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Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II
Ecclesia de Eucharistia
Encyklika Ojca Świętego Jana Pawła II o Eucharystii w życiu Kościoła.
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First published April 17, 2003
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Pope John Paul II
1,046 books635 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 28, 2019
October 24-25, 2019: It has been at least three years since I read this; eleven years since my review. A recent Pew Research Survey revealed only one-third of Catholics believe the Holy Eucharist is the actual Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It seemed a good time to brush up on my own understanding of this central tenant of our Faith. One can never know too much about this beautiful mystery. Donating a copy to our Adoration Chapel; the best place to read it.
August 21, 2008: Where we read something is an important consideration in our receptivity to its message. This book/encyclical -- due to its subject -- needs to be read during Adoration. It is a beautiful witness to all matters pertaining to Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ, and is best understood in the shadow of Him whom it is about. On the Eucharist can be read quickly, is best read slowly, but needs to be read savoringly. The late great Pope John Paul II wrote this as a letter of gratitude to Our Lord for the occasion of the 25th year of his Pontificate. He called the sacrament, "Gift and Mystery".
The Church draws her nourishment from Jesus through the Eucharist and wherever it is celebrated, heaven and earth are united. JPII urges all Christians to be distinguished above all by the "Art of Prayer" and one of the most perfect forms of prayer is silent adoration of Him who made all, gave all and continues to do so. The ultimate goal of every human being is union with God which is made possible through recieving this sacrament above all others.
A very accessible read written for the average person. In a word, beautiful!
August 21, 2008: Where we read something is an important consideration in our receptivity to its message. This book/encyclical -- due to its subject -- needs to be read during Adoration. It is a beautiful witness to all matters pertaining to Corpus Christi, the Body of Christ, and is best understood in the shadow of Him whom it is about. On the Eucharist can be read quickly, is best read slowly, but needs to be read savoringly. The late great Pope John Paul II wrote this as a letter of gratitude to Our Lord for the occasion of the 25th year of his Pontificate. He called the sacrament, "Gift and Mystery".
The Church draws her nourishment from Jesus through the Eucharist and wherever it is celebrated, heaven and earth are united. JPII urges all Christians to be distinguished above all by the "Art of Prayer" and one of the most perfect forms of prayer is silent adoration of Him who made all, gave all and continues to do so. The ultimate goal of every human being is union with God which is made possible through recieving this sacrament above all others.
A very accessible read written for the average person. In a word, beautiful!
January 19, 2020
I'm no theologian, and I finished this a couple of days ago - enough time for the deeper elements to have slipped away. What I can contribute as a review is that this is very readable. I felt like it was a letter from John Paul II directly to me. I wish I had his depth of understanding about the Eucharist. It should be the summit of our religious life. I have a lot to learn and should probably read this 3 or 4 more times. I recommend this for every Catholic. I always shy away from encyclicals, expecting them to be esoteric beyond my ability to understand or pay attention. That was not the case here. I wish I could just sit in on JPII's class on the Eucharist. I wish I could adopt him as my father, grandfather, or favorite uncle. I'm so glad that he did the next best thing and wrote encyclicals such as Ecclesia de Eucharistia so that we can "attend his classes" over and over, if need be, and we can have him giving his spiritual encouragement as if it were written specifically to each of us. St. John Paul II, please pray for us.
April 2, 2023
5/5 ⭐
“Verdaderamente la Eucaristía es misterio que supera nuestro pensamiento y puede ser acogido sólo en la fe, como a menudo recuerdan las catequesis patrísticas sobre este divino Sacramento. « No veas –exhorta san Cirilo de Jerusalén– en el pan y en el vino meros y naturales elementos, porque el Señor ha dicho expresamente que son su cuerpo y su sangre: la fe te lo asegura, aunque los sentidos te sugieran otra cosa »(...)Ante este misterio de amor, la razón humana experimenta toda su limitación. ”
⛪Escrita en el año 2003, creo entender que fue la última encíclica que escribió su santidad.
⛪Texto imprescindible para los que somos cristianos practicantes ya que resalta el valor de la eucaristía, fundamento fuerte de la iglesia.
