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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On the Lateran Basilica
"The Temple of Stones Is a Symbol of the Living Church"
H.H. Benedict XVI
November 9, 2008
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
Today the liturgy celebrates the dedication of the Lateran Basilica,
called “mother and head of all the churches of the city and the
world.” In fact, this basilica was the first to be built after
Emperor Constantine’s edict, in 313, granted Christians freedom to
practice their religion.
The emperor himself gave Pope Miltiades the ancient palace of the
Laterani family, and the basilica, the baptistery, and the
patriarchate, that is, the Bishop of Rome’s residence -- where the
Popes lived until the Avignon period -- were all built there. The
basilica’s dedication was celebrated by Pope Sylvester around 324
and was named Most Holy Savior; only after the 6th century were the
names of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist added, and
now is typically denominated by these latter.
Initially the observance of this feast was confined to the city of
Rome; then, beginning in 1565, it was extended to all the Churches
of the Roman rite. The honoring of this sacred edifice was a way of
expressing love and veneration for the Roman Church, which, as St.
Ignatius of Antioch says, “presides in charity” over the whole
Catholic communion (Letter to the Romans, 1:1).
On this solemnity the Word of God recalls an essential truth: the
temple of stones is a symbol of the living Church, the Christian
community, which in their letters the Apostles Peter and Paul
already understood as a “spiritual edifice,” built by God with
“living stones,” namely, Christians themselves, upon the one
foundation of Jesus Christ, who is called the “cornerstone” (cf. 1
Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; 1 Peter 2:4-8; Ephesians 2:20-22).
“Brothers, you are God’s building,” St. Paul wrote, and added: “holy
is God’s temple, which you are” (1 Corinthians 3:9c, 17).
The beauty and harmony of the churches, destined to give praise to
God, also draws us human being, limited and sinful, to convert to
form a “cosmos,” a well-ordered structure, in intimate communion
with Jesus, who is the true Saint of saints. This happens in a
culminating way in the Eucharistic liturgy, in which the “ecclesia,”
that is, the community of the baptized, come together in a unified
way to listen to the Word of God and nourish themselves with the
Body and Blood of Christ. From these two tables the Church of living
stones is built up in truth and charity and is internally formed by
the Holy Spirit transforming herself into what she receives,
conforming herself more and more to the Lord Jesus Christ. She
herself, if she lives in sincere and fraternal unity, in this way
becomes the spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God.
Dear friends, today’s feast celebrates a mystery that is always
relevant: God’s desire to build a spiritual temple in the world, a
community that worships him in spirit and truth (cf. John 4:23-24).
But this observance also reminds us of the importance of the
material buildings in which the community gathers to celebrate the
praises of God. Every community therefore has the duty to take
special care of its own sacred buildings, which are a precious
religious and historical patrimony. For this we call upon the
intercession of Mary Most Holy, that she help us to become, like
her, the “house of God,” living temple of his love.
[After the Angelus the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various
languages. In Italian he said:]
Today is the 70th anniversary of that sad event, which occurred
during the nights of Nov. 9-10, 1938, when Nazi fury was unleashed
against the Jews in Germany. Shops, offices, dwellings and
synagogues were attacked and many people were also killed,
initiating the systematic and violent persecution of German Jews,
which ended with the Shoah. Today I still feel pain over what
happened in those tragic circumstances. The memory of these things
must serve to prevent similar horrors from ever happening again and
must lead us to dedicate ourselves, at every level, to fight against
every form of anti-Semitism and discrimination, educating the
younger generations in respect and reciprocal acceptance. I invite
you to pray for the victims of that time and to join with me in
manifesting a deep solidarity with the Jewish world.
Troubling news continues to come from the North Kivu region of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bloody armed skirmishes and
systematic atrocities have caused and continue to cause many
casualties among innocent civilians; destruction, looting and
violence of every type have forced tens of thousands of persons to
abandon even what little they had to survive. The number of refugees
is estimated at more than 1 and a half million. To all and to each
one I desire to express my special nearness, as I encourage and
bless those who are working to alleviate their sufferings, among
whom are the pastoral workers of the Church of that region. To
families and their loved ones I offer my condolences and assure my
prayers. Finally, fervently call upon all to work together to
restore peace, respect for law and the dignity of every person to
that land, for too long martyred.
In Italy today the Day of Thanksgiving is celebrated. This year’s
theme is: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat.” I join my voice to
that of the Italian bishops who, guided by these words of Jesus,
draw attention to the grave and complex problem of hunger, which has
become more dramatic due to price increases on staple foods. The
Church, re-proposing the basic ethical principle of the universal
destination of goods, following the example of the Lord Jesus, puts
this principle into practice with multiple initiatives. I pray for
farmers, especially for small farmers in developing countries. I
encourage and bless those who work to make sure that no one lacks
healthy and adequate food: whoever gives succor to the poor gives
succor to Christ himself.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, he said]
I greet the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims who are here
today, especially the groups from Billingham in England, Heulen in
the Netherlands and Los Angeles, California. Today we celebrate the
dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the Mother Church of all the
churches throughout the world. Let us rejoice in this great sign of
our unity in faith and love, and let us resolve to become living
stones, constantly growing into a holy Temple in the Lord. May God
bless you all!
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