Text 1200, 66 rader
Skriven 2006-03-28 21:28:04 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

CHRISTIAN FAITH IS A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER WITH CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, MAR 26, 2006 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today, the Holy Father visited the
parish of God the Merciful Father in the eastern area of the diocese of Rome,
where he celebrated the Eucharist.

At the beginning of his homily the Pope recalled that today, the fourth Sunday
of Lent, "traditionally known as 'Laetare,' is permeated with a joy that to
some extent attenuates the penitential climate of this holy time." One reason
for this, he said, "is the closeness of Easter," but the "deeper reason," as
today's readings show, is "that despite our unworthiness we are the recipients
of God's infinite mercy."

"It is the Cross, then, that must always, but especially in this time of Lent,
be at the center of our meditations. ... It is the glory of Christ crucified
that all Christians are called to contemplate, experience and bear witness to
with their lives. The Cross is the definitive 'sign,' ... given us that we
might understand the truth of man and the truth of God: we were all created and
redeemed by a God Who, out of love, sacrificed His only Son."

"Jesus died and rose again," the Pope exclaimed. "In Him we are able to
understand the truth of life and obtain salvation. This is the Church's central
message, unchanged over the centuries. Thus, Christian faith is not an ideology
but a personal encounter with the crucified and risen Christ. From this, which
is at once an individual and a community experience, arises a new way of
thinking and acting, it is the beginning, as the saints show, of a life marked
by love."

Referring to the parish in which he was speaking, Benedict XVI recalled how its
creation was due to "my beloved predecessor John Paul II in memory of the Great
Jubilee of the Year 2000 and in order to effectively condense the significance
of that extraordinary spiritual event."

The Pope then went on to read out part of a text due to have been pronounced by
John Paul II on April 3 last year, Divine Mercy Sunday and the second Sunday of
Lent: "To humanity, which at times seems to be lost and dominated by the power
of evil, selfishness and fear, the risen Lord offers the gift of His love that
pardons, reconciles and opens the soul to hope. It is love that converts hearts
and brings peace. ... How much the world needs to understand and accept Divine
Mercy!" These handwritten words, said Benedict XVI "are like a last will and
testament."

"Understanding and welcoming the merciful love of God: let this be your task,
above all within your families and in all areas of the neighborhood."

The Holy Father concluded by calling on the faithful to continue to strive to
ensure the parish becomes "a true family where day after day faithfulness to
the word of God and to the Tradition of the Church become a rule for life."
Referring then to the "original architectural structure" of the church building
which attracts many sightseers, the Pope asked the faithful to ensure that
visitors "appreciate not only the beauty of the sacred building, but above all
the richness of a living community, that bears witness to the love of God the
Merciful Father."
HML/.../GOD MERCIFUL FATHER VIS 060327 (560)

SUMMARY

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