12. The Church is a communion The Church as such has the duty to come together: Church means assembly.
The early church, all-new release from the hands of Christ, was a communion
the company of those who came to faith were of one heart and one soul and no one claimed private ownership of his property, but everything was held in common (Acts 4:32).
The Sunday meeting of the Christian community has never been easy.
In the early days much less today, because of the danger, persecution, and also because Sunday was a working day for all Christians who were dependent on a master or slave. And they were the vast majority! ...
The author Letter to the Hebrews writes:
We also try to stimulate one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as some have the habit of doing, but instead encourage and warn each other, especially as you can see how the day ( of the Lord) approaches (Hebrews 10:25).
Those who had taken the '
habit of staying at home could have good reasons. They had suffered so much because of their faith.
to recall those early days when, after being enlightened (= baptized), you endured a great and painful struggle, now publicly exposed to insults and hardships, now making you sympathize with those who were treated in this way. For you had compassion on the prisoners, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, knowing that they have the best and most durable goods. So do not abandon your confidence, which has a great reward. All you need is perseverance, because after having done the will of God can achieve the promise (Heb 10.32-36).
Despite this, we must not desert our meetings
: the abandonment of the meeting is seen as the first step on the path of apostasy. In the midst of persecution
, s. Ignatius of Antioch (+ 106), and was brought to Rome to die crushed by the teeth of lions writes Ephesians: None
mistaken: those who are not in the enclosure of the altar of the bread of God is denied If the prayer of two people acting together has so great an effect, as it will be that of the bishop and the whole Church? Who does not intervene to meeting is already an act of arrogance and self-excommunication .
S. Justin Philosopher and Martyr (+ 165) writes in his First Apology
chap. 67:
On the day that the sun all agree on the same site, both the city and those in the countryside. And as long as the weather permits you read the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets, then when the reader has ceased, some chairs and speaks warning urge to imitate so beautiful examples, then we get up and we walk together in prayer, as you said, you have bread, wine, water ...
It makes the distribution and gives each of the deals on which they are celebrating the Thanksgiving (Eucharist =) and are sent to the absent by the deacons.
We all gathered together on the day of the sun, because it is the first day in which God, changing darkness and matter, created the world, and because Jesus Christ our Savior, the same day, from death resources.
Some say that the pace of modern life, the timing of the industrial world, the hurry and agitation that grips all ... would recommend to dilute the deadlines of the Eucharist, the Mass mandatory, leading to a pace fortnightly, monthly, quarterly, seasonal ...
Who would dare to propose to the workers to skip the holidays and rest, take a day off every fifteen, thirty, ninety, one hundred and twenty days ...?
only to encounter God and neighbor frequencies are too close together?!
The pace of the Eucharist is the breath of the soul, the Christian's life. When a patient pulls his teeth and his breath ever wider intervals mean that approaching the moment of death. If you want to live, you must participate in the Eucharist every Sunday.
There is still the rule? Not we say that there is no longer an obligation of the Mass every Sunday and bank holidays. It is false! The Church can not fail to be himself: that assembly and the Easter feast for those who believe in the Risen Lord and meet him personally in a weekly rhythm inaugurated by him (cf. Jn 20:26).
Priests and parents do not sgravino consciousness so easily and cheaply. I know very well that it is easier to threaten the hell that communicate the faith in the Eucharist and give the taste to take part. Our task is to understand the vital need to create the need for inner children and faithful participate
freely according to their law interiore. Ma la legge interiore non vuol dire sentire (ho voglia... non ho voglia... me la sento... non me la sento), non vuol dire capriccio o arbitrio.
Libertà è poter fare ciò che si deve fare (Montesqiueu).
Bisognerebbe fare un modo che nemmeno una volta nella vita si abbiano a compiere i propri doveri religiosi, perché costretti o per obbedire a pure convenienze (Lacordaire).
Lo Spirito è la fonte della libertà cristiana. La legge è cristiana solo se è interiorizzata nel cuore. Solo l’amore giustifica la legge.
Ama e fa’ quello che vuoi (s. Agostino).
Voi siete stati chiamati a libertà. Purché questa libertà non diventi un pretesto for the flesh ... (Galatians 5:13-15).
of Christ, in celebration of the Eucharist, it is said: He
and offered freely to his passion ... : the same can be said of Christians in this set! Without freedom there is no love. The Mass is the greatest mystery of love: for this requires the utmost freedom.
Going to Mass is a right and a necessity, a joy.
Our last word is a pressing appeal to all leaders and leaders of Christian communities are not afraid to insist, time and time again on the baptized to celebrate the Sunday Eucharist in joy. How could essi trascurare questo incontro, questo banchetto che Cristo ci prepara nel suo amore?... È il Cristo crocifisso e glorificato che passa in mezzo ai suoi discepoli, per trascinarli insieme nel rinnovamento della sua risurrezione (Paolo VI).
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