THE Diocesan Commission for the Lay Apostolate and the Youth Commission of the Gozo diocese last Sunday organised the annual feast of Christ the King.
Flowers were laid at the foot of the monument to Christ the King on Independence Square in Victoria by parish representatives. After a reading from the Gospel the faithful took part in a cortege to the Sports Complex.
Singing and prayers were based on the theme chosen for this year: "We celebrate, we adore, we contemplate Jesus in the Eucharist".
After Bishop Cauchi delivered his address, Mass was celebrated, followed by the renewal of the baptismal vows and other prayers, and Sacramental Benediction.
In his address, Bishop Cauchi dwelt on the theme chosen for this year's feast. Celebration of the Eucharist has three stages, he said. The first was preparation. To receive Our Lord, one has to be prepared. The grace of the Holy Spirit should rekindle the faith, an inner conversion and obedience to the will of the Father. These were the prerequisites to receive the graces flowing from the celebration of the Eucharist and to enjoy the fruit of the new life which it is expected to lead to.
The second stage was the celebration itself. Bishop Cauchi said that those taking part in the Mass should not do so out of habit but out of conviction which leads them to participate in the celebration of the Eucharist, the centre of our life, in order to derive spiritual benefit from it and to grow in the love of God and of neighbour.
The third stage of the celebration was the vital continuity, expressed by acts of witness and solidarity, social and ecclesial. We should feel part of the Church not only by accepting its teaching and obeying its laws, but also by aligning our feelings with those of the Church: we rejoice when it rejoices and weep when it weeps, and interest ourselves in the Church's activities and initiatives.
Social solidarity means that we should always remember that we are members of society in which we have rights and duties. The progress of our country is also our progress and its problems and difficulties are ours too. We cannot pretend that they do not concern us.
As Christians we should strive to ensure order, peace and prosperity in our country. So, in this Eucharistic year, besides strengthening our faith in the Eucharistic mystery and celebrating it with ever greater devotion, we must strengthen and promote Christian apostolate and voluntary initiatives, because these too find their source and reach fulfilment in the Eucharist.
We should adore our God and Saviour in the Eucharist, but we can also adore him by visiting Him whenever we feel we should make up for so many serious offences and crimes taking place in the world. Indeed, adoring the Blessed Sacrament should have an important place in our everyday life, and become a constant source of holiness. This is why anything now being done in parishes in connection with the Eucharist has to be strengthened - hours and days of adoration, sacramental blessings, etc.
Contemplating Christ, the third element, means that we recognise him wherever he shows himself, in all his presence, especially in the Eucharist. Contemplation is gazing in faith, fixed on Jesus. This exclusive attention focused on Jesus means self-denial. His gaze cleanses the soul.
Bishop Cauchi urged the congregation to pray to Jesus with even greater fervour than usual throughout this Eucharistic year, in order to obtain Christ's blessings.