Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Fides Service) - The apparitions of the Risen Jesus to the disciples and devotion to Divine Mercy central to the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II were the themes illustrated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI before the recitation of the midday Marian prayer Regina Caeli with crowds of people gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday 23 April. “The Sunday Gospel of John tells how the Risen Jesus appeared to the disciples locked in the Upper Room on the evening "of the first day after the Sabbath" (Jn 20,19), and he showed himself to them again in the same place "eight days later" (Jn 20,26) - the Holy Father said -. From the beginning therefore the Christian community began to live a weekly rhythm marked by the encounter with the Risen Lord ”.
In both apparitions the Risen Lord showed his disciples the marks of his crucifixion: “Those sacred wounds in his hands, feet and side are an inexhaustible source of faith, hope and love from which every person may draw especially souls most thirsty for divine mercy. Considering this the servant of God John Paul II valorising the spiritual experience of a humble nun, Saint Faustina Kowalska, wished the Sunday after Easter to be dedicated in a special way to Divine Mercy; and by Divine Providence he died precisely on the eve of this very day. The mystery of the loving mercy of God was at the centre of the pontificate of my venerated Predecessor”. Pope Benedict XVI then mentioned the Encyclical “Dives in misericordia” and the new Church in Krakow dedicated in honour of Divine Mercy, and he added: “The words he pronounced on that occasion were a sort of summary of his Magisterium, underlining that the cult of divine mercy is no secondary devotion it is an integral dimension of Christian faith and prayer.”
The Holy Father then invoked the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, that all Christian may live “the fullness of Sunday as ‘the weekly Easter’, savouring the joy of the encounter with the Risen Lord and drawing from the source of his merciful love in order to be apostles of his peace”. After the Marian, Benedict XVI addressed the brothers and sisters of the Churches of the East who were celebrating Easter Sunday - “May the Risen Lord bring to all the gifts of his light and his peace ” the Pope said and made special mention of the people of Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria, victims of serious floods in recent days: “I am close to them in prayer and I sincerely hope that with the everyone’s help they will swiftly overcome these difficult times”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 24/4/2006 - righe 30, parole 434)
