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Pope Benedict XVI- Addresses |
Papal
Address at the Dedication of a Fountain of
St. Joseph in the Vatican Gardens
"He too is Called to Be a
Disciple of Jesus"
Vatican Gardens
July 5, 2010
Lords Cardinal,
Venerated Brothers in the Episcopate and in
the Priesthood
Distinguished Gentlemen and Ladies,
It is a motive of great joy to me to
inaugurate this fountain in the Vatican
Gardens, in a natural context of singular
beauty. It is a work that is going to
enhance the artistic patrimony of this
enchanting green space of Vatican City, rich
in historic-artistic testimonies of various
periods. In fact, not only the lawn, the
flowers, the trees, but also the towers, the
little houses, the pavilions, the fountains,
the statues and the other constructions make
of these gardens a fascinating unicum. They
were for my predecessors, and are also for
me, a vital space, a place that I often
frequent to spend some time in prayer and in
serene relaxation.
In addressing my cordial greeting to each
one of you, I wish to express my heartfelt
gratitude for this present, which you have
given me, dedicating it to St. Joseph. Thank
you for this kind and courteous thought! It
was a committed enterprise, which witnessed
the collaboration of many. I thank first of
all the Lord Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo also
for the words that he addressed to me and
for the interesting presentation of the
works carried out. With him I thank the
archbishop, monsignor Carlo Maria Vigaṇ and
the bishop, monsignor Giorgio Corbellini,
respectively secretary-general and vice
secretary-general of the governorate. I
express my intense appreciation to the
Office of Technical Services, the planner
and sculptor, the consultants and the work
team, with a special thought to the Hintze
spouses and to Mr. Castrignano, of London,
who generously financed the work, as well as
to the Sisters of St. Joseph of Kyoto. A
word of gratitude to the Province of Trent,
to the municipalities and to the Trent
companies, for their contribution.
This fountain is dedicated to St. Joseph,
beloved and close figure to the heart of the
People of God and to my heart. The six
bronze panels that embellish it evoke as
many moments of his life. I wish to pause
briefly on them. The first panel represents
the espousals between Joseph and Mary; it is
an episode of great importance. Joseph was
of the royal line of David and, in virtue of
his marriage to Mary, would confer on the
Son of the Virgin -- on God's Son -- the
legal tile of "son of David," thus
fulfilling the prophecies. The espousals of
Joseph and Mary are, because of this, a
human event, but determinant in the history
of humanity's salvation, in the realization
of the promises of God; because of this, it
also has a supernatural connotation, which
the two protagonists accept with humility
and trust.
Very soon the moment of trial arrives for
Joseph, a trial challenging for his faith.
Engaged to Mary, before going to live with
her, he discovers her mysterious maternity
and is disturbed. The Evangelist Matthew
stresses that, being a just man, he was
unwilling to repudiate her, and therefore
decided to send her away quietly (cf.
Matthew 1:19). But in his dreams -- as he is
represented in the second panel -- the angel
made him understand that what was happening
in Mary was the work of the Holy Spirit; and
Joseph, trusting in God, consents and
cooperates in the plan of salvation. The
divine intervention in his life could not
but perturb his heart. To trust God does not
mean to see everything clearly according to
our criteria, it does not mean to carry out
what we have planned; to trust God means to
empty ourselves of ourselves and to deny
ourselves, because only one who accepts
losing himself for God can be "just" as St.
Joseph, that is, can conform his own will to
God's and thus be fulfilled.
The Gospel, as we know, has not kept any
word from Joseph, who carries out his
activity in silence. It is the style that
characterizes his whole existence, both
before finding himself before the mystery of
God's action in his spouse, as well as when
-- conscious of this mystery -- he is with
Mary in the Nativity -- represented in the
third image. On that holy night, in
Bethlehem, with Mary and the Child, is
Joseph, to whom the Heavenly Father
entrusted the daily care of his Son on
earth, a care carried out with humility and
in silence.
The fourth panel reproduces the dramatic
scene of the Flight into Egypt to escape the
homicidal violence of Herod. Joseph is
compelled to leave his land with his family,
in haste: it is another mysterious moment of
his life; another trial in which he is asked
for full fidelity to God's plan.
Later in the Gospel, Joseph appears in only
one more episode, when he goes to Jerusalem
and lives the anguish of losing the son
Jesus. St. Luke describes the anxious search
and the wonder at finding him in the Temple
-- as it appears in the fifth panel -- but
even greater is the astonishment at hearing
the mysterious words: "How is it that you
sought me? Did you not know that I must be
in my Father's house?" (Luke 2:49). This
twofold question of the Son of God helps us
to understand the mystery of Joseph's
paternity. Reminding his own parents of the
primacy of the One he calls "my Father,"
Jesus affirms the primacy of the will of God
over every other will, and reveals to Joseph
the profound truth of his role: He too is
called to be a disciple of Jesus, dedicating
his existence to the service of the Son of
God and of the Virgin Mother, in obedience
to the Heavenly Father.
The sixth panel represents Joseph's work in
his shop in Nazareth. Jesus worked with him.
The Son of God is hidden from men and only
Mary and Joseph guard his mystery and live
it each day: The Word Incarnate grows as man
in the shadow of his parents, but, at the
same time, they remain, in turn, hidden in
Christ, in his mystery, living their
vocation.
Dear brothers and sisters, this beautiful
fountain dedicated to St. Joseph constitutes
a symbolic reminder of the values of
simplicity and humility in carrying out day
by day the will of God, values that
distinguished the silent but beautiful life
of the Custodian of the Redeemer. To his
intercession I entrust the hopes of the
Church and of the world. May he, together
with the Virgin Mary, his spouse, always
guide my way and yours, so that we are able
to be joyful instruments of peace and of
salvation.
[Translation by ZENIT]
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
