Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - “Lent calls us to follow Christ in the mystery of his prayer, source of light and strength in the hour of trial. To pray, in fact, means to lose oneself in the spirit of God in an attitude of humble adhesion to his will. From this trusting and confident abandonment to God comes the interior light which transfigures man, making him a witness of the Resurrection. But this can only happen if we listen to Christ and follow him obediently to the passion and the cross.” Before reciting the Angelus prayer on Sunday March 7, Pope John Paul II reflected on the Gospel account of the Transfiguration read on the 2nd Sunday of Lent and on the 25th anniversary of his first encyclical “Redemptor hominis”: “If man wishes to fully understand himself, I wrote then, he must draw near to Christ, enter him, ‘make his own’ and assimilate the whole reality of the Redemption. How appropriate is this truth still today!”.
The Holy Father then made the following appeal: “During the week of spiritual exercises in the Vatican I did not forget the painful situation in some countries of Africa, the Middle East and above all in the Holy Land and in Iraq. There our brothers and sisters are suffering unacceptable acts of violence and terrorism which will only aggravate the conditions of those beloved peoples. As I pray for all and I ask everyone to pray, I would once again urge all to take the path of forgiveness and reconciliation.”
After the Marian prayer the Pope announced that on Saturday March 13 in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican there will be a Marian vigil on the occasion of the 2nd European University Day on the theme: "Christ, hope of Europe", and he invited young people to come: “Dear university students I expect you to come in large numbers! We will entrust the path of the peoples of Europe to Mary, Seat of Wisdom.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/3/2004 - Righe 22; Parole 301)
