Prayer formulated by H.E. Mons. Claudio Gatti on 13th January 2007

On January 10, 2002 we were very surprised when almost suddenly and certainly unexpectedly, we received the announcement of the Victory and Triumph of the Eucharist. We knew what was taking place in the Church, in a secretive way, against the Eucharist: various ecclesiastics had the intention of reducing the Eucharistic presence, the sacrifice and the Eucharistic worship to little more than a simple recollection and an empty commemoration of time past. They moved like snakes within the Church, spitting poison to numb consciences and poisoning them with ideas far from Your truth and contrary to it.

But You, who are the Almighty, were at the helm according to Your style: a style of silence, of apparent defeat and weakness. You enforced Yourself and gained Victory. You have reversed a situation that seemed very difficult to change. You have unmasked, rendered impotent and ineffective several clergymen, who reveled in their own power by rising almost to your same level to receive bows, reverence and submission from men.

From this small place, fought over, tried by so much suffering and so many painful trials, light and Eucharistic love radiated all over the world: this little place is the new Bethlehem of the Church. You reached distant men, people who didn't even belong to Christianity. You, Lord, just as you worked in the soul and heart of the Wise Men, who did not belong to the Jewish people, you worked in the hearts of many brothers to make you known and loved.

Man, and we are no exceptions, gets used to everything. We too have become accustomed to this great victory of yours, which surpasses in an outstanding and marvelous way all the others, even the military ones, which Christians have fought to defend their faith from the invasion of foreign populations, contrary to the Christian creed.

An amazing victory, a victory that can be understood in all its grandeur and extension by You only, my God. We men live on appearances and do not give due importance to this spiritual reality that is changing and has already partially changed Your Church. You won and you even wanted to bind simple and small people like us to your Triumph, humble members of the Commitment and Testimony Movement, like the shepherds of Bethlehem.

The Wise Men too arrived in Bethlehem, they were influential, powerful and cultured people and here among us there are, in your presence and according to your judgement, people who for you, God, are considered important and the most important in the history of the Church. Here it is, Lord, I have tried to describe, in a few words, the greatness of the event we are celebrating.

The most brilliant victories have a cost, so even the most striking triumphs have a burden. Allow me, as I always did when You manifested to us as a loving Dad, to open my heart. After having gained this victory, we feel like Your Son who, sitting on Jacob's well, tired, thirsty and weary, asks the Samaritan woman: "Give me some water, give me a drink". Our God, our Dad, we, Marisa and I, are among the most tired, the most exhausted and the thirstiest; I say it with that sense of honesty and frankness that have always characterized my interventions.

We turn to you, who listens to the plea of your children: "Give us a drink, give us water". Jesus said: “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" (Lk 11:11-13). On the eve and close to every feast we have always paid hard with suffering and immolation; then we knock at your heart, God the Son. Here you see how tired and tried we are. Give us your water, give us your grace, give us your help, give us your support, so that we can resume our journey with a more secure and unwavering step, with new energies and not with declining strength, with a determined will and not with a tried will, but above all with a renewed, revived love, strengthened by you who are infinite love.

Thank you, God, because you are listening to us attentively and with love and while I'm opening my heart to you I feel that your heart is beating for us.

I think I can say that you show signs of approval, of satisfaction, for the truths I have expressed. Marisa and I beg you: our God, our Dad, do not forsake us because, especially in this moment, we have a need and the absolute necessity to feel You close to us.

+ Claudio Gatti

Bishop ordained by God

Bishop of the Eucharist