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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
On
the Epiphany
"The Power of the Holy Spirit That Moves Hearts and Minds"
H.H. Benedict XVI
January 6, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord, that is, his
manifestation to the peoples of the whole world, represented by the
Magi who came from the East to pay homage to the king of the Jews.
Observing celestial phenomena, these mysterious persons saw a new
star rise and, instructed as well by the ancient prophecies,
recognized in it the sign of the birth of the Messiah, descendant of
David (cf. 2:1-2). From its first appearance, then, the light of
Christ began to draw to itself the men "whom God loves" (Luke 2:14),
of every language, people and culture. It is the power of the Holy
Spirit that moves hearts and minds to seek truth, beauty, justice,
peace.
The Servant of God John Paul II affirmed this in his encyclical "Fides
et Ratio": "[M]en and women are on a journey of discovery which
is humanly unstoppable -- a search for the truth and a search for a
person to whom they might entrust themselves" (No. 33): The magi
found both of these realities in the child of Bethlehem.
Men and women of every generation, in this their pilgrimage, have
need of direction: What star, then, can they follow? After coming to
rest "above the place where the child was" (Matthew 2:9), the star
that guided the Magi had completed its function, but its spiritual
light is ever present in the word of the Gospel, which today too is
capable of guiding every man to Jesus. That same word, which is
nothing if not the reflection of Christ, true man and true God, is
authoritatively echoed by the Church for every well-disposed soul.
The Church too, for this reason, carries out for humanity the
mission of the star. But something of this sort can be said of every
Christian, called to help guide the steps of his brothers by word
and the witness of his life.
How important it is, then, that we Christians are faithful to our
vocation! Every authentic believer is always on a journey in his
personal itinerary of faith and, at the same time, with the little
light that he carries in himself, can and must be of help to those
he finds at his side and who perhaps have difficulty finding the
road that leads to Christ.
As we prepare to say the Angelus, I offer my most cordial greetings
to the brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who, following
the Julian calendar, celebrate holy Christmas tomorrow: It is a
great joy to share in the celebration of the mysteries of faith, in
the multiform riches of the rites that attest to the bi-millennial
history of the Church.
Together with the Christian communities of the East, very devoted to
the Holy Mother of God, we invoke Mary's protection of the universal
Church, so that the Gospel of Christ spread throughout the whole
world, "Lumen Gentium," light of all peoples.
[After the Angelus, the Pope greeted the people in several
languages. In Italian, he said:]
Today the World Day of Missionary Childhood is celebrated. For more
than 160 years, through the initiative of the French bishop Charles
de Forbin Janson, the childhood of Jesus has become the icon for the
commitment of Christian children who help the Church in her task of
evangelization by prayer, sacrifice and gestures of solidarity.
Thousands of children meet the needs of other children, driven by
the love that the Son of God, become a child, brought to the earth.
I say thanks to these little ones and I pray that they will always
be missionaries. I also thank those who assist them, who accompany
them along the road of generosity, of fraternity, of joyous faith
that generates hope.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, he said:]
I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present for this Angelus. Today we celebrate the Solemn Feast of the
Epiphany when our Lord made himself known to the Gentiles. Christ
continues to manifest himself to men and women of all nations
inviting them to share in the inheritance of grace. Let us all
cooperate in this task and bear joyful witness to Jesus our Saviour
by following closely his teachings and example. I wish you all a
pleasant stay in Rome and a happy Feast Day!
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