CEBU. “As Christ broke down the wall that divided the Jews from the Gentiles, the Greeks from the Hebrews, so too today he wipes out every form of barrier at the Eucharist: between the rich and the poor, the Whites and Blacks,” said John Cardinal Onaiyekan, the Archbishop of Abuja and the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria, on the fifth day of the International Eucharistic Congress at Cebu.
Th Cardinal was emphasising the power of the Eucharist in actual social contexts, 28th January. He urged the strengthening of Eucharistic devotions in keeping with the religious psychology of every community.
Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle of Manila continued along similar lines when he spoke on the next day of the Eucharist in relationship to cultures, 29th January. While every culture has something unique in it that needs to be respected, it also calls for correctives, he said.
The paper of Oswald Cardinal Gracias who could not be present for the occasion was read out by Archbishop Dominic Jala of Shillong. The central message was to recognise the need for showing respect for the religious traditions of Asia where religious faith is still a living force.
On January 27, Archbishop Thomas Menamparampil of Jowai had called for a renewed understanding of “Dialogue” in the present day context, not as a debate over abstract notions or sectarian interests, but as ongoing relationship and a commitment to the common well-being of humanity.
Making use of the Jungian concept of “Collective Unconscious” Archbishop Menamparampil said that the Eucharist should be made to bring healing to the ‘collective unconscious’ of individual communities loaded with memories of historic injuries and sense of hurt, and awaken the Collective Unconscious of humanity itself towards its ultimate destiny.
Referring to secularization trends on the global scene, he said, where God seems to be absent most, the Latens Deitas ( the hidden Godhead in the Eucharist) makes profound meaning. The sense of sacred still present in Asian cultures certainly points beyond to a Divine Presence.
Over 300,000 devotees from 71 countries walked in procession in honor of the Eucharist as the sixth day drew to a conclusion. Some have hold that the number was close to half a million. While Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin presided over the mass before the procession, Cardinal Charles Bo of Yangon, the Papal Delegate for the International Eucharistic Congress gave the concluding benediction.
51st International Eucharistic Congress concluded on January 2016.