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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Priestly Mission
"A Precious Opportunity to Deepen our Knowledge of the Value of
the Mission of Priests "
H.H. Benedict XVI
August 2, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
I returned a few days ago from the Val d'Aosta and it is with great
pleasure that I am with you once again, dear friends of Castel
Gandolfo. To the Bishop, the parish priest and the parish community,
to the civil Authorities and the entire population of Castel
Gandolfo, along with the pilgrims as well as the holiday-makers, I
renew my affectionate greeting together with a heartfelt "thank you"
for your ever cordial welcome. I also thank you for the spiritual
closeness that many people expressed to me in Les Combes at the time
of the small accident to my right wrist.
Dear brothers and sisters, the Year for Priests that we are
celebrating is a precious opportunity to deepen our knowledge of the
value of the mission of priests in the Church and in the world. In
this regard, useful ideas for reflection can be found in remembering
the saints whom the Church holds up to us daily. In these first days
of the month of August, for example, we commemorate some who are
real models of spirituality and priestly devotion. Yesterday was the
liturgical Memorial of St Alphonsus Mary de' Liguori, a Bishop and
Doctor of the Church, a great teacher of moral theology and a model
of Christian and pastoral virtues who was ever attentive to the
religious needs of the people. Today we are contemplating St Francis
of Assisi's ardent love for the salvation of souls which every
priest must always foster. In fact today is the feast of the "Pardon
of Assisi", which St Francis obtained from Pope Honorious III in the
year 1216, after having a vision while he was praying in the little
church of the Portiuncula. Jesus appeared to him in his glory, with
the Virgin Mary on his right and surrounded by many Angels. They
asked him to express a wish and Francis implored a "full and
generous pardon" for all those who would visit that church who
"repented and confessed their sins". Having received papal approval,
the Saint did not wait for any written document but hastened to
Assisi and when he reached the Portiuncula announced the good news:
"Friends, the Lord wants to have us all in Heaven!". Since then,
from noon on 1 August to midnight on the second, it has been
possible to obtain, on the usual conditions, a Plenary Indulgence,
also for the dead, on visiting a parish church or a Franciscan one.
What can be said of St John Mary Vianney whom we shall commemorate
on 4 August? It was precisely to commemorate the 150th anniversary
of his death that I announced the Year for Priests. I promise to
speak again of this humble parish priest who constitutes a model of
priestly life not only for parish priests but for all priests at the
Catechesis of the General Audience next Wednesday. Then on 7 August
it will be the Memorial of St Cajetan da Thiene, who used to like to
say: "it is not with sentimental love but rather with loving actions
that souls are purified". And the following day, 8 August, the
Church will point out as a model St Dominic, of whom it has been
written that he only "opened his mouth either to speak to God in
prayer or to speak of God". Lastly, I cannot forget to mention the
great figure of Pope Montini, Paul VI, the 31st anniversary of whose
death, here in Castel Gandolfo, occurs on 6 August. His life, so
profoundly priestly and so rich in humanity, continues to be a gift
to the Church for which we thank God. May the Virgin Mary, Mother of
the Church, help priests to be totally in love with Christ, after
the example of these models of priestly holiness.
After the Angelus:
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for
this Angelus prayer, including the international pilgrimage group of
Sisters of St Felix of Cantalice. In today's Gospel, Jesus tells us
to work for the food that remains unto life eternal. During these
quiet days of summer, may all of us find spiritual nourishment in
"the bread come down from heaven", offered to us daily in God's holy
word and in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Upon you and your
families I invoke an abundance of joy and peace in the Lord!
Lastly, I address my cordial greetings to the Italian-speaking
pilgrims, and first of all to the citizens of Castel Gandolfo to
which I always return joyfully and where today the traditional Peach
Festival is being held. I greet in particular the young people from
the parishes of San Giovanni Battista and Santa Maria Assunta in
Monterosso Almo and all the parish groups and families, including
those who are watching us at this moment on the screens set up in St
Peter's Square, Rome. I wish you all a good Sunday and a peaceful
month of August.
© Copyright 2009 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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