Uczestnictwo w Eucharystii w świetle wybranych pozycji literatury teologicznej okresu II Krajowego Kongresu Eucharystycznego

Abstract

The time since October 2004 till October 2005 was celebrated in the whole Church as the year of Eucharist. One of the events that took place then in Poland was The Third National Eucharistic Congress. The fact turns our minds back to the year 1987 when the previous Eucharistic Congress took place. This elaboration is supposed to analise the literature issued in that time in associacion with the 2nd Congress and summarize its teaching as for the participation in Eucharist. It can be useful in future analyses of the way the understanding of the sacrament has changed since the Second Vatican Council untill today. The literature teaches the Eucharist itself starts long before the beginning of liturgy; that means people should be prepared to the participation with faith and love to God as well as to other people. It is very important also to be appropriately motivated to the participatoin. To take part in the holy mass fully and deeply people should understand the essence of Eucharist. The literature recites the aspects of Eucharist as followed: Eucharist as a sacrifice, as a supper, as thanksgiving and as holiness. The sacrifice of Eucharist is Christ’s life, teaching and paschal events, his obedience to heavenly Father faithful should imitate in their lives. Every holy mass is also a supper, a joyful meeting with God and other people where the meal is the real Body and Blood of Christ. “Eucharist” means thanksgiving; it is also one of the oldest words to describe the mystery. Participation in Eucharist should teach faithfull thankfulness to God and neighbours. Eucharist is also something holy – according to the biblical meaning of the word it is something different, transcendent, unlike anything other. Each Eucharist, even celebrated on weekdays, brings holiness into everyday life and opens faithfull for the life to come, for eternal reality. Participation in Eucharist should bring twofold fruits; first is leaning towards God, imitating of Christ’s obedience, cleansing everyday sins, etc. so they can be named spiritual fruits. Participation in Eucharist should also lead to more practical fruits, testimony of Christ in life, good deeds and forgiveness. The analysed literature is deeply rooted in the Second Vatican Council’s teaching and in fact does not bring anything new to our understanding of Eucharist. On the other hand it has managed to interpret theological jargon in a very understandable way.