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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Regina Caeli Message
On the Holy Spirit and the Church
"The Church Is Unceasingly Formed and Guided by the Spirit of the
Lord"
H.H. Benedict XVI
May 31, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
The Church throughout the world relives to today the Solemnity of
Pentecost, the mystery of her own birth, of her own "baptism" in the
Holy Spirit (cf. Acts 1:5), which took place in Jerusalem, 50 days
after Easter, precisely on the Jewish feast of Pentecost. The risen
Jesus told his disciples: "Remain in the city until you are given
power from on high" (Luke 24:49). This happened in a perceptible way
in the Cenacle, while they were gathered together with Mary, the
Virgin Mother, in prayer. As we read in the Acts of the Apostles,
suddenly that place was invaded by a strong driving wind, and
tongues like fire came to rest on the heads of all those present.
The Apostles went out then and began to proclaim in different
languages that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, dead and risen
(cf. Acts 2:1-4). The Holy Spirit, who with the Father and the Son
created the universe, guided the history of the people of Israel and
spoke through the prophets, who in the fullness of time cooperated
in our redemption, who at Pentecost descended upon the nascent
Church and made it missionary, sending it to proclaim to all peoples
the victory of divine love over sin and death.
The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church. Without him to what would
it be reduced? It would certainly be a great historical movement, a
complex and solid social institution, perhaps a kind of humanitarian
agency. And in truth this is how it is considered by those who look
upon it from outside the perspective of faith. In reality, however,
in its true nature and also in its most authentic historical
presence, the Church is unceasingly formed and guided by the Spirit
of the Lord. It is a living body, whose vitality is precisely the
invisible divine Spirit.
Dear friends, this year Pentecost falls on the last day of the month
of May on which the beautiful Marian Feast of the Visitation is
usually celebrated. This fact invites us to let ourselves be
inspired and taught by the Virgin Mary, who was a protagonist in
both events. In Nazareth she received the annunciation of her
singular maternity and, immediately after she conceived Jesus by the
working of the Holy Spirit, was moved by the same Spirit of love to
go to help her elderly relative Elizabeth, who was in the sixth
month of a similarly miraculous pregnancy. The young Mary, who
carried Jesus in her womb and, forgetting herself, goes to help her
neighbor, is a stupendous icon of the Church in the perennial youth
of the Spirit, of the missionary Church of the Incarnate Word,
called to bring [this Word] to the world and to testify to him
especially in the service of charity. We invoke the intercession of
Mary Most Holy, that the Church in our time may be powerfully
strengthened by the Holy Spirit. The comforting presence of the Holy
Spirit is felt in a special way by the ecclesial communities that
suffer persecution for Christ's name, because, participating in his
sufferings, they receive the Holy Spirit in the abundance of glory
(cf. 1 Peter 4:13-14).
[After praying the Regina Caeli, the Holy Father said:]
In these days the youth of Abruzzo are gathering many people around
the World Youth Day Cross. It was carried to their region by a group
of volunteers sent by the San Lorenzo International Youth Center in
Rome. In communion with that region, hard hit by the earthquake, we
ask Christ dead and risen to pour put his Spirit of consolation and
hope upon them. I extend my greeting to the young Italians who
today, in the various dioceses, have come together to conclude, with
their bishops, the third and final year of the "Agora dei Giovani."
I recall with joy the unforgettable events that marked this three
year project: the meeting at Loreto, in September 2007 and the World
Youth Day in Sydney last July. Dear young people of Italy, with the
power of the Holy Spirit, be witnesses of the risen Lord!
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[The Pope greeted the pilgrims in various languages. In English, he
said:]
I am pleased to welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims to today's
Regina Caeli. On this Pentecost Sunday, we rejoice in the Lord's
gift of the Holy Spirit. Saint Paul reminds us that if we live in
the Spirit, we must also follow the Spirit by putting aside all
conceit, anger, envy and everything that divides us (cfr Gal5,26).
My dear friends, having received God's precious gift, may you abound
in his fruits of love, peace, patience, kindness and all that bears
witness to the Kingdom of God in our midst! Praised be Jesus Christ!
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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