Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - In his homily during 5.30pm evening Mass in St Peter’s on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord at the Temple, February 2, also known as Candlemass, and celebrated by the Church as the 10th annual Day for Consecrated Life, Pope Benedict said “May the Lord renew every day in you and all consecrated persons joyous response to his freely given and faithful love. Like lighted candles, irradiate always and everywhere the love of Christ, light of the world. May Most Holy Mary, the consecrated Woman, help you live your special vocation and mission in the Church for the salvation of the world”. Concelebrating with the Pope were Archbishop Franc Rodé, Bishop Piergiorgio Silvano Nesti, Fr. Vincenzo Bertolone, respectively prefect, secretary and under secretary of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, as well as congregation officials and members of the council of the Italian Union of General Superiors. The Mass was preceded by the blessing of candles and a procession.
Reflecting in his homily on the feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple the Pope said “we are in the presence of a mystery, simple and at the same time solemn, as the Church celebrates Christ, the anointed one of the Father, firstborn of the new humanity”. With regard to the Scripture readings the Pope highlighted “the intense desire with which the Jewish people waited for centuries” and the presentation of Christ, “the mediator who united God and man overcoming distances, eliminating all division, breaking down every wall of separation”. The Gospel tells of Mary who offers her Son: “an unconditioned offering involving her personally...her person, her immaculate soul will be pierced with the sword of sorrow, demonstrating that her role in the history of salvation is not confined to the mystery of the Incarnation, it includes loving and painful participation in the death and resurrection of her Son. When she takes her Son to Jerusalem the Blessed Virgin Mary offers Him to God as the true Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world; she gives Him to Simeon and Anna as an announcement of redemption; she presents him to all people as light for a safe journey on the path of truth and love”.
With regard to the Day of Consecrated Life, the Holy Father said it was “an opportunity to praise the Lord and thank him for the inestimable gift represented by consecrated life in its many forms; at the same time it is stimulus to promote among the whole people of God knowledge and esteem for persons totally consecrated to God”. He encouraged men and women religious to be for the People of God “night watchmen who see and announce new life already present in history”. The total dedication to God and man of consecrated persons “becomes an eloquent sign of the presence of the Kingdom of God for the world today. Their way of life and their activity shows clearly that they belong to the one Lord; by putting themselves totally in the hands of Christ and the Church they announce loud and clear the presence of God in a language which is comprehensible to the men and women of our day. This is the first service which consecrated life offers the Church and the world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 3/2/2006 - righe 38, parole 567)
