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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
Message
On Contemplating Christ Crucified
"Eloquent Message of Love"
H.H. Benedict XVI
February 25, 2007
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This year, the Lenten message is inspired in the verse of John's
Gospel, which in turn goes back to a messianic prophecy of
Zechariah: "They shall look on him whom they have pierced" (John
19:37).
The beloved disciple, present with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and
the other women on Calvary, was an eyewitness of the thrust of the
spear which pierced Christ's side, so that blood and water came out
(cf. John 19:31-34). This gesture of an unknown Roman soldier,
destined to be lost in oblivion, was imprinted on the eyes and heart
of the apostle, who recounted it in his Gospel. In the course of the
centuries, how many conversions have taken place precisely thanks to
the eloquent message of love that he receives who contemplates Jesus
crucified!
Therefore, we enter the Lenten season with our gaze fixed on Jesus'
side. In the encyclical letter "Deus Caritas Est" (cf. No. 12), I
wished to underline that only by gazing on Jesus, dead on the cross
for us, can we know and contemplate this fundamental truth: "God is
love" (1 John 4:8,16). "In this contemplation the Christian
discovers the path along which his life and love must move" ("Deus
Caritas Est," No. 12).
Contemplating the Crucified with the eyes of faith, we can
understand profoundly what sin is, its tragic gravity, and at the
same time the incommensurable power of the Lord's forgiveness and
mercy. During these days of Lent, let us not distance our hearts
from this mystery of profound humanity and lofty spirituality.
On contemplating Christ, let us feel at the same time that we are
contemplated by him. He whom we ourselves have pierced with our
faults does not cease to shed over the world an inexhaustible
torrent of merciful love. May humanity understand that only from
this source is it possible to draw the spiritual energy
indispensable to build that peace and happiness for which every
human being is ceaselessly searching.
Let us pray to the Virgin Mary, whose soul was pierced next to her
Son's cross, to obtain for us the gift of a firm faith. That,
guiding us on our Lenten journey, she may help us leave everything
that impedes us from listening to Christ and his word of salvation.
In particular, entrust to the Virgin Mary the week of Spiritual
Exercises that will begin this afternoon in the Vatican, and in
which I and my collaborators of the Roman Curia will participate.
Dear brothers and sisters: Please support me with your prayer and I
will be happy to do the same in the recollection of the retreat,
invoking divine power on each one of you, on your families and your
communities.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in six
languages. In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present for this Angelus, particularly the group of Missionaries of
Faith from Samoa. Today, the First Sunday of Lent, we are invited to
contemplate Jesus as an example of how to conduct our daily struggle
against temptation. May this time of purification prepare our hearts
to celebrate the saving mysteries of the death and resurrection of
Christ. I wish you all a pleasant stay in Rome, and a blessed
Sunday!
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Look at the One they
Pierced!
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