Pope Francis: 'Once we've encountered Christ, we can't keep Him to ourselves'

Source: Vatican Media

In a message sent to Madagascar's National Eucharistic Congress yesterday, Pope Francis invites us to rediscover our love of spending time with Christ and to be missionaries of His love to others.

He said: "I encourage this initiative that aims to bring the sons and daughters of your Christian communities back to the essentials, helping them to rediscover the sense of Eucharistic adoration and the desire to spend time with Christ... Rediscover the sense of Eucharistic adoration and the desire to spend time with Christ."

Pope Francis writes in his letter addressed to Bishop Marie Fabien Raharilamboniain, the President of the Episcopal Conference of Madagascar, approaching Christ in the Eucharist "contributes to the growth of each one of you as Christians, as you are called to become more and more."

Noting that that this National Eucharistic Congress coincides with the celebration of the centenary of the Eucharistic Youth Movement, the Pope said he joined them in prayer and extended fraternal greetings to all participating, adding that the gathering takes on particular importance as we prepare for the second session of the Synod on Synodality.

"May this occasion help you rediscover the importance of meeting, praying, and engaging with others and for others in the footsteps of Jesus in the Eucharist," he said.

"Once we have encountered Christ in adoration, once we have touched and received Him in the Eucharistic celebration," Pope Francis said, "it is no longer possible to keep Him to ourselves; instead, we become missionaries of His love to others."

"Once we have encountered Christ in adoration, once we have touched and received Him in the Eucharistic celebration, it is no longer possible to keep Him to ourselves."

"The Eucharist compels us to a deeply committed love for our neighbour because we cannot truly understand and live its meaning if our hearts remain closed to our brothers and sisters."

The Holy Father invited them and members of the "Eucharistic Youth Movement," who are celebrating their centenary, to help their brothers and sisters "experience Jesus in the Eucharist."

"Help them," he urged, "make their own lives an offering to God, united with that of Jesus on the Altar, in order to make Him known, loved, and served ever more. Help them make their own lives an offering to God, united with that of Jesus on the Altar, in order to make Him known, loved, and served ever more."

The Holy Father concluded by wishing the participants a fruitful Congress and entrusting them all to the maternal protection of the Virgin Mary. He prayed: "May she intercede for you, so that you may deepen your relationship with Christ each day."