The Eucharist is the Perfect Sacrifice of Praise Pope John Paul II General Audience October 11, 2000 Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Eucharist is the perfect sacrifice of praise. This is because the glorified Christ who gave his life on the Cross for our salvation is sacramentally present in the Eucharist, unceasingly offering to the world the fruits of the redemption won on Calvary. Because the sacrifice of Christ sealed once and for all the New Covenant between God and humanity, the Eucharist is the supreme celebration of the eternal bond of love between heaven and earth. The word Eucharist itself means thanksgiving or praise; and in the Eucharist the Church, in union with her Lord, gives voice to the praise of her children, the praise of the world, and the praise of the whole of creation. As we unite ourselves with the sacrifice of Christ, we give thanks to God for the victory won by Jesus in his Death and Resurrection, and for the share in his victory which God offers us day by day. I extend a special greeting to the English-speaking visitors, especially to the Jubilee pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Saint Andrew’s and Edinburgh in Scotland led by Archbishop O’Brien, and from the Diocese of Leeds in England, led by Bishop Constant. I greet the pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Washington led by Cardinal Hickey, to whom I offer my cordial good wishes for his Eightieth Birthday, which he is celebrating today. I also greet the pilgrim groups from Indianapolis led by Archbishop Buechlein, from Metuchen led by Bishop Breen, from Lincoln led by Bishop Bruskewitz, and from Nashville led by Bishop Kmiec. I welcome the winners of the Worldwide Jubilee Writing Contest, and the Delegates to the Thirteenth International Workshop being held at the Universite Cattolica del Sacro Cuore. Upon all of you and your families I invoke the joy and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.