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Belated post... I overlooked posting on yesterday's Angelus because there were no photos.
ANGELUS ON THE FEAST
OF CHRIST THE KING
Nov. 21, 2010
Another beautiful Mass and great homily from the Holy Father on this feast day, but so far I have found no photos of the Angelus, not even from Vatican Radio...
Dear brothers and sisters:
We just finished in St. Peter's Basilica the liturgy of our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, concelebrated with the 24 new cardinals created in yesterday's consistory.
The Solemnity of Christ the King was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925, and subsequently, the Second Vatican Council established its celebration at the end of the liturgical year.
The Gospel of St. Luke presents, as in a grand portrait, the Kingship of Jesus at the Crucifixion. The local chiefs and soldiers derided "the firstborn of all creation (Col 1,15) and put him to the test to see if he could save himself from
death (cfr Lk 23,35-37).
And yet, it was precisely "on the Cross where Jesus is at the 'height' of God who is Love. It is on the Cross that we can know him... Jesus gives us life because he gives us God. He can give us God because he himself is one with God" (Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, 2007).
In fact, while the Lord was crucified between two criminals, one of them, aware of his own sins, is opened to the truth, acquires faith and prays to 'the King of the Jews': "Remember me when you enter into your kingdom" (Lk 23,42).
From him who is "before all things, and in whom all things hold together" (Col 1,17),, the so-called good thief immediately receives forgiveness and the joy of entering the Kingdom of Heaven. "Truly I say to you: this day you shall be with me in Paradise" (Lk 23,41).
With these words, Jesus from the throne of the Cross welcomes every man with infinite mercy. St. Ambrose comments that this is "a beautiful example of conversion to which one must aspire: quickly the good thief is granted forgiveness, and the grace is more abundant than the request. The Lord, in fact, always grants more than one asks for.. Life is to be with Christ, because where Christ is, there is the Kingdom" (Expositio Ev. sec. Lucam X, 121: CCL 14, 379).
Dear friends, the way of love, that the Lord reveals to us and which he invites us to take, we can also contemplate in Christian art. In fact, in the old days, "in the arrangement of Christian sacred buildings... it became customary to depict the Lord returning as a king - the symbol of hope - at the east end, while the west wall normally portrayed the Last Judgment as a symbol of responsibility for our lives" (Spe salvi, 41) - hope in the infinite love of God and the commitment to order our life according to God's love.
When we contemplate the portrayals of Jesus inspired by the New Testament - as one of the older Councils recommended - we are led "to understand... the sublimeness of the humiliation of the Word of God and.. to remember his life in the flesh, his salvific passion and death, and the redemption that he brought to the world" [Council of Trullo, 691 or 692, Can. 82).
"Yes, we need to do this, precisely... in order to recognize the mystery of God in the heart pierced on the Crucifix" (J. Ratzinger, Theology of Liturgy: The sacramental foundation of Christian life, LEV 2010, 69).
To the Virgin Mary, whom we also remember today on the Feast of her Presentation in the Temple, let us entrust the new cardinals and our earthly pilgrimage towards eternity.
After the prayers, he said this:
Today, in Italy, on the invitation of her bishops, the Catholic community pray for the Christians who suffer persecution and discrimination, especially in Iraq.
I join them in this collective invocation to the God of life and peace, so that religious freedom may be assured in every part of the world. I am with these persecuted brothers and sisters for the elevated testimony of faith that they render to God.
In remembering today the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Temple, the Church is particularly close to cloistered monks and nuns - it is 'Pro Orantibus Day', a day for those whose mission is to pray, which is also an occasion to renew an appeal for concrete assistance to these communities. To them I impart my heartfelt blessing.
It is also the day to remember victims of road accidents in Italy. As I assure their families that I remember them in prayer, I encourage everyone to continue the efforts for prevention which have had good results, always remembering that prudence and respect for the rules are the first forms of protection for oneself and others.
[His English message was limited to greeting specific English-speaking groups present among the pilgrims.]
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 22/11/2010 18:26] |