“The Church is young when she shows herself capable of constantly returning to her source” (CV 35). Thus Pope Francis in Christus Vivit, the Apostolic Exhortation dedicated to young people, invites all of us to preserve our freshness because we are nourished by our lifeblood that is Love made flesh in the Eucharist.
For this reason, at the time of the persecutions, one of the 49 martyrs of Abitinae exclaimed: “We cannot live without Sunday.” I had the gift to host Cardinal François-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận for the Jubilee of the year 2000 in my rectory in Roselle (Italy). In Vietnam, he had been 9 years in solitary confinement.
He said that after a year of Eucharistic fasting, he was so malnourished that he almost died, until one of the jailers, moved by compassion, brought him some dry bread and some wine, making it pass for medicine for the stomach. So he resumed celebrating the Eucharist, lying on the ground to avoid being seen.
He used his hand as an altar, on which he placed a bread crumb, three drops of wine and a drop of water. So he recovered his freedom, despite being in prison. In 2017, Pope Francis recognized the heroic virtues of Cardinal Văn Thuận. Several miracles through the intercession of the Vietnamese cardinal are now being studied and when approved will pave the way for his beatification.
We can also learn from other parents on how they encourage their children to attend Sunday Mass without imposing on them. First, at Mass, pray for your children that they may be closer to Jesus, especially those who are drifting away from their love for Jesus in the Eucharist.
Some parents give their children a Sunday treat like ice cream, a good lunch, a movie, a walk in the park, etc. after attending the Mass. This may appear as kid stuff for growing teenagers but they will always cherish these moments with their parents as they grow up as adults. It is good to consider that the love of Christ in the Eucharist is appreciated more if there is love among parents, and in the family, first of all…
