foundation and wellspring of the Church ... as it were gathered up, foreshadowed and concentrated forever in the gift of the Eucharist.... The thought of this leads us to profound amazement and gratitude. (Ecclesia de Eucharistia 5)

Table of Contents

Contents

• • FOREWORD

• • THE EUCHARIST AND THE NEW TESTAMENT
  • Institution of the Eucharist
  • From the Old to the New Testament
  • The bread of life
  • The Eucharist in the Acts of the Apostles
  • The Eucharist in the letters of Paul

• • THE CELEBRATION OF THE EUCHARIST IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
  • The celebration of the Eucharist in the early Church
  • The golden age of the liturgy in the East and in the West
  • The Eucharist in the West during the Middle Ages
  • From the Council of Trent to the current liturgical renewal
  • The Eucharist in our age

• • UNITY WITH CHRIST AND WITH OUR NEIGHBORS
  • The Eucharist unites us to Christ
  • The Eucharist and the resurrection of the body
  • The Eucharist and the transformation of the cosmos
  • The Eucharist and communion with our neighbors
  • The Eucharist and the ideal of unity

• • THE EUCHARIST AND HUMANITY
  • Conditions for the Eucharist to produce its full effect
  • Other effects of the Eucharist
  • The Eucharist in the life of a Christian
  • The experience of the Focolare
  • The Eucharist and human society
  • The Eucharist and the Holy Spirit