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Encyclicals & Exhortations of Benedict XVI
Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity)
Sacramentum Caritatis (Sacrament of Charity) is Pope Benedict XVI’s first Apostolic Exhortation. This book is the original text and notes as provided at no cost from the Vatican archives at www.vatican.va. It contains only the authentic Vatican document formatted for use on the Kindle platform.
The following excerpts were released by the Catholic New Agency 13 March 2007 regarding Sacramentum Caritatis:
“The exhortation, which is dated February 22, Feast of the of the Chair of St. Peter, is the final document of the synodal assembly held in Rome from October 2nd to 23rd, 2005
Archbishop Eterovic explained how the Apostolic Exhortation forms part of the "series of great documents on the sublime Sacrament of the Eucharist such as, for example, those of Servant of God John Paul II 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' and 'Mane nobiscum Domine.' 'Sacramentum Caritatis' is part of this continuity and, at the same time, re-proposes in an updated form certain essential truths of Eucharistic doctrine, calling for the dignified celebration of the sacred rite and recalling the urgent need to include Eucharistic life as part of everyday life."
The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops pointed out that the document, "in presenting the great truths of Eucharistic faith in a way accessible to modern man, considers various current aspects of [Eucharistic] celebration and calls for a renewed commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, in which the Bread broken for everyone's life becomes ... the exemplary cause in the fight against hunger and against all forms of poverty."
The Exhortation is founded "on the indissoluble bond of three elements: Eucharistic mystery, liturgical action and new spiritual worship." Hence, the text "is divided into three sections, each one of which considers one of the three dimensions of the Eucharist." The sections are entitled: "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," and "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be lived."
The first section of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," highlights the "free gift of the Blessed Trinity" and illustrates "the mystery of the Eucharist on the basis of its Trinitarian origin, which ensures it always remains a gift. ... In this teaching are the profound roots of what the Exhortation says concerning adoration and its intrinsic relationship with Eucharistic celebration."
The second part of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," is dedicated, the cardinal said, "to describing the development of liturgical action in celebration, indicating the aspects that deserve the greatest attention and making a number of significant pastoral suggestions."
The third and final part of the Apostolic Exhortation, said the cardinal, "demonstrates the power of the mystery - believed and celebrated - to become the ultimate and definitive horizon of Christian existence."
"The Exhortation," said the cardinal, "strongly recommends that everyone, and in particular the lay faithful 'cultivate a desire that the Eucharist have an ever deeper effect on their daily lives, making them convincing witnesses in the workplace and in society at large'."
The document, Cardinal Scola said, does not hesitate to affirm that "the Eucharist ... compels all who believe ... to become 'bread that is broken for others,' and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world."
At the beginning and end of the document, Benedict XVI highlights the relationship between the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary: "In Mary Most Holy, we also see perfectly fulfilled
The following excerpts were released by the Catholic New Agency 13 March 2007 regarding Sacramentum Caritatis:
“The exhortation, which is dated February 22, Feast of the of the Chair of St. Peter, is the final document of the synodal assembly held in Rome from October 2nd to 23rd, 2005
Archbishop Eterovic explained how the Apostolic Exhortation forms part of the "series of great documents on the sublime Sacrament of the Eucharist such as, for example, those of Servant of God John Paul II 'Ecclesia de Eucharistia' and 'Mane nobiscum Domine.' 'Sacramentum Caritatis' is part of this continuity and, at the same time, re-proposes in an updated form certain essential truths of Eucharistic doctrine, calling for the dignified celebration of the sacred rite and recalling the urgent need to include Eucharistic life as part of everyday life."
The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops pointed out that the document, "in presenting the great truths of Eucharistic faith in a way accessible to modern man, considers various current aspects of [Eucharistic] celebration and calls for a renewed commitment to building a more just and peaceful world, in which the Bread broken for everyone's life becomes ... the exemplary cause in the fight against hunger and against all forms of poverty."
