Pastoral letter on the Eucharist from the Prelate of Opus Dei

"Jesus has remained in the Eucharist to remedy our weaknesses, our doubts, our fears, our anxieties; to cure our loneliness, our perplexity, our discouragement; to accompany us on our way; to uphold us in our struggle. Above all, he is there to teach us to love, to draw us to his Love." Read or download excerpts from Bishop Javier Echevarría's pastoral letter, written on the occasion of the Year of the Eucharist declared by Pope John Paul II.

On October 6, 2004, second anniversary of the canonization of St. Josemaría Escrivá, the Prelate of Opus Dei, Bishop Javier Echevarría, sent a long pastoral letter to the Prelature’s faithful. The letter seeks to second the Pope’s decision to declare a Year of the Eucharist, helping people to draw greater spiritual fruit from these months through the reflections it offers.

We are making available here an ample extract from this letter, in which Opus Dei’s Prelate, besides recalling the principle truths of Catholic teaching on the Eucharist, offers a meditation on the Eucharistic hymn Adoro te devote, enriched with quotes from St. Josemaría.

Since the Prelate’s pastoral letter had already been completed when Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Letter “Mane nobiscum Domine,” dated October 7, 2004, was published, Bishop Echevarría makes no mention of this document.

The letter may be read or downloaded in the following formats:

a) Read on the Internet

b) Download Microsoft Word document

c) Download ready-to-print PDF file

d) Download to PDA (pdb format)

e) Download to PDA (iSilo format)