It was a sunny spring day in Rome this morning for the Holy Father’s general weekly audience. He continued his catechesis on the Holy Mass and the Eucharist, reflecting on this scripture passage from the Gospel according to John:

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. – John 6:54-55

“The Holy Father said that of course, when we receive the Eucharist … this is not a symbol, this is not a sign. We are actually allowing ourselves to be transformed into what we receive. He reminded us that at every Mass, the Last Supper is renewed when the Body and Blood are offered under the bread and wine,” explained Ashley Noronha, Relevant Radio^® Rome Correspondent, on Morning Air^®. “He went on to say that that salvific action of Christ continues today through the priestly ministry, through the deacon.”

“After the breaking of the bread, the priest then invites the faithful to acknowledge who is it that takes away the sins of the world? It’s the Lamb of God. And with that, [Pope Francis] said, we are reminded of our sinfulness so that by acknowledging our sins we can better accept what he called the “medicine” of the Body and Blood of Christ which brings us closer to Him.”

Our ‘Amen’ upon receiving Christ in the Eucharist has a deep meaning, says the Holy Father. “When we say that ‘Amen’ when we receive the Body and Blood of Christ, we show that we are open to that transformative power of Christ. And that’s when we become that “living Eucharist” because we become nourished by the Bread of Life and we actually become what we receive. That is the great mystery and the great gift of our Catholic Church,” reported Noronha.

Pope Francis also confirmed today that he would attend the World Meeting of Families held in Ireland, which will take place in August of this year.