The Eucharist and freedom in contemporary theologians and in the magisterium of Pope John Paul II

Abstract

The book chapter unfolds the marvellous relationship binding the celebration of the Eucharist and the authentic Christian experience of freedom as a paschal ethic. The study commences by highlighting the contribution of three theologians - Juan Alfaro, Enrique Dussel and Philip J. Rosato - on eucharistic orthopraxis. They relate the celebration of the Eucharist to daily life, particularly to challenging situations. The second half of the study analyses the speeches made on the Eucharist and human freedom by Pope John Paul II in the context of the celebration of the 46th International Eucharistic Congress held in Wroclaw, Poland in 1997. The chapter demonstrates how eucharistic orthopraxis is not only related to disinterested service in favour of one's neighbour in commendable actions of 'diakonia', but also in the quest for freedom in the context of the respect of civil and social liberties and the exercise of religious freedom.