Witnessing






Leave Mass strengthened by the Eucharist to be witnesses in our daily lives.

What the faithful have received by faith and sacrament in the celebration of the Eucharist, should have its effect on their way of life. They should seek to live joyfully and gratefully by the strength of this heavenly food, sharing in the death and resurrection of the Lord.


And so everyone who has participated in the Mass should be “eager to do good works, to please God, and to live honestly, devoted to the Church, putting into practice what he has learnt, and growing in piety.” He will seek to fill the world with the Spirit of Christ and “in all things, in the very midst of human affairs” to become a witness of Christ. (Eucharisticum Mysterium, 13)

Linger in prayer after Communion and the dismissal. Let our union with Jesus be realized before we go into the world.

But union with Christ, to which the sacrament itself is directed, is not to be limited to the duration of the celebration of the eucharist; it is to be prolonged into the entire Christian life, in such a way that the Christian faithful contemplating unceasingly the gift they have received, may make their life a continual thanksgiving under the guidance of the Holy Spirit and may produce fruits of greater charity.


In order to remain more easily in this thanksgiving which is offered to God in an eminent way in the Mass, those who have been nourished by holy communion should be encouraged to remain for a while in prayer. (Eucharisticum Mysterium, 38)


Scripture on witnessing

“So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered them, ‘…we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.’” (Acts 4:18-20)

“The word of the living God addressed to men obliges us more than any other human commandment or purpose.  …  Peter and the apostles to whom this truth was directly given…must bear witness to it.  ….” (Homily, April 20, 1980, St. John Paul II, cf., Acts 4:5-22)

“Everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt 10:32)

As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”  (Jn 20:21b)

“[D]o not be anxious about how you are to speak…for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”  (Matt 10:19b)


Faith in the Eucharist must be communicated and lived with others.

Faith tends to be communicated. Faith is dynamic, it sets us in motion toward others. The truth is not private property, an individual way of living. Truth is like the happiness destined for all, and therefore, faith by its very nature is missionary.


Certainly, the charisms are different: not all are apostles, not all are prophets, not all are preachers and teachers… Yet no one believes alone, by himself. (On Love, Ratzinger, 33)

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