Text 1146, 56 rader
Skriven 2006-03-06 23:01:04 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
===================================================
Hello All!

                The following press release is Copyrighted by the
                          Vatican Information Service.
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                               VIS-Press releases

FREEDOM FROM SIN IN ORDER TO FIND PEACE AND HAPPINESS

VATICAN CITY, MAR 5, 2006 (VIS) - At midday today, before praying the Angelus
with the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope recalled that Lent
began last Wednesday, "and today we celebrate the first Sunday of this
liturgical period that encourages Christians to commit themselves on a
preparatory journey that leads Easter."

"Today's Gospel," he continued, "reminds us that Jesus, after having been
baptized in the River Jordan and moved by the Holy Spirit which descended upon
Him and identified Him as the Christ, withdrew to the desert of Judah for 40
days where He overcame the temptations of Satan. Following their Lord and
Master, and in order to face with Him 'the struggle against the spirit of
evil,' Christians spiritually enter the Lenten desert."

In meditating upon this Gospel passage, said Benedict XVI, "we understand that
in order to live fulfilling lives in freedom, it is necessary to overcome the
trial that freedom itself brings: in other words, temptation. Only when freed
from the slavery of lies and sin can human beings - through obedience to the
faith that opens them to truth - discover the full meaning of their lives and
achieve peace, love and happiness.

"Precisely for this reason," he went on, "Lent represents an appropriate moment
for an attentive examination of life in meditation, prayer and penance." In
this context, he mentioned the spiritual exercises which begin this evening in
the Vatican and last until next Saturday. They will, he said, "help me and my
collaborators in the Roman Curia to enter with greater awareness into this
characteristic Lenten atmosphere."

The Pope then called on the faithful to accompany him with their prayers over
these days and assured them of his own prayers to the Lord on their behalf, in
the hope that "for all Christians Lent may be a moment of conversion and of
more courageous commitment to sanctity. To this end, we invoke the maternal
intercession of the Virgin Mary."

Following the Angelus, Benedict XVI announced that in the Paul VI Hall at 5
p.m. on Saturday, March 11, there will be a Marian vigil organized by Roman
university students. Many students from other European and African countries
will also participate through radio and television links. "It will be," said
the Holy Father, "an appropriate occasion to pray to the Most Holy Virgin that
the Gospel may open new channels of communication between the peoples of Europe
and of Africa. Dear young people, I hope you will participate in large
numbers!"
ANG/LENT/... VIS 060306 (430)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)