Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – After his encounter with the Risen Christ, on the road to Damascus, “Paul could not continue to live as he did before. Now he felt invested by the Lord with the charge to proclaim his Gospel as an apostle. It is precisely about this new condition of life, namely of his being an apostle of Christ,” the Holy Father said during the General Audience held on Wednesday, September 10, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.
The Pope explained that, “in keeping with the Gospel, we normally identify the Twelve with the title of apostles, thus intending to indicate those who were life companions and hearers of Jesus' teaching. But Paul also feels himself a true apostle and it seems clear, therefore, that the Pauline concept of apostolate is not restricted to the group of Twelve...Paul also sees himself as apostle in the strict sense. It is true that, at the time of the Christian origins, no one traveled as many kilometers as he did, by earth and sea, with the sole object of proclaiming the Gospel.”
In his Letters, Saint Paul names three main characteristics for an apostle. The Pope commented on them, saying: “The first is to have ‘seen the Lord,’ namely, to have had a decisive encounter with him... it is the Lord who constitutes the apostolate, not one's presumption.” “The second characteristic is to ‘have been sent’... Once again the idea appears in the first place of another initiative, that of God in Jesus Christ, to whom one is fully obliged, but above all the fact is underlined that a mission was received from him to fulfill in his name, putting absolutely in second place all personal interests.”
“A typical element of the true apostle, brought well into the light by St. Paul, is a sort of identification between the Gospel and the evangelizer, both destined to the same end. No one like Paul, in fact, has evidenced how the proclamation of the cross of Christ appears as ‘a stumbling block’ and ‘foolishness,’ to which many react with incomprehension and rejection. This occurred at that time, and it should not be surprising that the same happens also today.” Thus, sharing with the Stoic philosophy of his time the idea of a tenacious constancy in all the difficulties that come his way, Paul “surpasses the merely humanistic perspective, recalling the component of the love of God and of Christ... This is the certainty, the profound joy that guides the Apostle Paul in all these affairs: Nothing can separate us from the love of God. And this love is the true wealth of human life.”
Concluding the catechesis, the Holy Father mentioned that “St. Paul gave himself to the Gospel with all this life; we can say 24 hours out of 24,” carrying out his ministry “with fidelity and joy,” placing himself in an attitude of complete service towards Churches and declaring, “Not that we lord it over your faith; rather, we work together for your joy, for you stand firm in the faith" (2 Corinthians 1:24). This remains the mission of all the apostles of Christ in all times: to be fellow workers of true joy.”
At the end of the Audience, the Pope read a Message he wrote for the French on the occasion of his apostolic journey to Paris and Lourdes, September 12-15, his “first pastoral journey to France as Successor of Peter.” Sending his cordial greetings to the French people and all the inhabitants of that beloved nation, the Pope said: “I go as a messenger of peace and fraternity. Your country is not unknown to me. On several occasions I have had the joy to visit it and to appreciate its generous tradition of hospitality and tolerance, as well as the solidity of its Christian faith and its lofty human and spiritual culture.” The reason for his trip is the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, and thus he “will have the great joy to join the crowd of pilgrims who are going to follow the stages of the jubilee journey, after St. Bernadette, to the Massabielle grotto. My prayer will intensify at the feet of Our Lady for the intentions of the whole Church, in particular for the sick, the abandoned, as well as for peace in the world. May Mary be for all of you, in particular for young people, the Mother always attentive to the needs of her children, a light of hope that illuminates and guides your ways!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 11/9/2008)
