AAS 80 - La Santa Sede

1752 Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale
been in decline, despite the apparent stability of Mass attendance
due to increases in the Catholic population. This is a trend that
wounds the very heart of ecclesial communion, for as the Council
teaches : "The goal of apostolic endeavour is that ali who are made
children of God by faith and Baptism should come together to praise
God in the midst of his Church, to take part in the Sacrifice and
to eat the Lord's Supper". 6
4. One of the outstanding features of the Church in Australia
has been the striking witness of the Catholic people's fidelity to
Sunday worship. Your pioneer bishops and clergy instilled into
them the truth that "it is the Mass that matters". People overéame
the difficulties of distance and climate in order to particípate in the
Eucharist. They did so in imitation of their priests, whose self-
sacrifice in bringing the Mass to them was in many instances nothing
short of heroic. I wish to commend you and your clergy for your
fidelity to this tradition and for your efforts to bring the sacraments
to God's people. I would also urge you to consider ways to restore
an awareness of the supreme value of participation in the Eucharist
among those who have given up Sunday worship.
As a help to us in fulfilling this task, the documents of the
Council provide the necessary orientation. They constitute a rich
source of inspiration and reflection for all who seèk to deepen their
appréciation of worship and participation in the liturgy. For the
Council Fathers, liturgy is a foretaste of heaven, it is the sacred
action par excellence, in which God is glorifìed and we are made
holy. It contributes to our interior formation and gives rise to an
authentic Christian spirit, and is therefore of the greatest importance
for the spiritual life. The liturgy animâtes our search for unity
and our practice of eharity. It is indeed "the summit towards which
the activity of the Church is directed ; it is also the fount from which
all her power fiows". 7 Far from being only an obligation, participation
in the Eucharist is an actualization and strengthening of ali that
is most sacred and most vital in Christian life. People need to be
reminded of the immense spiritual riches that sharing in the Eucharist
brings to them as members of a royal priesthood.
6 IUd., 10.
7 IUd.