Vatican, Jan. 21 (CWNews.com) - Catholics must regain an appreciation for the importance of Sunday Mass, Pope John Paul II (bio - news) believes. He told a group of Church leaders that during this Year of the Eucharist they should undertake "initiatives to rediscover and fully experience Sunday as the Lord's day."

Pope John Paul met on January 21 with the members of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, and reminded them of the message he had stressed in his apostolic letter, Mane Nobiscum Domine . "Participation in Sunday Mass in not only an important obligation," he said, "but above all a profound need of every faithful person."

"The faith cannot live without regular participation in Sunday Mass," the Holy Father continue. He said that pastors should "concentrate their efforts on better instruction" for the faithful regarding the central importance of the Eucharistic celebration, The Pope also stressed the need for proper liturgical observance. The celebration of Sunday Mass, he said, must be "dignified and proper, so that it inspires real respect and authentic piety." Toward that end he called for "special attention to the selection and preparation of hymns, signs, and other elements that enrich the liturgy."

In celebrating Mass, the Pontiff said, priests should "always show proper respect for the established norms, taking advantage of the spiritual and pastoral riches of the Roman Missal" and following the liturgical guidelines set forth by the Vatican's Congregation for Divine Worship.

The Pope also cited his apostolic letter Dies Domini , on the proper observance of the Sabbath, in which he noted that Sunday is not only the Lord's day but also a leisure day that is vitally important for family life. He warned against trivializing the day, by making it simply a time for frivolous entertainment; leisure time should be spent productive to enrich oneself and one's family, he said.

In Mane Nobiscum Domine, the document with which he announced the Year of the Eucharist in October 2004, the Pope returned to the same theme, stressing the need to rediscover the proper meaning and practice of honoring the Sabbath.