Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Nazareth (Agenzia Fides) – On the morning of May 14, the Holy Father Benedict XVI celebrated Mass at the Mount of Precipice in Nazareth, for the conclusion of the Year of the Family celebrated by the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. “Here in the home town of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, we have gathered to mark the conclusion of the Year of the Family celebrated by the Church in the Holy Land,” the Pope said in his homily. “As a sign of hope for the future I will bless the first stone of an International Center for the Family to be built in Nazareth.”
Expressing his hope that the center “will promote strong family life in this region, offer support and assistance to families everywhere, and encourage them in their irreplaceable mission to society, the Pope expressed his confidence that this stage in his pilgrimage would draw the whole Church's attention to the town of Nazareth: “Here, in the example of Mary, Joseph and Jesus, we come to appreciate even more fully the sacredness of the family, which in God’s plan is based on the lifelong fidelity of a man and a woman consecrated by the marriage covenant and accepting of God’s gift of new life. How much the men and women of our time need to reappropriate this fundamental truth, which stands at the foundation of society, and how important is the witness of married couples for the formation of sound consciences and the building of a civilization of love!”
The Holy Father then reflected on the readings of the day, recalling the passage from the book of Sirach, saying: “the word of God presents the family as the first school of wisdom, a school which trains its members in the practice of those virtues which make for authentic happiness and lasting fulfilment...The Apostle Paul, writing to the Colossians, speaks instinctively of the family when he wishes to illustrate the virtues which build up the 'one body' which is the Church...so too the family, grounded in that love, is called to be a 'domestic church,' a place of faith, of prayer and of loving concern for the true and enduring good of each of its members.”
The thoughts of the Pontiff were then directed to Mary, “full of grace,” the Mother of the Holy Family and Our Mother: “Nazareth reminds us of our need to acknowledge and respect the God-given dignity and proper role of women, as well as their particular charisms and talents.” He then spoke of Saint Joseph, from whom “Jesus learned the virtues of a manly piety, fidelity to one’s word, integrity and hard work. In the carpenter of Nazareth he saw how authority placed at the service of love is infinitely more fruitful than the power which seeks to dominate...Finally, in contemplating the Holy Family of Nazareth, we turn to the child Jesus, who in the home of Mary and Joseph grew in wisdom and understanding, until the day he began his public ministry. Here I would simply like to leave a particular thought with the young people here. The Second Vatican Council teaches that children have a special role to play in the growth of their parents in holiness. I urge you to reflect on this, and to let the example of Jesus guide you, not only in showing respect for your parents, but also helping them to discover more fully the love which gives our lives their deepest meaning.”
Benedict XVI concluded his homily with an invitation to “reaffirm here our commitment to be a leaven of respect and love in the world around us.” Recalling the fact that Nazareth “has experienced tensions in recent years which have harmed relations between its Christian and Muslim communities,” the Pope invited “people of good will in both communities to repair the damage that has been done, and in fidelity to our common belief in one God, the Father of the human family, to work to build bridges and find the way to a peaceful coexistence.” Following the Mass, the Pope blessed the first stone of the International Center for the Family, the John Paul II Memorial Park, and the University of Pope Benedict XVI. (SL) (Agenzia Fides 15/5/2009)
