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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On True Wisdom
"To 'Do' Works of Peace We Need to 'Be' Men of Peace"
H.H. Benedict XVI
September 20, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear
brothers and sisters!
Today, for the customary Sunday reflection, I will take as my point
of departure the passage from the Letter of James that is proposed
to us by today’s liturgy (3:16-4:3), and I will pause, in
particular, on an expression that is striking for its beauty and
contemporary relevance. It has to do with the description of true
wisdom that the Apostle contrasts with false wisdom. While the
latter is "worldly, material and diabolical, and is recognized by
the fact that it provokes jealousies, arguments, disorder and every
kind of evil deed" (cf. 3:16), on the contrary "[true] wisdom, which
comes from above is first of all pure, then peaceful, meek, docile,
full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere" (3:17). A list
of seven qualities, according to the biblical custom, from which
perfection of authentic wisdom comes along with the positive effects
that it produces. As first and principal quality, almost the premise
for the others, St. James sets down "purity," that is, sanctity, the
transparent reflection -- so to say -- of God in the human soul.
And, like God, from whom it comes, wisdom does not need to impose
itself by force, because it has the invincible vigor of truth and
love, that affirms itself. That is why it is peaceful, meek and
docile; it does not need to be partial, nor does it need to lie; it
is indulgent and generous, it is recognized by the good fruits that
it bears in abundance.
Why not stop every once in a while to contemplate the beauty of this
wisdom? Why not draw from this unpolluted source of God’s love the
wisdom of the heart, which cleanses us from the filth of lies and
egoism? This holds true for everyone, but, in the first place, for
those who are called to be promoters and "weavers" of peace in
religious and civil communities, in social and political relations
and in international relations. In our day -- perhaps also because
of certain dynamics proper to mass society -- one often sees a lack
of respect for truth and the word together with a widespread
tendency to aggressiveness, hatred and vendettas. "The fruit of
justice is sown in peace by those who make peace," St. James writes
(3:18). But to "do" works of peace we need to "be" men of peace,
entering the school of "the wisdom that comes from above," to
assimilate its qualities and produce its effects. If everyone, in
his own circle, succeeds in rejecting the lie and violence in
intentions, in words and in actions, carefully cultivating
sentiments of respect, understanding and esteem for others, perhaps
it would not resolve every daily problem, but we could face them
more serenely and effectively.
Dear friends, once more Sacred Scripture leads us to reflect on
moral aspects of human existence, but starting from a reality that
precedes the same morality, that is, from true wisdom. Let us ask
God with confidence for wisdom of heart, through the intercession of
her who welcomed Wisdom Incarnate, Jesus Christ, into her womb and
gave him birth. Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for us!
[After the Angelus, the Holy Father said in Italian:]
From the numerous conflicts going on in the world, almost daily
tragic news reaches us of both military and civilian victims. These
facts that we must never get used to and that arouse a profound
outcry and perplex societies that have the good of peace and civil
coexistence at heart.
In these days, news of the deadly attack in Afghanistan on Italian
soldiers gave me great sorrow. In prayer I share in the sufferings
of relatives and the civil and military communities and, at the same
time, with the same sentiments of participation, I think about the
other international contingents, which have also recently had
victims and that work to promote peace and the development of the
institutions so necessary for human coexistence; I assure all of a
remembrance before the Lord, with a special thought for the dear
civilian populations, and I invite all to lift up our prayer to God.
I would also like here to renew my encouragement for the promotion
of solidarity among the nations to fight the logic of violence and
death, favor justice, reconciliation, peace and sustain the
development of peoples beginning with love and mutual understanding,
as I recently wrote in my encyclical "Caritas in Veritate" (np. 72).
From next Saturday, September 26, to Monday, September 28, if it
pleases God, I will undertake an apostolic visit to the Czech
Republic. I will stay in Prague, the capital, but I will also travel
to Brno, in Moravia, and to Stará Boleslav, the place where the
nation’s principal patron, of St. Wenceslas’, was martyred. The
Czech Republic is geographically and historically located in the
heart of Europe, and after having passed through the dramas of the
last century, she needs, like the rest of the European continent,
the reasons for faith and hope. Following in the footsteps of my
beloved predecessor John Paul II, who visited that country 3 times,
I too will pay homage to the ancient and recent heroic witnesses to
the Gospel, and I will encourage everyone to move forward in charity
and in truth. I thank all those who will accompany me with prayer on
this trip. May the Lord bless it and make it fruitful.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, he said:]
I welcome the English-speaking pilgrims here at Castel Gandolfo and
in Rome! Dear friends, this Saturday I begin my Apostolic Visit to
the Czech Republic. I ask all of you to join me in praying for the
spiritual success of this journey. Today’s Gospel reminds us that
the one who wishes to be greatest must become a servant of all. May
God grant us to be humble servants of others and witnesses to his
goodness. Upon all of you and your loved ones, I gladly invoke the
strength and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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