The Exhortation is founded "on the indissoluble bond of three elements: Eucharistic mystery, liturgical action and new spiritual worship." Hence, the text "is divided into three sections, each one of which considers one of the three dimensions of the Eucharist." The sections are entitled: "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," and "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be lived."
The first section of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be believed," highlights the "free gift of the Blessed Trinity" and illustrates "the mystery of the Eucharist on the basis of its Trinitarian origin, which ensures it always remains a gift. ... In this teaching are the profound roots of what the Exhortation says concerning adoration and its intrinsic relationship with Eucharistic celebration."
The second part of the document, "the Eucharist, a Mystery to be celebrated," is dedicated, the cardinal said, "to describing the development of liturgical action in celebration, indicating the aspects that deserve the greatest attention and making a number of significant pastoral suggestions."
The third and final part of the Apostolic Exhortation, said the cardinal, "demonstrates the power of the mystery - believed and celebrated - to become the ultimate and definitive horizon of Christian existence."
"The Exhortation," said the cardinal, "strongly recommends that everyone, and in particular the lay faithful 'cultivate a desire that the Eucharist have an ever deeper effect on their daily lives, making them convincing witnesses in the workplace and in society at large'."
The document, Cardinal Scola said, does not hesitate to affirm that "the Eucharist ... compels all who believe ... to become 'bread that is broken for others,' and to work for the building of a more just and fraternal world."
At the beginning and end of the document, Benedict XVI highlights the relationship between the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary: "In Mary Most Holy, we also see perfectly fulfilled
100 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2007
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182 people want to read
About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
943 books935 followersOriginally
Joseph Ratzinger
, a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 22, 2023
5/5 ⭐
“« la mejor catequesis sobre la Eucaristía es la Eucaristía misma bien celebrada”
🛐¡Por fin!🙏(de todas las encíclicas, documentos, exhortaciones que vengo leyendo -NO ME ESTOY JACTANDO, leo para aprender y de curiosa que soy-) ésta es la primera que destaca la importancia de la 1ra Comunión.🙏(que desde lo personal es el recuerdo que tengo)
🛐 Publicada el 22 de Febrero, fiesta de la Cátedra del Apóstol san Pedro, del año 2007, segundo del Pontificado de Benedicto XVI es lo primero que leo de éste Papa e inmediatamente descubrí que fue diferente a Juan Pablo II y al actual Papa Francisco. En ésta exhortación postsinodal leo a un Benedicto XVI muy …¿conservador, tradicional? No sé si esas serían las palabras pero ahora entiendo por qué en las redes sociales católicos tradicionalistas no reconocían a Francisco como Papa y seguían sosteniendo que el Papa continuaba siendo Benedicto XVI. De modo que no sé qué pensar del estilo de escritura del Papa Benedicto.
🛐 Me ha gustado muchísimo como Benedicto XVI aborda las múltiples facetas y profundidades que tiene la Eucaristía. Realmente hay mucha información en este documento. Se lee rápido pero es difícil comprenderlo todo con una sola lectura. Yo decidí leerlo por recomendación de quién fue mí guía espiritual para tener un aprendizaje más de la eucaristía.
🛐En cuanto a literatura teológica por momentos me pareció profunda y por supuesto es pastoral y no solo va dirigida a Obispos, sacerdotes, consagrados y diáconos, sino también al fiel laico que en mí opinión tiene mucho por conocer de jesús eucaristía.
🛐 Algunos temas se me hizo difícil comprender, sobre todo porque contiene palabras en latín pero es una exhortación que enseña de la eucaristía y su relación con el amor cristiano. La eucaristía no está separada de la liturgia, ni del matrimonio, ni del orden sacerdotal. Por el contrario, en El Sacramento de la Caridad (Sacramentum Caritatis) explora el misterio de la fe eucarística y cómo revela el misterio de la Trinidad. A lo largo de tres partes y una conclusión el Santo Padre examina la importante relación entre la Eucaristía y los demás sacramentos, incluido el sacramento de la Iglesia. También destaca las implicaciones sociales de la Eucaristía y la conecta firmemente con la enseñanza social de la Iglesia.