⛪En lo personal “Jesús eucaristía” me viene ayudando mucho desde hace ya cinco años. Me emocionó mucho leer éste documento.
⛪Fue sugerido como lectura opcional por el sacerdote de mi ciudd y mientras lo leía se me ponía la piel de gallina porque Juan Pablo II logra plasmar la importancia de éste pedacito de pan: Nuestra alma está ante el Triduo Pascual, todo lo que vivió Jesús.
⛪En la encíclica hay un repaso de lo que vivió Jesús en el Huerto de los Olivos, la soledad y el abandono que experimentó porque sus discípulos lo dejaron solo, como también hacia el final menciona a la Virgen María en relación con la eucaristía. Ella fue el primer tabernáculo, la primera que llevó en su seno el verbo hecho carne.
⛪En el don eucarístico, Jesucristo entrega a la Iglesia la actualización perenne del misterio pascual, instituyendo así una misteriosa contemporaneidad, cuyo pensamiento nos lleva a sentimientos de asombro y gratitud; El acontecimiento pascual y la Eucaristía se actualiza a lo largo de los siglos y tiene una fuerza enorme, ya que “entra toda la historia como destinataria de la gracia de la redención.”
⛪Pero también nos enseña la gran importancia de la figura del sacerdote, porque gracias a la facultad conseguida por el sacramento del orden sacerdotal se puede realizar ésta consagración y como fiel, vivir un momento espiritual que desde lo personal, es único, sanador y salvador.
⛪Juan Pablo II no hace otra cosa que resaltar “este asombro eucarístico” para que no nos olvidemos de la importancia de la misa dominical y del VALOR INMENSO que tiene la eucaristía.
⛪Hay algo que repite muchas veces: Es que la Eucaristía, éste misterio de amor no es comprensible a la razón humana. Ésta se muestra finita y limitada. El creyente vive la eucaristía desde su fe, sabiendo que allí está vivo y presente Jesús.
“cuando se celebra sobre el pequeño altar de una iglesia en el campo, la Eucaristía se celebra, en cierto sentido, sobre el altar del mundo.”
“Verdaderamente la Eucaristía es misterio que supera nuestro pensamiento y puede ser acogido sólo en la fe, como a menudo recuerdan las catequesis patrísticas sobre este divino Sacramento. « No veas –exhorta san Cirilo de Jerusalén– en el pan y en el vino meros y naturales elementos, porque el Señor ha dicho expresamente que son su cuerpo y su sangre: la fe te lo asegura, aunque los sentidos te sugieran otra cosa »(...)Ante este misterio de amor, la razón humana experimenta toda su limitación. ”
⛪Escrita en el año 2003, creo entender que fue la última encíclica que escribió su santidad.
⛪Texto imprescindible para los que somos cristianos practicantes ya que resalta el valor de la eucaristía, fundamento fuerte de la iglesia.
⛪En lo personal “Jesús eucaristía” me viene ayudando mucho desde hace ya cinco años. Me emocionó mucho leer éste documento.
⛪Fue sugerido como lectura opcional por el sacerdote de mi ciudd y mientras lo leía se me ponía la piel de gallina porque Juan Pablo II logra plasmar la importancia de éste pedacito de pan: Nuestra alma está ante el Triduo Pascual, todo lo que vivió Jesús.
⛪En la encíclica hay un repaso de lo que vivió Jesús en el Huerto de los Olivos, la soledad y el abandono que experimentó porque sus discípulos lo dejaron solo, como también hacia el final menciona a la Virgen María en relación con la eucaristía. Ella fue el primer tabernáculo, la primera que llevó en su seno el verbo hecho carne.
⛪En el don eucarístico, Jesucristo entrega a la Iglesia la actualización perenne del misterio pascual, instituyendo así una misteriosa contemporaneidad, cuyo pensamiento nos lleva a sentimientos de asombro y gratitud; El acontecimiento pascual y la Eucaristía se actualiza a lo largo de los siglos y tiene una fuerza enorme, ya que “entra toda la historia como destinataria de la gracia de la redención.”
⛪Pero también nos enseña la gran importancia de la figura del sacerdote, porque gracias a la facultad conseguida por el sacramento del orden sacerdotal se puede realizar ésta consagración y como fiel, vivir un momento espiritual que desde lo personal, es único, sanador y salvador.
