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Pope Shares Memories of His First Communion
100,000 Children Gather to Highlight Importance of Eucharist
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 16, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Anticipating the imminent end of the Year of the Eucharist, Benedict XVI gathered some 100,000 young communicants for a meeting entitled “Bread of Heaven.”
Last June the Pope extended an invitation to all children who were receiving their first Communion this year. At that time they were invited to St. Peter’s Square to confirm the essential role that the sacrament of the Eucharist has in the formation and spiritual growth of children.
The invitation was addressed to children of the Diocese of Rome and neighboring dioceses. However, children from all over Italy, and from Spain, France and elsewhere, arrived in buses in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, overflowing the plaza.
The highlight of the day was their conversation with Benedict XVI who responded to seven of the children, seated close to him, who asked him questions about the Eucharist.
One of the girls, Andrea, asked the Holy Father about his first Communion.
It was “a beautiful Sunday in March 1935,” he said, “69 years ago.”
“It was a sunny day, the church was very beautiful, there was music,” said the Pontiff with a broad smile. “I promised the Lord, in the measure possible: ‘I want to be always with you’ and I said to him: 'But you must always be with me.” Read more…Zenit.org
100,000 Children Gather to Highlight Importance of Eucharist
VATICAN CITY, OCT. 16, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Anticipating the imminent end of the Year of the Eucharist, Benedict XVI gathered some 100,000 young communicants for a meeting entitled “Bread of Heaven.”
Last June the Pope extended an invitation to all children who were receiving their first Communion this year. At that time they were invited to St. Peter’s Square to confirm the essential role that the sacrament of the Eucharist has in the formation and spiritual growth of children.
The invitation was addressed to children of the Diocese of Rome and neighboring dioceses. However, children from all over Italy, and from Spain, France and elsewhere, arrived in buses in St. Peter’s Square on Saturday, overflowing the plaza.
The highlight of the day was their conversation with Benedict XVI who responded to seven of the children, seated close to him, who asked him questions about the Eucharist.
One of the girls, Andrea, asked the Holy Father about his first Communion.
It was “a beautiful Sunday in March 1935,” he said, “69 years ago.”
“It was a sunny day, the church was very beautiful, there was music,” said the Pontiff with a broad smile. “I promised the Lord, in the measure possible: ‘I want to be always with you’ and I said to him: 'But you must always be with me.” Read more…Zenit.org