By John-Henry Westen
TORONTO, November 16, 2006 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Speaking at a luncheon for pro-life priests organized by Campaign Life Coalition Wednesday, Quebec City Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Primate of Canada, said that the International Eucharistic Congress set to take place in his diocese in 2008 was intentionally named to promote the pro-life cause.“The Eucharist, Gift of God for the Life of the World” is the title of the international event which Pope Benedict XVI is to attend.
The Cardinal spoke of “renewal” of both the faith and of the culture of life in Canada stemming from the Eucharistic Congress. He suggested that heavenly graces were already flowing and that fruits have already started to emerge.“Something is happening in our country,” he said.“We are aware how (very) difficult (it is)Âto reverse certain trends in our society that we need to really commit ourselves . . . Something is happening in Quebec, I’ve seen priests retreats bringing a new breath of hope and I’m convinced that it can go further, at these youth summits . . .”
The Cardinal suggested that one of the reasons Pope Benedict approved the Congress to take place in Quebec was due to the Pope’s recognition of the great need for renewal in Canada.“We need (renewal) badly in our country and especially in our province we need it badly and I think that is why our proposal was accepted,” Cardinal Ouellet told some 100 priests and seminarians in attendance.
The Cardinal admitted that he faced some resistance to the Congress idea, even within his own archdiocese.“In my diocese I have seen resistance: ‘Oh gosh, that’s an old fashioned type of thing, it was good before Vatican II but after Vatican II that’s something that has no way of bringing an important message (to) our society’,” he recalled.Â
The Primate of Canada noted that at the Congress there would be time devoted to the two great commandments, loving God and neighbour. As to loving God, Quebec City, he said, would see a “huge procession of the Blessed Sacrament”, and on loving neighbour; he noted there would be a pro-life component.
He explained that Christ came to unite mankind to Himself and that thus our “final destiny” is to be partakers in divine life. From that perspective, he said, “we see more clearly the dignity of every human being at all stages of life from the very first moment until the end.”
“Something has to happen in our country at the level of the culture,” the Cardinal concluded.“It will come from a spiritual renewal of the Catholic people. If Catholics are not asking God for conversion of themselves and their politicians and there clergy maybe, we won’t get very far. We need help from the Holy Spirit; we need help to give this testimony to the world.”
For more information on the Eucharistic Congress see the official website:
https://www.cei2008.ca/index.php?lang=en