VATICAN - Pope Benedict XVI’s General audience teaching: “Communion of life between God and us is the purpose of the proclamation of the Gospel, the purpose of conversion to Christianity... this twofold communion with God and among ourselves is indissoluble”

Thursday, 30 March 2006

Vatican City (Fides Service) - The gift of "Communion" was the theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for his general audience on Wednesday 29 March. Addressing several thousands of visitors gathered in St Peter’s Square the Pope said: “Down through the centuries the Church, organically structured under the guidance of legitimate bishops, continues to live in the world as a mystery of communion in which is reflected to some extent the Trinitarian communion, the mystery of God himself”. The Pope added that Saint Paul presents “‘communion’ as a specific gift of the Spirit, the fruit of love given by God the Father and the grace offered by the Lord Jesus”.
St John the Evangelist underlines in particular that the communion of love which binds the Son to the Father and to humanity is at the same time model and source of that fraternal communion which should unite the disciples among themselves … communion of life between God and us is the purpose of the proclamation of the Gospel, the purpose of conversion to Christianity: ‘What we have seen and heard we announce to you that you may be in communion with us (1 Jn 1,2). Therefore this twofold communion with God and among ourselves is indissoluble. Where communion with God which is communion with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit is destroyed, the root and source of communion among ourselves is also destroyed. And where communion among ourselves is not lived, communion with God Three in One is not living and true, as we have heard”.
In the last part of his catechesis, the Holy Father said “communion - the fruit of the Holy Spirit - is nourished by the Bread of the Eucharist and expressed in fraternal relations in a sort of anticipation of the world to come. In the Eucharist Jesus nourishes us, unites us with Himself with the Father and with the Holy Spirit and among ourselves and this net of unity which embraces the world is an anticipation in our day of the world to come”. Therefore communion has very real consequences, bringing us out of our solitude and our closure enabling us to share in the love which unites us with God and among ourselves. Recalling the fragmentation and conflicts which afflict relations between individuals, groups and entire peoples Pope Benedict XVI said: “Without the gift of unity in the Holy Spirit, fragmentation of humanity is inevitable. "Communion" is truly good news, the God given remedy for the solitude which threatens every person, the precious gift which makes us feel accepted and loved in God, in the unity of his People gathered in the name of the Trinity; it is the light which makes the Church a shining sign among the peoples”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 30/3/2006, righe 30, parole 468)


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