Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On Beginning a New Year
"Thank You, Holy Mother, Who Gave Birth to the Savior"
H.H. Benedict XVI
January 1, 2010
www.zenit.org
Dear
brothers and sisters:
Today the Lord gives us the gift of beginning a new year in his name
and under the gaze of the Most Holy Virgin, whom we celebrate with
the solemnity of the Mother of God. I am happy to be with you for
this first Angelus of 2010. I address you who are gathered in a
great number in St. Peter's Square and also those who are united
with our prayer through radio and television: To all of you I
express my wish that the year just begun will be a time in which,
with the help of the Lord, we can find Christ and the will of God
and thus as well improve our common home, which is the world.
An objective shared by everyone, an indispensable condition for
peace, is that of administering with justice and wisdom the natural
resources of the earth. "If You Want to Cultivate Peace, Protect
Creation" is the very relevant theme to which I have dedicated my
message for the 43rd World Day of Peace, [celebrated] today.
As the message was being published, the leaders of states and
governments were gathered in Copenhagen for the summit on climate
[change], where once again the urgency of common accords at the
global level was discussed. Nevertheless, in this moment, I would
like to highlight the importance that each one's decisions have in
defending the environment -- the decisions of families and local
administrations. "We can no longer do without a real change of
outlook which will result in new lifestyles" (cf. Message, No. 11).
In reality, all of us are responsible for the protection and care of
the created world. Therefore, in this field too, education is
fundamental: to learn to respect nature, to direct oneself ever more
to build peace "begin[ning] with far-reaching decisions on the part
of individuals, families, communities and states" (ibid.).
If we should care for the creatures that surround us, what
consideration we should have for people, our brothers and sisters!
What respect for human life! On the first day of the year, I would
like to call out to the consciences of those who form part of armed
groups of any kind.
To each and every one, I say: Stop, reflect and abandon the path of
violence! At first, this step could seem impossible to you, but if
you have the courage to do it, God will help you, and you will feel
return to your hearts joy and peace, which perhaps you've forgotten
for a long time now. I entrust this call to the intercession of the
Most Holy Mother of God, Mary.
Today, the liturgy reminds us that eight days after the birth of the
Child, she and her husband Joseph brought him to be circumcised,
according to the Law of Moses, and gave him the name Jesus, which
had been given him by the angel (Luke 2:21). This name, which means
"God saves," is the fulfillment of the revelation of God. Jesus is
the face of God. He is the blessing for each person and for all
populations. He is the peace of the world.
Thank you, Holy Mother, who gave birth to the Savior, the Prince of
Peace!
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted the people in several
languages. In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at
today's Angelus prayer and I wish you all a blessed New Year filled
with abundant joy and consolation in Our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ! On this World Day of Peace I pray that Christians
everywhere, through the intercession of Mary the Mother of God, may
be careful stewards of nature and diligent promoters of forgiveness,
reconciliation and peace!
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