Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The importance of consecrated life “expression and school of charity” was the principle theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s reflection before the recitation of the midday Angelus prayer on Sunday 29 January. “In the Encyclical published last Wednesday, referring to the primacy of charity in the life of every Christian and that the Church I recalled that the privileged witnesses of this primacy are the Saints who, though in many different ways, made their whole life a hymn to God who is Love” the Pope said mentioning the Saints whose feast days occur at this time of the year, St Paul and the disciples Timothy and Titus, saint Angela Merici, saint Thomas Aquinas, saint John Bosco.
Theses saints all very different, who lived at different times and engaged in many different works, said Benedict XVI edified the history of the Church “which is a history of holiness, inspired by Love which has its source in God. In fact only supernatural charity, which pours ever new from the heart of Christ, can explain the wondrous flourishing down through the centuries of religious orders and institutes both male and female and other forms of consecrated life”. The Pope then underlined “the importance of consecrated life as expression and school of charity” and recalling that on 2 February the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple the Church celebrates the annual Day of Consecrated Life, the Pope invited all the religious and consecrated persons in Rome to join him for the evening celebration of the Eucharist in St Peter’s Basilica: “Together we will thank God for the gift of consecrated life and pray that it may continue to be in the world an eloquent sign of His merciful love”.
After the Angelus prayer, the Pope mentioned that it was the World Leprosy Day : “I wish to send a special greeting to those who suffer from this disease and I encourage missionaries, healthcare workers and volunteers working on this frontier of service to humanity. Leprosy is a symptom of a serious and more widespread evil, poverty. Therefore following my Predecessors, I renew the call to leaders of nations to unite efforts to overcome the serious unbalances which penalise a great part of humanity.”
The Pope offered another special greeting to Polish pilgrims present in St Peter’s Square expressing his sympathy for the terrible accident in Katowice in which many people were killed: “I entrust to God’s mercy those who died, I am close in spirit to their families and to the injured. Upon all I gladly impart my apostolic blessing”. Last of all the Pope greeted local Roman Catholic Action children on the annual visit to St Peter’s Square to mark the end of a Month of Peace initiative. “I know you are ‘training’ for peace, guided by the great ‘trainer’, Jesus- the Pope told the children - . And to you children of Catholic Action I entrust the task I proposed to everyone in my Message for Peace on 1 January: learn to always tell and do the truth and in this way you will become builders of peace.” According to tradition on this occasion as the Pope spoke from his study window a boy and a girl representing the others were at his side. When the Pope had finished his address the children released as symbols of peace two white doves which flew out of the Pope’s window. And, as very often, one of the doves flew straight back into the Pope’s apartment, but eventually decided to fly away to join its companion. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/1/2006 - righe 36, parole 536)
