Letters

Eucharistic encyclical and the priesthood (letter)

John Kelly

Contents - Jun 2003 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Three Feasts: Ascension, Pentecost, Trinity - Peter Westmore Liturgy: John Paul's new encyclical on the Eucharist targets liturgical abuses - Michael Gilchrist AD2000 staff members awarded federation Centenary Medals - AD2000 News: The Church Around the World - AD2000 Interview: Vatican II and the liturgy, 40 years later - Zenit News Service Events: Corpus Christi Procession - Brisbane, 22 June 2003 The environment: rediscovering the balanced Catholic perspective - Michael Casanova Laity: The role of lay Catholics in a time of crisis - Mary Ann Glendon Those dreadful old Catholic hymns? - Fr Fabian Duggan OSB The seal of confession: how a priest put his life on the line - Clem Lack Letters: Eucharistic encyclical and the priesthood (letter) - John Kelly Letters: Requirements fulfilled (letter) - John Young Letters: Four conditions (letter) - Fr G.H. Duggan SM Letters: Holy Orders (letter) - Francis Vrijmoed Letters: Brisbane Synod (letter) - Alistair Barros Letters: Catechetics (letter) Letters: Teilhard de Chardin (letter) - Grahame Fallon Letters: Latin Mass (letter) - Philip Robinson Letters: Death by 'nice blokes' (letter) - Lisa-Maree Letters: Abortion (letter) - Betty Griffin Letters: Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel (letter) - Marie E. Curtin Books: Culture and the Thomist Tradition : After Vatican II, by Tracey Rowland - Fr Peter Joseph STD (reviewer) Books: From Physics to Metaphysics, by Fr Francis J. Selman - Michael Casanova Books: The Story of Christianity : 2000 Years of Faith - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: Family in the Bible, edited by Richard H. Hess and M. Danial Carroll - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: Our books are the cheapest! Reflection: Church scandals: focus on the message, not just the messengers - Fr Kevin Brannelly

In his most recent encyclical, Ecclesia De Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II has provided priests and laity with a profound and inspiring definition of the intrinsic relationship between Christ, the Eucharist and the Church; and of the priest's identity intimately connected with these saving realities.

In times when the truth and meaning of priesthood have been subjected to unremitting questioning, with the priest often regarded in merely secular terms as "facilitator" or "co-ordinator", the Holy Father has reaffirmed for the whole Church the distinctive and sacred mystery of the priest's sacrificial standing "in the person of Christ" when he celebrates the Eucharist from which the Church derives redeeming and sanctifying efficacy.

As well as offering renewed vision, heart and purpose to the ordained - theologically, spiritually and pastorally - the Pope's encyclical is also a great encouragement for the growing number of seminarians in Australia and other places (May AD2000).

JOHN KELLY
Tranmere, SA

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 16 No 5 (June 2003), p. 14