⛪Juan Pablo II no hace otra cosa que resaltar “este asombro eucarístico” para que no nos olvidemos de la importancia de la misa dominical y del VALOR INMENSO que tiene la eucaristía.
⛪Hay algo que repite muchas veces: Es que la Eucaristía, éste misterio de amor no es comprensible a la razón humana. Ésta se muestra finita y limitada. El creyente vive la eucaristía desde su fe, sabiendo que allí está vivo y presente Jesús.
“cuando se celebra sobre el pequeño altar de una iglesia en el campo, la Eucaristía se celebra, en cierto sentido, sobre el altar del mundo.”
January 20, 2026
I enjoyed this one a lot. I had the time to read it after the Indianapolis Eucharistic Congress of 2024. The Eucharist is an absolute treasure of the Catholic Church, which feeds and nurture people in their spiritual needs. The one and the same person identified in the consecrated host, Jesus Christ, can be found in the most populated places such as New York to Sydney, all the way to the most remote areas of the world like the Amazon's and Central American tropics.
The promise of Christ is to always be present to the Christian believer, and He does so in many ways. In witnessing the lives of various saints, the Eucharist is the recourse to their many needs. We can very much do the same if we recognize and consider that Jesus Christ is really, truly, substantially, and actually present in such a form by that coined term we call transubstantiation. It's a uniquely unique mystery, and yet it's not unintelligible. What goes beyond reason is not unreasonable, as we can consider it. Only that its depths can not be fully exhausted. That is perhaps why the Eucharist is always finding its very profound mystical reality in every generation since its establishment; it is an encounter with God.
The promise of Christ is to always be present to the Christian believer, and He does so in many ways. In witnessing the lives of various saints, the Eucharist is the recourse to their many needs. We can very much do the same if we recognize and consider that Jesus Christ is really, truly, substantially, and actually present in such a form by that coined term we call transubstantiation. It's a uniquely unique mystery, and yet it's not unintelligible. What goes beyond reason is not unreasonable, as we can consider it. Only that its depths can not be fully exhausted. That is perhaps why the Eucharist is always finding its very profound mystical reality in every generation since its establishment; it is an encounter with God.
April 11, 2024
JP2 is such an icon. 10/10 recommend this for our present Eucharistic Revival <3
September 1, 2022
Fantastic document from JPII on the Eucharist. I loved the chapters on Mary, the Dignity of the Eucharistic Celebration (especially art and architecture stuff), the apostolicity of the Eucharist... Well, I loved the whole thing I guess : )
September 16, 2014
No era lo que esperaba. Me pareció un poco aburrido, y parece meterse más con los problemas que con la gracia de unidad que presenta la eucaristía.
Lo que más me gustó es la relevancia que le da a María en la Eucaristía (último capítulo), usando las imágenes de María en Caná ("Hagan todo lo que Él les diga" / "Hagan esto en memoria mía"), Junto al discípulo amado (al pie de la cruz / al pie de la eucaristía), su presencia en Pentecostés y en las primeras misas, y como primer "sagrario humano" (durante el embarazo). Claramente Ricardo disfrutó con la lectura de esta encíclica.
Dato de color: El documento se publicó el Jueves Santo del año 2003, es decir, el día que recibí mi primer anuncio en una Jornada de Pascua del Movimiento de la Palabra de Dios.
Lo que más me gustó es la relevancia que le da a María en la Eucaristía (último capítulo), usando las imágenes de María en Caná ("Hagan todo lo que Él les diga" / "Hagan esto en memoria mía"), Junto al discípulo amado (al pie de la cruz / al pie de la eucaristía), su presencia en Pentecostés y en las primeras misas, y como primer "sagrario humano" (durante el embarazo). Claramente Ricardo disfrutó con la lectura de esta encíclica.
Dato de color: El documento se publicó el Jueves Santo del año 2003, es decir, el día que recibí mi primer anuncio en una Jornada de Pascua del Movimiento de la Palabra de Dios.
