“A beacon of hope, divine mercy”: Apostolic Nuncio in Madagascar Hails “transformative power” of the Eucharist

“In the Eucharist, there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for we are all one in Christ Jesus,” he said.

This unity, the representative of the Holy Father in Madagascar since his appointment as Apostolic Nuncio in September 2022 said, “is not just theoretical but is lived out in the Eucharist, where diverse individuals come together in the presence of the Lord to become one body in Christ.”

“The Eucharist can never be a private event, reserved for people who have chosen each other by affinity or friendship. The Eucharist is public worship, not esoteric or exclusive,” he explained. 

He continued, “Even here, today, we haven't chosen who we'll meet; we've come from all over the country, and we find ourselves side by side, united by faith and called to become a single body by sharing the one bread that is Christ.”

“We are united beyond our differences of ethnicity, profession, social class, and political ideas; we open up to one another to become one from Him,” the Vatican diplomatic said, adding, “This, from the very beginning, has been a characteristic of Christianity, visibly realized around the Eucharist, and we must always be attentive to ensure that recurring temptations to particularism, even if they are in good faith, do not in fact go in the opposite direction.”

Organized under the theme, “Fraternity to Heal the World: You are all brothers and sisters (Mt 23:8),” the August 23-25 Eucharistic Congress that Madagascar’s Catholic Archdiocese of Antsiranana hosted, aimed to restore the value of fraternity among the people of God in the Indian Ocean Island nation.  

In the August 25 interview with ACI Africa, Archbishop Grysa reflected on the just-concluded Eucharistic Congress, describing it as a “moment of profound spiritual renewal for Madagascar.” 

The Vatican Diplomat called for a deeper understanding of fraternity that he said needs to be illuminated by the light of the Gospel. 

“Fraternity means one and the other, never one against the other. The Eucharistic Congress reminds us above all that being a Christian means coming together from everywhere to be in the presence of the one Lord, and to become one with Him and in Him,” Archbishop Grysa said.

Fraternity, he went on to say, “is one of the pillars of Malagasy society, and solidarity is one of its manifestations. But fraternity needs the light of the Gospel, just as every culture must first be evangelized so that the Gospel message can be inculturated.”

The Vatican diplomat, who also represents the Holy Father in Mauritius, Comoros, and Seychelles warned, “Without reference to the Christian faith and the morality that flows from it, fraternity sometimes turns to the dark side, becoming a solidarity in evil, a brotherhood against someone, a corruption protected by common interests.”

“In contrast, the mystery of the Eucharist reminds us that we are all brothers! In this way, the Eucharist gives us the key to understanding the true meaning of fraternity. There's nothing so effective as fraternity for the future of peace and prosperity in Madagascar and throughout the world,” he said.

The Catholic Archbishop went on to highlight three fundamental gestures of the Eucharistic Congress, including gathering, journeying, and adoration.

“If it is true, as we believe, that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, then it is quite simply the central event; not just the event of a single day, but that of the history of the world as a whole, as the decisive force from which transformations can then come. The important thing is that in the Eucharist, the Word and the Presence of the Lord in his Body and Blood are one,” he said. 

Archbishop Grysa added, “If we want something to move forward in Madagascar, we can only do so on the basis of God's standard, which comes to us in the form of his real presence.”

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“In the Eucharist, we can be shaped in such a way as to bring about something new. That's why the great figures who have accomplished genuine revolutions of the Good throughout history are not great warriors or powerful men; they are the saints who, touched by Christ, launched new impulses in the world,” he said.

“I pray that this ‘Eucharistic springtime’ will spread ever more widely in all parishes in Madagascar and throughout the world,” the Apostolic Nuncio implored.

He continued, “A Eucharistic spirituality is the real antidote to the individualism and selfishness that often characterize everyday life. It leads to a rediscovery of gratuitousness, of the centrality of relationships, starting with the family, with particular attention to soothing the wounds of those who are separated.”

A Eucharistic spirituality, Archbishop Grysa further said, “is the soul of an ecclesial community that overcomes divisions and differences, and values the diversity of charisms and ministries, placing them at the service of the Church's unity, vitality, and mission.”

“A Eucharistic spirituality is the way to restore dignity to human life, and therefore to human work, in the quest to reconcile it with festive and family times, and in the commitment to overcome the uncertainty of precarious work and the problem of unemployment,” he said.

A Eucharistic spirituality, the Vatican diplomat told ACI Africa, “will also help us to deal with the various forms of human fragility, aware that they do not undermine the value of the person, but require closeness, welcome, and help.”