“« la mejor catequesis sobre la Eucaristía es la Eucaristía misma bien celebrada”
🛐¡Por fin!🙏(de todas las encíclicas, documentos, exhortaciones que vengo leyendo -NO ME ESTOY JACTANDO, leo para aprender y de curiosa que soy-) ésta es la primera que destaca la importancia de la 1ra Comunión.🙏(que desde lo personal es el recuerdo que tengo)
🛐 Publicada el 22 de Febrero, fiesta de la Cátedra del Apóstol san Pedro, del año 2007, segundo del Pontificado de Benedicto XVI es lo primero que leo de éste Papa e inmediatamente descubrí que fue diferente a Juan Pablo II y al actual Papa Francisco. En ésta exhortación postsinodal leo a un Benedicto XVI muy …¿conservador, tradicional? No sé si esas serían las palabras pero ahora entiendo por qué en las redes sociales católicos tradicionalistas no reconocían a Francisco como Papa y seguían sosteniendo que el Papa continuaba siendo Benedicto XVI. De modo que no sé qué pensar del estilo de escritura del Papa Benedicto.
🛐 Me ha gustado muchísimo como Benedicto XVI aborda las múltiples facetas y profundidades que tiene la Eucaristía. Realmente hay mucha información en este documento. Se lee rápido pero es difícil comprenderlo todo con una sola lectura. Yo decidí leerlo por recomendación de quién fue mí guía espiritual para tener un aprendizaje más de la eucaristía.
🛐En cuanto a literatura teológica por momentos me pareció profunda y por supuesto es pastoral y no solo va dirigida a Obispos, sacerdotes, consagrados y diáconos, sino también al fiel laico que en mí opinión tiene mucho por conocer de jesús eucaristía.
🛐 Algunos temas se me hizo difícil comprender, sobre todo porque contiene palabras en latín pero es una exhortación que enseña de la eucaristía y su relación con el amor cristiano. La eucaristía no está separada de la liturgia, ni del matrimonio, ni del orden sacerdotal. Por el contrario, en El Sacramento de la Caridad (Sacramentum Caritatis) explora el misterio de la fe eucarística y cómo revela el misterio de la Trinidad. A lo largo de tres partes y una conclusión el Santo Padre examina la importante relación entre la Eucaristía y los demás sacramentos, incluido el sacramento de la Iglesia. También destaca las implicaciones sociales de la Eucaristía y la conecta firmemente con la enseñanza social de la Iglesia.
February 5, 2019
This post-synodal apostolic exhortation was a good read in book format. There is much to contemplate on in regards to the Eucharist. I particularly appreciated the weight of importance in our lives conveyed by our participation in public worship and the sacredness of receiving Holy Communion.
Recommended for educational and devotional reading.
Recommended for educational and devotional reading.
May 15, 2025
Sacramentum Caritatis, or the sacrament of charity, or love, is a book about the ‘source and summit’ of the Catholic church’s mission, the Eucharist. Pope Benedict XIV writes: ‘the Eucharist is at the root of every form of holiness’.
In this book he explores all facets of Holy Communion, including: the proper design and layout of churches, putting the tabernacle, altar, and celebrant’s chair in places of prominence; the importance of art as a way to express the awesomeness of God and help worshippers focus their minds; and reaching out to poorer communities and those suffering from religious persecution.
For both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, his explanation of the Eucharist, in which bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ though Eucharistic prayer, offer in as much as is possible deeper knowledge of ‘a reality which surpasses all human understanding’.
This book certainly helped me appreciate many of the aspects of the Mass and Holy Communion that make a tremendous impression on the spirit but can often go unexplained. As always Pope Benedict’s catechism provides answers, with his writing characterised by a towering intellect and rigorous theological argument.
