Prayer formulated by H.E. Mons. Claudio Gatti on 18th June 2006

This is the prayer that H.E. Mons. Claudio Gatti, Bishop ordained by God, formulated spontaneously before the Eucharist that bled on the occasion of the Feast of Corpus Domini.

“When I knock at Your door, I will utter my name; there is no need because you have followed me, you have loved me, you have known me for all my life and therefore I am not a stranger to you".

Oh Lord, even if these words are not exactly the exact ones of a song to us familiar, the concept is still very clear: among friends we do not introduce ourselves, but we simply hug. I will not say my name, because You know me, I will just say one word: "Thank you".

In this small, simple word there is all the gratitude and recognition for all that You, O Lord, have accomplished and given to humanity.

I feel small, but at this moment I believe I can affirm that, for the mission you have entrusted to me, I can represent the entire Church: its hierarchy and its faithful.

I, Lord, say thank you, thank you because you have given us yourself in the wonderful sacrament of the Eucharist.

Thank you because you have given us humans the opportunity, through the sacrament of the Order, to make yourself truly present in Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in every corner of the earth and in every moment of its history.

Thank you, O Lord, because in these centuries You have always affirmed Your sovereignty over the Church, of which you are the founder and head. You have never abdicated this power of yours: you have exercised it and continue to do so in different ways: directly, thanks to your interventions and indirectly with your faithful ministers. That is why, O Lord, the Church is Yours and remains so. No man, I stress, no man can govern it with his own authority, but only as an exercise and mandate of Your authority.

Thank you, Lord, because along the centuries you have continued to call new apostles as well. We know, in fact, that you have chosen others besides those you called along the roads of Palestine and to whom you have reserved moments, nights, days of evangelization, catechesis and teaching. Thank you, Lord, because even through the apostles of our times you make us feel Your presence.

The Spirit radiates where he wants and no one can hold him back. This is why the apostles indicate that You are present.

O Lord, Your Church cost You blood and tears and to your apostles too, from the first to the last. This is your road, but it is a road that does not end at Golgotha, but reaches mount Tabor, to the Transfiguration, the manifestation of Your power and Your divinity and You allow sharing your triumphs with those you have called and who have been faithful.

Thank you, Lord, for all that you have done and forgive us if we have not always been aware of the greatness and beauty of your gifts.