Text 903, 48 rader
Skriven 2005-12-27 23:32:42 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

LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS, A SYMBOL OF GOOD THAT CONQUERS EVIL

VATICAN CITY, DEC 21, 2005 (VIS) - "The light of Christmas" was the theme of
Benedict XVI's special catechesis in today's pre-Christmas general audience,
which was held in St. Peter's Square in the presence of 15,000 people.

"Today's audience is taking place in a climate of joyful and eager expectation
as we await the imminent Christmas festivities," said the Pope, adding that
many symbols help us to understand the mystery of Christmas, "among them that
of the light, which is one of the richest in spiritual significance."

He went on: "Christmas in our hemisphere coincides with the days in which the
sun completes its descendent cycle and the period of daylight gradually begins
to lengthen. ... This helps us to a better understanding of the subject of
light overcoming shadow; a symbol evoking a truth that touches the most
intimate part of man: the light of goodness that overcomes evil, ... of life
that overcomes death. Christmas - which re-presents us with the announcement of
the definitive victory of God's love over sin and death - causes us to think of
this interior light, this divine light. ... As we prepare to celebrate with joy
the birth of the Savior in our families and our ecclesial communities, a
certain form of modern consumer culture tends to remove Christian symbols from
the Christmas celebration. Let everyone, then, seek to understand the value of
the Christmas traditions, which are part of the heritage of our faith and our
culture."

"In particular, when we see streets and squares adorned by dazzling lights, let
us remember that these lights call us to another light, one invisible to the
eyes but not to the heart. As we admire them, as we light the candles in church
or the lights on the nativity scene or the Christmas tree in our homes, let our
souls open to the true spiritual light, which was brought to all men and women
of good will."

The Pope concluded his catechesis by calling on the faithful to "maintain their
interior wonder" as they celebrate the birth of the Savior, and wishing
everyone "a happy and holy Christmas."
AG/LIGHT:CHRISTMAS/... VIS 051221 (370)

SUMMARY

--- MPost/386 v1.21
 * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS New Orleans 1-504-897-6006 USR 33.6k (1:396/45)