ANGELUS TODAY
Pope Benedict began his Angelus message today by apologizing for starting 15 minutes late, after the Epiphany Mass with episcopal ordinations that lasted almost three hours in St. Peter's Basilica.
AGI reports that some 100,000 faithful crowded St. Peter's Square for the noontime Angelus prayers with the Pope.
Here is a translation of the Pope's words at the Angelus today:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Please excuse my tardiness. I ordained four new bishops in St. Peter's Basilica and the ceremony lasted a bit longer than expected.
Today we celebrate above all the Epiphany of the Lord - his manifestation to all peoples - even as many of the Oriental Churches who follow the Julian calendar, will be celebrating Christmas tomorrow.
This slight time difference, which sort of super-imposes the two events, highlights that the Baby, born humbly in the cave in Bethlehem, is the light of the world who orients the journey of all peoples.
It is a coupling of events that also make us reflect on it from the viewpoint of the faith: On the one hand, at Christmas, we see the faith of Mary, Joseph and the shepherds before Jesus; today, at the Epiphany, the faith of the three wise men who came from the east to adore the 'king of the Jews'.
The Virgin Mary and her spouse represent the 'stock' of Israel, the 'remains' referred to by the prophets, from whom the Messiah was to sprout.
The Magi represent the peoples of the world - the civilizations, the cultures, the religions, we can say - who are journeying toward God, in search of his kingdom of peace, of justice, of truth and of freedom.
There was first a nucleus, represented above all by Mary, the 'daughter of Zion': a nucleus of Israel, the people who knew and had faith in the God who had revealed himself to the Patriarchs and throughout their history.
That faith reached its fulfillment in Mary, in the fullness of time, In her, who was 'blessed because she believed', the Word became flesh, God 'appeared' in the world. The faith of Mary became the first fruits and the model of faith for the Church, the People of thew New Covenant.
But this people were universal from the beginning, and we see this today in the figures of the Magi who reached Bethlehem following the light of a star and indications in Sacred Scriptures.
St. Leo the Great said: "Once Abraham was promised a numberless descendancy that would be generated not by the flesh but in the fruitfulness of faith" (Discourse 3 for the Epiphany, 1: PL 54, 240).
Mary's faith can be set beside that of Abraham - it is the new beginning of the same promise, of God's same immutable design which now finds its full completion in Jesus Christ.
The light of Christ is so luminous and strong that it makes the language of the cosmos as well as that of Scripture intelligible, such that all who, like the Magi, are open to the truth can recognize it and come to contemplate the Savior of the world.
St. Leo says further: "Therefore, let the great mass of peoples enter into the family of the patriarchs... to adore the Creator of the universe, and God may be recognized not just in Judea but in all the earth" (ibid.).
In this perspective, we can also view the episcopal ordinations that I had the joy of conferring this morning in St. Peter's Basilica - two of the new bishops will remain in Rome in the service of the Holy See, while the other two will set out as pontifical representatives to two nations.
Let us pray for each of them, and for their ministry, and that the light of Christ may shine on all the world.
After the prayers, he said this:
As I said earlier, the Oriental Churches that follow the Julian calendar will celebrate the Nativity of the Lord tomorrow. In the joy of our common faith, I extend to them my most heartfelt wishes of peace, and a special remembrance in prayer.
In Italy, today is the Day for Missionary Children, dedicated to the children who are actively involved in spreading the Gospel and to concretely helping children of their age who are most needy. Dear children, I thank and encourage you in bringing the love of God to everyone.
In English, he said:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present today, including the boys of the Palestrina Choir of Saint Mary’s Pro-Cathedral, Dublin, who sang this morning at the solemn Mass of the Epiphany.
At that ceremony I had the joy of conferring episcopal ordination upon four priests, including Archbishop Fortunatus Nwachukwu of Nigeria. May the new Bishops be faithful successors of the Apostles, always bearing witness to Christ, who today reveals the face of God to the nations. May the Lord bless all of you and grant you his peace!
[In his German and Italian greetings, he also welcomed the delegations who had come to Rome for the ordinations of Mons. Gaenswein, and Zani and Thevenin, respectively.]
I apologize for the poor pictures- they are all from RV thumbnails, as I have not seen any regular newsphotos online yet.
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 06/01/2013 22:05]