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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Regina Caeli Message
On Divine Mercy and the Catholic Family
"It Is the Merciful Love of God that Solidly Unites the Church"
H.H. Benedict XVI
April 19, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
On this Sunday that concludes the Easter Octave I renew from my
heart fervent Easter wishes to you who are present and to those who
are joining us through radio and television broadcasts. In the
climate of joy that comes from the faith in the risen Christ, I
would like to express a most cordial "thank you" to all of those --
and there are truly many -- who wanted to send me a sign of
affection and spiritual nearness whether for the Easter festivities
or for my birthday -- April 16 -- or for the anniversary of my
election to the Chair of Peter which recurs today. I thank the Lord
for this symphony of so much affection. As I was able to affirm
recently, I never feel alone.
Even more in this singular week, which, for the liturgy, constitutes
a single day, I experienced the communion that surrounds and
sustains me: a spiritual solidarity, essentially nourished by
prayer, which is manifested in thousands of ways. From my colleagues
in the Roman Curia to the parishes that are geographically most
distant, we Catholics form -- and we must feel that we are -- one
family, animated by the same sentiments of the first Christian
community, of which the text of the Acts of the Apostles, which we
read this Sunday, says: "The community of believers were of one
heart and one soul" (Acts 4:32).
The communion of the first Christians had the risen Christ as true
center and foundation. The Gospel says that, in the moment of the
Passion, when the Divine Master was arrested and condemned to death,
the disciples were dispersed. Only Mary and the women, with the
apostle John, remain together and follow him to Calvary.
Resurrected, Jesus grants a new unity to his followers, stronger
than before, invincible, because it is based not on human resources,
but on divine mercy, which makes them all feel loved and forgiven by
him. Therefore it is the merciful love of God that solidly unites
the Church, today as yesterday, and that makes humanity a single
family, divine love, which through Jesus crucified and risen
forgives our sins and renews us interiorly. Animated by such a deep
conviction, my beloved predecessor, John Paul II, desired that this
Sunday, the second Sunday of Easter, be named Divine Mercy Sunday,
and pointed to the risen Christ as the font of confidence and hope,
welcoming the spiritual message given by the Lord to St. Faustina
Kowalska, synthesized in the invocation: "Jesus, I trust in you."
As for the first community, it is Mary who accompanies us in life
every day. We invoke her as "Queen of Heaven," knowing that her
royalty is like that of her Son: all love, and merciful love. I ask
you again to entrust to her my service to the Church, while with
confidence we say to her: "Mater misericordiae, ora pro nobis
[Mother of mercy, pray for us.]"
[After the Regina Caeli the Pope said:]
First of all I address a cordial greeting and fervent wishes to the
brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches that, following the
Julian calendar, celebrate Holy Easter today. May the risen Lord
renew the light of faith in all and give abundance of joy and peace.
A conference organized by the United Nations on the 2001 Durban
Declaration against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and
related intolerance will begin tomorrow in Geneva. This is an
important initiative because still today, despite the lessons of
history, these deplorable phenomena continue. The Durban Declaration
recognizes that "all peoples and individuals constitute one human
family, rich in diversity. They have contributed to the progress of
civilizations and cultures that form the common heritage of
humanity. Preservation and promotion of tolerance, pluralism and
respect for diversity can produce more inclusive societies."
These affirmations lead to the demand for firm and concrete action,
at the national and international levels, to prevent and eliminate
every form of discrimination and intolerance. There must be a vast
educational undertaking that exalts the dignity of the person and
teaches fundamental rights. The Church, for her part, repeats that
only the recognition of the dignity of man, created in the image and
likeness of God, can constitute a secure reference for such a task.
From this common origin, in fact, there flows a common human destiny
that must awaken in everyone and all a strong sense of solidarity
and responsibility. I pray that the delegates present at the
conference in Geneva will be able to work together, in the spirit of
dialogue and reciprocal acceptance, to put an end to every form of
racism, discrimination and intolerance, marking in this way a
fundamental step toward the affirmation of the universal value of
the dignity of man and his rights, in a horizon of respect and
justice for every person and people.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[The Holy Father greeted the pilgrims in various languages. In
English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present for
today's Regina Caeli prayer, including the group from Dulwich
Preparatory School, Cranbrook in Kent. As we rejoice in the new life
that the Risen Christ has won for us, let us renew our resolve to be
faithful to our baptismal promises by rejecting Satan and living
according to the example of the Lord. In our prayer we commend our
perseverance to the intercession of Mary, Queen of Heaven. Upon all
of you I invoke God's abundant blessings of peace and joy!
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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