MISTERIUM FIDEI

ENCYCLICAL OF POPE PAUL VI

ON THE HOLY EUCHARIST

SEPTEMBER 3, 1965

To His Venerable Brothers the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops and other Local Ordinaries in

Peace and Communion with the Apostolic See, and to the Clergy and Faithful of the Entire World.

Venerable Brothers and Dear Sons, Health and Apostolic Benediction.

The Mystery of Faith, that is, the ineffable gift of the Eucharist that the Catholic Church received from

Christ, her Spouse, as a pledge of His immense love, is something that she has always devoutly guarded as

her most precious treasure, and during the Second Vatican Council she professed her faith and veneration

in a new and solemn declaration. In dealing with the restoration of the sacred liturgy, the Fathers of the

Council were led by their pastoral concern for the whole Church to regard it as a matter of highest

importance to urge the faithful to participate actively, with undivided faith and the utmost devotion, in the

celebration of this Most Holy Mystery, to offer it to God along with the priest as a sacrifice for their own

salvation and that of the whole world, and to use it as spiritual nourishment.