Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In St. Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney, at 9:30am on Saturday, July 19, the Holy Father Benedict XVI celebrated the Holy Mass with the Australian Bishops, seminarians, and novices of religious orders. During the celebration, the Pope also consecrated the new altar in the Cathedral. “As we admire this magnificent edifice, how can we not think of all those ranks of priests, religious and faithful laity who, each in his or her own way, contributed to the building up of the Church in Australia?” the Pope questioned during his Homily. He then asked those present to dedicate themselves “to carrying on their labors for the spread of the Gospel, the conversion of hearts and the growth of the Church in holiness, unity and charity!”
The Holy Father also mentioned that “every altar is a symbol of Jesus Christ, present in the midst of his Church as priest, altar and victim” and “above all in the sacrifice of the Mass consummated on the altars of the world, he invites us, the members of his mystical Body, to share in his self-oblation.” He continued, saying: “like this altar, we too have been consecrated, set ‘apart’ for the service of God and the building up of his Kingdom. All too often, however, we find ourselves immersed in a world that would set God ‘aside.’ In the name of human freedom and autonomy, God’s name is passed over in silence, religion is reduced to private devotion, and faith is shunned in the public square. At times this mentality, so completely at odds with the core of the Gospel, can even cloud our own understanding of the Church and her mission. We too can be tempted to make the life of faith a matter of mere sentiment, thus blunting its power to inspire a consistent vision of the world and a rigorous dialogue with the many other visions competing for the minds and hearts of our contemporaries.”
History, even in our days, shows that “the question of God will never be silenced, and that indifference to the religious dimension of human existence ultimately diminishes and betrays man himself.” Faith teaches us that in Jesus Christ, we come to understand “the grandeur of our own humanity, the mystery of our life on this earth, and the sublime destiny which awaits us in heaven,” and it “teaches us that we are God’s creatures, made in his image and likeness, endowed with an inviolable dignity, and called to eternal life. Wherever man is diminished, the world around us is also diminished; it loses its ultimate meaning and strays from its goal. What emerges is a culture, not of life, but of death.”
The Pope later reflected on the difficulties on the path of consecration, hoping that this celebration, in the presence of the Successor of Peter, would be “a moment of rededication and renewal for the whole Church in Australia!” The Holy Father continued, saying: “Here I would like to pause to acknowledge the shame which we have all felt as a result of the sexual abuse of minors by some clergy and religious in this country. Indeed, I am deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured, and I assure them that, as their Pastor, I too share in their suffering. These misdeeds, which constitute so grave a betrayal of trust, deserve unequivocal condemnation. They have caused great pain and have damaged the Church’s witness. I ask all of you to support and assist your Bishops, and to work together with them in combating this evil. Victims should receive compassion and care, and those responsible for these evils must be brought to justice. It is an urgent priority to promote a safer and more wholesome environment, especially for young people.”
Addressing the seminarians and young religious in particular, the Holy Father encouraged them to “trust in the truth of God’s word and to hope firmly in his promises... Walk in Christ’s light daily through fidelity to personal and liturgical prayer, nourished by meditation on the inspired word of God... Let prayer, then, and meditation on God’s word, be the lamp which illumines, purifies and guides your steps along the path which the Lord has marked out for you. Make the daily celebration of the Eucharist the center of your life... Never forget that celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom means embracing a life completely devoted to love, a love that enables you to commit yourselves fully to God’s service and to be totally present to your brothers and sisters, especially those in need.”
The Pope concluded his homily invoking the intercession of Mary, Help of Christians, that she may sustain the Church in Australia, and the power of his Holy Spirit consecrate the faithful of this land in truth, and bring forth “abundant fruits of holiness and justice for the redemption of the world.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 21/7/2008)
