ROME, JUNE 22 (ZENIT.org)

    "The Eucharist as Source of Culture" was the original catechesis topic of the Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger this morning in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which brought together the participants of the International Eucharistic Congress in the Cathedral of the diocese of Rome.

    The French Cardinal made it very clear, however, that the celebration of Mass, "does not express the typical myths of a culture." Christianity is not a culture. What is more, "the West is called Christian without being so in the totality of its being. Christianity is not even of European origin. But the Christian faith has made Europe fecund and enabled it to give human fruits of beauty and truth that have spread despite European messianism."

    However, the Eucharist is manifested as the source of culture. This is how Christ expressed it in the Last Supper when he left the memorial of his sacrifice "for the salvation of all." Contrary to what was true for the Jewish people, "his disciples, who came from all nations, were not reduced to the first group who followed him, beginning in Lake Tiberias."

    Cardinal Lustiger knew wherefrom he speaks, as he is of Jewish origin. His mother died in Auschwitz. In those years a family from Orleans saved his life, and their witness helped him to convert to Christianity.

    "In the mystery of the Eucharist, every Christian is identified personally with Christ himself and, at the same time, is in communion with the other members of his Body," he said. This universality of the Eucharist imprints a universality that is above cultures and enriches them.

    "The Church is the sacrament of this universality that must be called 'Catholic.' It is radically distinct from the reductive universality caused by the globalization of the earth. In heaven's plan, in the person of Christ, each person and culture is in communion with the totality of humanity. In the Eucharistic Catholicity of the culture, the whole of humanity is present, victorious over death."

    The Eucharist, the French Cardinal said, "introduces original traces in each culture, which always bring forth new fruits." In particular, it "brings freedom from humanity' old slaveries, by offering us to the Savior who frees us from sins and introduces us to divine life."

    "A culture nourished by the Eucharistic mystery will be liberated from the guilt that ineluctably structures the human conscience. Because we is not judged only by our conscience abandoned to our loneliness or the group's judgment. We appear before the love of God, 'rich in mercy' who has revealed himself in Christ."

    A culture nourished by the Eucharistic mystery will ceaselessly tend to demolish all the hierarchies that all human societies establish between the powerful and the weak, between the wise and the ignorant, the teachers and the slaves..., because Jesus, Lord and Master, made himself the last and servant of all, and he asks us to do the same.

    "A culture nourished by the Eucharistic mystery will teach humanity to give thanks and to rejoice in the gifts that they constantly receive, directing them to God, our Creator and Father. He will teach us the Messianic mystery of salvation and will warn us all not to substitute the only Messiah," as unfortunately has happened in this century. ZE00062210

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