In this book he explores all facets of Holy Communion, including: the proper design and layout of churches, putting the tabernacle, altar, and celebrant’s chair in places of prominence; the importance of art as a way to express the awesomeness of God and help worshippers focus their minds; and reaching out to poorer communities and those suffering from religious persecution.
For both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, his explanation of the Eucharist, in which bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ though Eucharistic prayer, offer in as much as is possible deeper knowledge of ‘a reality which surpasses all human understanding’.
This book certainly helped me appreciate many of the aspects of the Mass and Holy Communion that make a tremendous impression on the spirit but can often go unexplained. As always Pope Benedict’s catechism provides answers, with his writing characterised by a towering intellect and rigorous theological argument.
February 18, 2019
As always with Benedict XVI (Joseph Ratzinger), this is well written, substantive, and helpful. It is richly theological but also pastoral and practical throughout. Though there are some key points that I must obviously disagree with, the vast majority of this little book is exquisitely evangelical and spot on the mark. It was a quick read, but lots to chew on and consider carefully. Well worth the time.
January 28, 2021
Cet livre était très bon... Le Pape Benoît parle sur l'Eucharistie et comment elle est le source et sommet de nos vies - comme un don de Dieu pour nous aider et nos frères et sœurs à atteindre le Ciel. Il parle des choses plus spirituelles et aussi des choses plus pratiques. Je le recommande.
January 7, 2020
No entendí ni madres
April 4, 2020
Short but great book on the Eucharist!
April 19, 2022
Vote: 4,00
Class: P-A1 (FP)
(Esortazione apostolica post sinodale)
Profonda e interessante spiegazione e significato del mistero Eucaristico. Chiarissima raccolta delle norme attuali riguardanti il Sacramento dell'Eucarestia a 45 anni dal Concilio Vaticano II.
Pone chiarezza su molte questioni sulle quali ancora si trovano interpretazioni non corrette delle indicazioni del Concilio Vaticano II circa la Sacra Liturgia.
Lettura interessante e importante per un cattolico che voglia avere le idee chiare in materia.
(2)Nel Sacramento dell’altare, il Signore viene incontro all'uomo, creato ad immagine e somiglianza di Dio, facendosi suo compagno di viaggio. In questo Sacramento, infatti, il Signore si fa cibo per l’uomo affamato di verità e di libertà. Poiché solo la verità può renderci liberi davvero, Cristo si fa per noi cibo di Verità.
Class: P-A1 (FP)
(Esortazione apostolica post sinodale)
Profonda e interessante spiegazione e significato del mistero Eucaristico. Chiarissima raccolta delle norme attuali riguardanti il Sacramento dell'Eucarestia a 45 anni dal Concilio Vaticano II.
Pone chiarezza su molte questioni sulle quali ancora si trovano interpretazioni non corrette delle indicazioni del Concilio Vaticano II circa la Sacra Liturgia.
Lettura interessante e importante per un cattolico che voglia avere le idee chiare in materia.
(2)Nel Sacramento dell’altare, il Signore viene incontro all'uomo, creato ad immagine e somiglianza di Dio, facendosi suo compagno di viaggio. In questo Sacramento, infatti, il Signore si fa cibo per l’uomo affamato di verità e di libertà. Poiché solo la verità può renderci liberi davvero, Cristo si fa per noi cibo di Verità.
February 24, 2014
I'm still catching up on my religious reading (and all my other reading, but that's not important right now). Benedict again here focuses on the "Caritas" aspect of love. I think Paragraph 90 is a good example of how the transition from Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Francis does not represent the huge shift in philosophy it seems to be presented as at times. If you haven't read this, it may surprise you.
April 21, 2015
Really a lot of information in this document. It is difficult to comprehend it all with just one reading. I will be going back through it a few times! Good stuff, especially if you like Pope Benedict's style of writing.
October 24, 2016
"Each of us is truly called, together with Jesus, to be bread broken for the life of the world." - SC 88
July 28, 2011
Tremendous book by Benedict XVI on the many facets and depths of the Eucharist
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews