Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
Faith in the Family
H.H. Benedict XVI
July 2, 2006
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
Next Saturday and Sunday, the Fifth World Meeting of Families will
be held in Spain, in the city of Valencia. The first of these
meetings was held in Rome in 1994, on the occasion of the
International Year of Families promoted by the United Nations. On
that occasion, our beloved John Paul II wrote a long and passionate
meditation on the family that he addressed in the form of a "Letter"
to the families of the whole world. This great gathering of families
was followed by others: in Rio de Janeiro in 1997, in Rome in 2000
for the Jubilee of Families, and in Manila in 2003 where, however,
he was unable to go in person but sent an audiovisual Message. It is
important that families today also receive the memorable appeal that
John Paul II addressed to them 25 years ago in his Apostolic
Exhortation Familiaris Consortio: "Family, become what you are!"
(cf. n. 17).
The theme of the upcoming Meeting in Valencia is the transmission of
the faith in the family. This commitment has inspired the motto of
my Apostolic Visit to this city: "Family: live and transmit the
faith!". In so many secularized communities, the first urgent need
for believers in Christ is indeed the renewal of the faith of adults
so that they can communicate it to the new generations.
Moreover, the process of the Christian initiation of children and
young people can become a useful opportunity for parents to renew
their ties with the Church and learn even more about the beauty and
truth of the Gospel.
In short, the family is a living organism in which there is a
reciprocal exchange of gifts. The important thing is that the Word
of God, which keeps the flame of faith alive, never be lacking.
In a most significant gesture, during the rite of Baptism the father
or godfather lights a candle from the great Paschal Candle, the
symbol of the Risen Christ, and turning to the relatives of the
child, the celebrant says: [this child] of yours has been
enlightened by Christ. [He/she is] to walk always as [a child] of
the light". If it is to be authentic, this gesture, in which there
is all the meaning of the transmission of faith in the family, must
be preceded and accompanied by the commitment of the parents to
deepen their knowledge of their own faith, reviving its flame
through prayer and the assiduous reception of the Sacraments of
Confession and the Eucharist.
Let us pray to the Virgin Mary for the success of the upcoming great
Meeting in Valencia and for all the families in the world so that
they may be genuine communities of love and life, in which the flame
of the faith is passed on from generation to generation.
***
After the Angelus:
I am following with growing concern the events in Iraq and the Holy
Land. In the face of blind violence causing atrocious massacres on
the one hand, and on the other, of the threat of a worsening crisis
that has become even more dramatic in the last few days, there is a
need for justice and for a seriousness and credible commitment to
peace which, unfortunately, are not to be seen. I therefore ask
everyone to join in a faithful and persevering prayer: may the Lord
illuminate our hearts and may no one shirk the duty of building a
peaceful coexistence in the recognition that all people, wherever
they come from, are brothers and sisters.
From 3 to 5 July an important Summit of Religious Leaders will be
held in Moscow, organized by the Interreligious Council of Russia.
At the invitation of the Patriarch of Moscow, the Catholic Church
will be taking part with its own Delegation. I wish to send my
cordial greetings to His Holiness Alexei II and to all the
participants. This significant meeting of so many exponents of the
world's religions indicates the common desire to promote dialogue
among the civilizations and the quest for a more just and peaceful
world order.
I hope that with the sincere commitment of everyone, effective
cooperation will be found, in mutual respect and understanding, in
order to face the current challenges. For Christians, it is a matter
of learning to know one another ever more deeply and to respect one
another in the light of the dignity of the human being and his
eternal destiny. As I offer the assurance of my prayers that God
will make the work of the Summit fruitful, I invoke upon everyone an
abundance of God's Blessings.
I welcome all the English-speaking visitors gathered for this
Angelus prayer. As I prepare to visit Spain for the conclusion of
the Fifth World Meeting of Families, I ask your prayers for all
families, that they will live in accordance with their God-given
vocation and benefit from just governmental policies which safeguard
their fundamental role in society. May the Lord bless our families
with his joy and peace!
I wish you all a good Sunday!
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