Prayer formulated by H.E. Mons. Claudio Gatti on 16th March 2008

Daddy God, Brother God, Friend God, the One and Triune God, before addressing a few simple words, I want to thank You together with all my brothers and sisters because, despite our frailties and weaknesses, You continue to love us and surprise us with the Your love. My God, I thank you also because you have allowed me to see with the soul's eyes, Jesus' triumphal entry in Jerusalem riding a donkey, acclaimed by the crowd greeting Him with branches of palm tree. Jesus, son of David, was hailed with joy as a King and was celebrated with enthusiasm by the children who, in turn, drew in the adults as well. Everybody is rejoicing, but most of all, your apostles who were full of joy and genuine human satisfaction. Previously, you had announced that You would have been taken prisoner in Jerusalem, mistreated and killed (Mt 16:21), but they forgot some of your words, so full of enthusiasm they were. But a small group of people did not participate in this joyous chorus, for in their hearts they were already plotting to kill You, not knowing that this would unwittingly implement your plans. Your apostle Judas had already matured in his heart the decision to betray and forsake You. I, while staring into Your eyes and in those of the Mother of the Eucharist, saw your serene face, but Your eyes expressed a fierce and terrible suffering because You, Jesus, the Son of God, saw all along the centuries the many Judas who would have betrayed and forsaken You. Here then is the Mother of the Eucharist trying to encourage You by saying: "Look not only at the many Judas, but also all the others like John, Peter, James, Andrew, Philip, who were ready to jeopardize their health for You, to give up their legitimate fame and also to offer their lives to You". In fact, while entering in Jerusalem, you also enjoyed seeing all those who, through the centuries, would have loved You and would become your faithful disciples; among them You saw us as well, a small and weak group, but so much loved by you. Yes, Lord, we are weak and fragile, but our love for You is genuine. We were subjected to hardships, to tremendous persecutions, to unjust and unlawful convictions. In a few days, on April 1, we will celebrate one of them concerning my priesthood (On April 1, 1998, Mons. Nosiglia handed Don Claudio a letter from Ruini where he was told of the unlawful suspension a divinis, Ed.) Jesus, as man, You have experienced feelings of kindness and gentleness; You have loved us by turning your gaze upon each of us before we would ever existed, You came to Jerusalem, for You knew that so many souls, and we are among those souls, would have given everything up freely to follow You. Jesus, now, after twenty centuries, here we are before You. We have sung, we've brought You in solemn procession, we have enthroned You in this basilica which now represents the whole Church. Jesus, regain possession of your Church that they tried unsuccessfully to tear away from You. Sit on the throne that, as God, is due to You and overthrow the powers that be, those who have tried, and for a while have managed, to enthrone themselves, demanding subservience, total and complete obedience. Jesus, I, your Bishop, entrust You with the Church, I am placing it in Your hands. Remember what You said to S. Thomas: "Put your hand in my side"? I dare not put my hand in your side, but I want to put in there the Church, wounded, robbed, looted and humiliated by men because only then She will be protected and finally will be reborn for Your intervention. Jesus, You know, we love the Church, we have worked and suffered for it. We now wait with faith for the day that we will solemnly bring You in procession through the streets of Rome to get to St. Peter, where You will receive the embrace of Bernini's colonnade as two arms extending to honor You, Head and Founder of the Church, First, High Eternal Priest, the One True Mediator between God and man, man's Redeemer, the Lamb without blemish, God the Son sitting beside the Father and the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ Claudio Gatti

Bishop ordained by God

Bishop of the Eucharist