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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On All Saints' Day
"We Feel the Attraction for Heaven Rekindle in Us"
H.H. Benedict XVI
November 1, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear brothers and sisters:
Today we celebrate with great joy the feast of All Saints.
When one visits a botanical garden, he is impressed by the variety
of plants and flowers, and spontaneously thinks of the fancy of a
Creator who has made on earth a marvelous garden. An analogous
sentiment washes over us when we consider the spectacle of sanctity:
The world seems to be a "garden" where the Spirit of God has called
forth with admirable imagination a multitude of men and women
saints, of every age and social condition, of every language, people
and culture. Each one is distinct from the others, with the
uniqueness proper of the human person and of a particular spiritual
charism. All of them have, though, the "seal" of Jesus (cf.
Revelation 7:3), that is, the imprint of his love, witnessed by way
of the cross. All are in a state of joy, in endless celebration,
but, like Jesus, they have reached this goal by passing through
fatigue and testing (cf. Revelation 7:14), each one confronting his
own part in sacrifice so as to participate in the glory of the
Resurrection.
The solemnity of All Saints was gradually affirmed over the course
of the first Christian millennium as a collective celebration of the
martyrs. Already in 609, in Rome, Pope Boniface IV had consecrated
the Pantheon, dedicating it to the Virgin Mary and all the martyrs.
This martyrdom, on the other hand, can be understood in a broad
sense, that is, as love for Christ without reserves, love that is
expressed in the total gift of oneself to God and to neighbor.
This spiritual goal, to which all the baptized are called, is
reached by following the path of the Gospel beatitudes, which the
liturgy proposes for us in the feast of today (cf. Matthew 5:1-12a).
It is the same path traveled by Jesus, and which the saints have
made an effort to travel, though aware of their human limitations.
During their earthly lives, in fact, they have been poor of spirit,
sorrowful for sin, humble, hungry and thirsty for justice, merciful,
pure of heart, peacemakers, persecuted for justice. And God has made
them participants in his own happiness: They have foretasted it in
this world, and in the world beyond, they enjoy it in plenitude. Now
they are consoled, inheritors of the earth, satisfied, forgiven,
they see God of whom they are children. In a word, "theirs is the
Kingdom of Heaven" (cf. Matthew 5:3-10).
On this day we feel the attraction for heaven rekindle in us. [It]
moves us to quicken our step on this earthly pilgrimage. We feel
burst into flame in our hearts the desire to unite ourselves forever
with the family of the saints, of which already now we have the
grace to form a part. As a popular spiritual hymn says: "When the
saints come marching in, oh how I want to be in their number."
May this beautiful aspiration burn in all Christians and help them
to overcome every difficulty, every fear, every tribulation. Let us
place, dear friends, our hand in the maternal hand of Mary, Queen of
the saints, and allow ourselves to be guided by her toward the
heavenly homeland, in the company of the blessed spirits "of every
nation, people and tongue" (Revelation 7:9). And let us unite
ourselves already in prayer, remembering our dearly departed, who
tomorrow we commemorate.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After praying the Angelus, the Pope greeted the people in various
languages. In English, he said:]
I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors gathered for
this Angelus prayer. Today’s celebration of the Solemnity of All
Saints invites us to rejoice in our communion with the Saints in
heaven, to implore their intercession for the Church on earth, and
to follow their footsteps in the way of holiness. May the prayers of
the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the Saints strengthen us in faith
and fervent hope in the fulfillment of Christ’s promises. Upon you
and your families I invoke the Lord’s richest blessings!
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