|
Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Shedding of Blood
"When will Men Learn That Life is Sacred"
H.H. Benedict XVI
July 5, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear brothers and sisters!
In the past, the first Sunday of July was characterized by devotion
to the most precious Blood of Christ. In the last century some of my
venerable predecessors confirmed this [tradition] and Blessed John
XXIII, with his apostolic letter "Inde a Primis" (June 30, 1960),
explained its meaning and approved its litanies.
The theme of blood linked to that of the Paschal Lamb is of primary
importance in sacred Scripture. In the Old Testament the sprinkling
of the blood of sacrificed animals represented and established the
covenant between God and the people, as one reads in the Book of
Exodus: "Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people
saying: ‘This is the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made
with you on the basis of all these words of his'" (Exodus 24:8).
Jesus explicitly repeats this formula at the Last Supper, when,
offering the chalice to his disciples, he says: "This is my blood of
the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the
forgiveness of sins" (Matthew 26:28). And, from the scourging, to
the piercing of his side after his death on the cross, Christ has
really shed all of his blood as the true Lamb immolated for
universal redemption. The salvific value of his blood is
expressively affirmed in many passages of the New Testament.
In this Year for Priests, one need only cite the beautiful lines of
the Letter to the Hebrews: "Christ ... entered once for all into the
sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own
blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats
and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer's ashes can sanctify those
who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, how much more will
the blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself
unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to
worship the living God?" (9:11-14).
Dear brothers, it is written in Genesis that the blood of Abel,
killed by his brother Cain, cried out to God from the earth (cf.
4:10). And, unfortunately, today as yesterday, this cry does not
cease, since human blood continues to run because of violence,
injustice and hatred. When will men learn that life is sacred and
belongs to God alone? When will men understand that we are all
brothers? To the cry of the blood that goes up from many parts of
the earth, God answers with the blood of his Son, who gave his life
for us. Christ did not answer evil with evil, but with good, with
his infinite love. The blood of Christ is the pledge of the faithful
love of God for humanity. Looking upon the wounds of the Crucified,
every man, even in conditions of extreme moral misery, can say: God
has not abandoned me, he loves me, he gave his life for me -- and in
this way rediscover hope. May the Virgin Mary, who beneath the
cross, together with the apostle John, witnessed the testament of
Jesus' blood, help us to rediscover the inestimable riches of this
grace, and to feel profound and perennial gratitude for it.
[After the Angelus the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various
languages. Here is a translation of the some of the remarks he made
in Italian:]
In recent days we have been touched by the tragedy in Viareggio. I
join in the sorrow of all those who lost persons dear to them, those
who were injured, and those whose property was damaged, even
severely. As I lift up my sorrowful prayer to God for all the
persons involved in the tragedy, I hope that similar accidents no
more occur and that everyone be guaranteed security in work and in
the living of daily life. May God receive the dead into his peace,
bring quick healing to the injured and instill comfort in the hearts
of those whose loved ones have been affected.
I express, further, my profound deploration of the attack in
Cotabato in the Philippines, where the explosion of a bomb in front
of the cathedral during the celebration of Sunday Mass killed and
injured many people, including women and children. As I pray to God
for the victims of this ignoble act, I raise up my voice to condemn
once again recourse to violence, which never constitutes a worthy
way to solve problems.
The bishop of Bolzano-Bressanone has informed me that July 8-12 the
IAAF [International Association of Athletics Federations] World
Youth Championships will take place in Bressanone. I am glad to
address my greetings to the organizers and to all the young athletes
and to wish for serene and healthy competition, in a genuine
sportive spirit.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, the Pope said:]
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present at
this Angelus. Today's readings remind us of the call to turn away
from empty promises and to heed the voice of the prophets and the
wisdom of our Lord. May your time here in Rome strengthen your
resolve to bear witness courageously to the Lord in your homes,
schools and places of work. Upon you and your families, I invoke
God's abundant blessings of peace and joy!
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
