During his general audience at the Vatican on August 12, Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to prioritize attending Sunday Mass, emphasizing that active participation in the Eucharist cannot be replaced by virtual attendance. This address is part of his ongoing catechesis on the Second Vatican Council’s constitution on the liturgy, Sacrosantum Concilium.
The pontiff explained that the Church has always regarded Sunday as a weekly celebration of Our Lord’s resurrection: “To sanctify Sunday, it is essential to celebrate the Eucharist. This assembly cannot be substituted by a solely virtual presence, nor can it be reduced to a merely passive gathering. The liturgical assembly is in fact fulfilled through the active participation of brothers and sisters.”
He also referenced the importance of the liturgical year, noting that it should be understood “as a constant renewal of the work of salvation which Christ accomplishes in history. As she journeys through this temporal cycle, the Church remains in contact with the Lord’s redemptive action, so that all the faithful may be filled with his grace.”
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