July 25, 2016
This was phenomenal! Pope St. John Paul II had such a gift for being able to explain the complexities of the Catholic faith in simple terms, and this renewed in me a sense of devotion for the miracle of the Eucharist. I especially appreciated his discussion of Mary's relation to the Eucharist, and his devotion to the Mother of God shows through his words.
May 22, 2017
La última Carta Eclesiástica escrita por Juan Pablo II "Ecclesia de Eucharistia" presenta una visión entrañable del tesoro que representa la Eucaristía para la Iglesia Católica.
July 17, 2021
Wonderful summary of Catholic understanding and belief regarding the Eucharist from a great saint of the past century. You can tell it was written by someone who truly loves the Eucharist immensely himself. Highly recommended, especially in our time of loss of belief in Christ hidden and waiting for us in the Eucharist.
April 22, 2018
A JPII classic
December 9, 2022
Bro I've never read an encyclical before but that was really GOOD. 10/10 recommend!
February 25, 2023
Excellent meditation on the Eucharist. The chapter on Mary was especially beautiful.
5/5
5/5
December 13, 2024
2.5, très très redondante, pas forcément très explicite sur certains domaines où c’est nécessaire
Read
August 9, 2007"The Church draws her life from the Eucharist" is the first sentence in the beautiful document on this wonderful sacrament of the Church. My favorite line and what made me want to start going to daily Mass is from the end of the document:
"Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you"
We need the Eucharist to survive spiritually - otherwise we are dead!
"Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you"
We need the Eucharist to survive spiritually - otherwise we are dead!
March 15, 2013
Wonderful
November 25, 2022
ECCLESIA DE EUCHARISTIA vivit. Non modo cotidianam fidei experientiam haec patefacit veritas sed quadam in summa ipsius Ecclesiae nucleum mysterii complectitur.
February 6, 2019
I will begin by emphasizing that personally it contains the key to this encyclical. How can we not feel the need to exhort everyone to always be a renewed experience?
And San Juan Pabo II is very true in this encyclical, in which he gave us his point of view as the supreme pontiff in the Catholic Church. He tells us his personal experience and as a consecrated person, and does not stop to mention the abuses by some that make the meaning of the Sacrament of the Eucharist be distorted; I think someone close or distant can confirm it. An unfortunate fact and that as a community it leaves us very bad not only inside but by other communities; Especially for those people who jealously express that the Catholic Church is the only and real one founded by Christ. And they are things that must be foreseen, not covered; because if this is really considered, the entire Catholic congregation becomes the elder brothers of other communities who also recognize Iesus Nazarenus as their messiah.
It points out many topics that are of great importance, such as sacrifice, prayer, separate communities of the Church, mortal sin.
Like the first time I read this document completely and online, it leaves a bittersweet taste in my life; Sweet because it nourishes my spirit, but sour because it makes quotes from other documents that he himself wrote, from the Councils, or from facts and words of Saints and / or other Popes, and I do not know and that makes me return to the initial question; because I believe that faith is not only enlivened with the practice of the Sacrament, but with the knowledge that has already been generated by others who have traveled that path and are considered spiritual teachers.
And San Juan Pabo II is very true in this encyclical, in which he gave us his point of view as the supreme pontiff in the Catholic Church. He tells us his personal experience and as a consecrated person, and does not stop to mention the abuses by some that make the meaning of the Sacrament of the Eucharist be distorted; I think someone close or distant can confirm it. An unfortunate fact and that as a community it leaves us very bad not only inside but by other communities; Especially for those people who jealously express that the Catholic Church is the only and real one founded by Christ. And they are things that must be foreseen, not covered; because if this is really considered, the entire Catholic congregation becomes the elder brothers of other communities who also recognize Iesus Nazarenus as their messiah.
It points out many topics that are of great importance, such as sacrifice, prayer, separate communities of the Church, mortal sin.
Like the first time I read this document completely and online, it leaves a bittersweet taste in my life; Sweet because it nourishes my spirit, but sour because it makes quotes from other documents that he himself wrote, from the Councils, or from facts and words of Saints and / or other Popes, and I do not know and that makes me return to the initial question; because I believe that faith is not only enlivened with the practice of the Sacrament, but with the knowledge that has already been generated by others who have traveled that path and are considered spiritual teachers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews