October 24, 2005 San Diego

Interview in the Vatican With Patriarch Delly

H. B. Emmanuel III DELLY,
Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans,
Head of the Synod of the Chaldean Church (IRAQ)
Interview in the Synod of Bishop-Rome.

A Brief word on the presence of our Lord in the Eucharist according to the tradition, the liturgy and the devotion of the faithful Chaldeans, members of the Oriental Church known as the Chaldean Church which developed in the Empire of Partho and of the Sassanids across the bank of the Euphrates River up to China, Mongolia, Tibet and then India.

This Church born in Mesopotamia and in Persia, had the grace to receive the first preaching by the Apostles and the first Disciples of Christ, already from the first century after Pentecost it teaches us the Eucharistic doctrine confirmed today by the faith and by the doctrine of the Western Catholic Church.

The Chaldean Oriental Church considers Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament really present in the Eucharist as the “victim for our sins” source of life for men, fire that burns sins and purifies hearts, and often quotes the prophecy of Isaiah in its liturgical books - Isaiah who speaks of the “Servant of Yahweh” who bears the sins of the world.

Jesus in the Eucharist is the light that for the path that leads to Eternal life and the Master who teaches us. He is our strength and our consolation in the difficulties and persecutions, he is the living manna which gives us life and supports us. He is the nourishing food of the Banquet which the Heavenly Father made.

Jesus gave Himself to His Bride, the Church, and the Church in turn did this through the Priests. The Chaldean Church nurtures a great devotion in the Eucharist participating in the solemn processions of the Most Holy Sacrament.
She is preparing her children to follow the tradition of their fathers and prays saying: “Merciful Lord, the gift of Yourself to us mortals is great: For water you clothed us with Your Spirit, for bread you made us eat Your Body and for Your living Blood you sanctified us, hence you united us with the Spiritual Entities and You lift us to Heaven from earth. Amen.”

Fr. Felix Shabi