Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yaounde (Agenzia Fides) – On the Solemnity of Saint Joseph (March 19), the Holy Father Benedict XVI presided a special Mass on the occasion of the publication of the Instrumentum Laboris of the Second Special Assembly of the Synod of Bishops for Africa, in the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde, and began by “wishing a very happy feast day to all those who, like myself, have received the grace of bearing this beautiful name.” The Pope also congratulated the parishes, schools, colleges, and institutions named after Saint Joseph and greeted the representatives of the African Episcopal Conferences who had come to Yaoundé for the promulgation of the Instrumentum Laboris.
“We are asking the Lord to protect the Church always – and he does! – just as Joseph protected his family and kept watch over the child Jesus” the Pope said in his homily, commenting on the day's liturgy. The Gospel (Mt 1:20) highlights the fidelity of Joseph to the words received from God's messenger, inviting them to “to imitate this same loving trust.” The first letter, although it does not make explicit reference to Saint Joseph it teaches us many things about him: “David puts his trust in God. In the same way, Joseph trusts God when he hears his messenger...Throughout all of history, Joseph is the man who gives God the greatest display of trust, even in the face of such astonishing news.”
Addressing fathers and mothers of families, the Holy Father told them: “At a time when so many people have no qualms about trying to impose the tyranny of materialism, with scant concern for the most deprived, you must be very careful. Africa in general, and Cameroon in particular, place themselves at risk if they do not recognize the True Author of Life! Brothers and sisters in Cameroon and throughout Africa, you who have received from God so many human virtues, take care of your souls! Do not let yourselves be captivated by selfish illusions and false ideals!...God alone will give you, dear married couples, the strength to raise your family as he wants.” The Pope then reflected on the “difficult time” being experienced by the families of Cameroon and in the rest of Africa, and mentioned the overturning of many traditional values, the change in relationships between generations, the rural exodus that corrodes family bonds and leads the youth to seek to cure their pain by living in ephemeral and man-made paradises. In facing this situation, Benedict XVI made reference to the “remarkable work done by countless associations that promote the life of faith and the practice of charity,” and made a dynamic appeal to hope: “More than ever, we must 'hope against all hope' (Rm 4:18)...Sons and daughters of Africa, do not be afraid to believe, to hope, and to love; do not be afraid to say that Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and that we can be saved by him alone...Africa is called to hope through you and in you! With Jesus Christ, who trod the African soil, Africa can become the continent of hope!”
The Pope then exhorted all the faithful not to be afraid to love the Church: “Mary, Mother of the Church, will teach you to follow your pastors, to love your bishops, your priests, your deacons and your catechists; to heed what they teach you and to pray for their intentions.” Before concluding his homily, the Holy Father invited married couples to look upon “the love of Joseph for Mary and Jesus;” and to those preparing for marriage, he encouraged them to respect their future spouse as Joseph did; to those consecrated to God in celibacy, to reflect upon the teaching of the Church, to parents, for whom Saint Joesph is a model, he encouraged them to respect and love their spouse and lead their children to God.”
To all the youth, the Pope offered “words of friendship and encouragement” exhorting them to take courage in facing life's challenges: “Let Christ take hold of you, agree to pledge your love to him, and – why not? – maybe even do so in the priesthood or in the consecrated life!” And “to the children who no longer have a father, or who live abandoned in the poverty of the streets, to those forcibly separated from their parents, to the maltreated and abused, to those constrained to join paramilitary forces that are terrorizing some countries, I would like to say: God loves you, he has not forgotten you, and Saint Joseph protects you! Invoke him with confidence.”
At the close of the Mass, in presenting a copy of the Instrumentum Laboris to the Presidents of the National and Regional Bishops' Conferences of Africa, Benedict XVI affirmed that “ it reflects the great dynamism of the Church in Africa, but also the challenges that must be faced, which the Synod will have to consider.” He then expressed his hope that “that the work of the Synodal Assembly will contribute to an increase in hope for your peoples and for the entire continent; that it will help to inspire each of your local Churches with new evangelical and missionary zeal in service to reconciliation, justice and peace, according to the programme given us by the Lord himself: 'You are the salt of the earth … you are the light of the world.' May the joy of the Church in Africa at the celebration of this Synod be shared by the universal Church!” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 20/3/2009)
