VATICAN - The Pope’s weekly Audience teaching: the Christological hymn from the Letter to the Ephesians is a call to “contemplate and savour this marvellous icon of Christ, the heart of Christian spirituality and worship, and also principle of unity and sense of the universe and of the entire human history”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - Speaking at the general audience today, Wednesday 13 October, in St Peter’s Square, Pope John Paul II reflected on the canticle “God our Saviour” Vespers of Monday week 2, (reading Eph. 1,3. 7-8).
The solemn hymn of blessing which opens the letter to the Ephesians is “a page of theological and spiritual density, a wonderful expression of the faith and perhaps of the liturgy of the Church in apostolic times” the Pope said in his address. The Liturgy of the Hours uses this hymn frequently “to help the believer contemplate and savour this marvellous icon of Christ, heart of Christian spirituality and worship, and also principle of unity and sense of the universe and of the entire human history. Moving from the redeeming work of the Son, humanity lifts a hymn of blessing to the Father in heaven.”
In the Father’s eternal plan which Christ is called to fulfil, we are chosen to be holy and immaculate in love and still more so in Christ we are destined to “accept the gift of filial dignity, becoming sons and daughters in the Son and brothers and sisters of Jesus”... “In this way the Father brings about a radical transformation in us: full liberation from evil, redemption through the blood of Christ, remission of sins through the treasures of his grace”. In this way we are introduced to the mystery of God’s will, that is, his transcendent and perfect programme, “a wonderful plan of redemption: to recapitulate all things in Christ, those in heaven and those on earth”. Christ has become “the cardinal point, the central axis towards which the whole created universe converges and acquires meaning”. In fact Christ has reconciled “all things to himself, making peace through the blood of his cross, that is through him, things on earth and things in heaven (Col 1,20).”
At the end of the audience the Pope had a special word of greeting for the young people present, the sick, and newly wedded couples and he encouraged them to imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary, woman of the Eucharist: “At the beginning of the Year of the Eucharist, strive like Mary to follow Jesus the way, the truth and the life. Be frequent adorers of the Most Holy Eucharist!”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 13/10/2004 - Righe 25; Parole 345)