Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Manoppello (Agenzia Fides) - ““To enter into communion with Christ and contemplate his face, to see the face of Our Lord in that of our brothers and sisters and in the vicissitudes of everyday, we must have hands which are innocent and hearts which are pure. Innocent hands, that is lives illuminated by the truth of love that conquers indifference, doubt, mistruth and egoism; it is also necessary to have hearts which are pure, enraptured by the beauty of God, as the little Saint Therese of Lisieux says in her prayer to the Holy Face, hearts which bear the impression of the face of Christ.” The Pope said this on 1 September when he visited the Shrine of the Holy Face at Manoppello (Chieti).
On his arrival by helicopter from his Summer Residence in Castel Gandolfo, the Pope was welcomed by Archbishop Bruno Forte, of Chieti-Vasto and civil and military authorities. The Pope walked on foot to the shrine, spent a few minutes in prayer and then addressed those present.
The Pope recalled the experience of the first two Apostles who followed Jesus from the River Jordan, as we read in the Gospel of St John: “The evangelist tells how Jesus turned around and asked them: "What do you want?". They replied: "Rabbi, where do you live?". And he said: "Come and see". (Jn 1, 38). That day the two men who followed Him lived an unforgettable experience which led them to say: "We have found Messiah". One whom only a few hours earlier they considered just a "rabbi", had acquired a very clear identity, that of the Christ awaited for centuries. However, what a long path those disciples had before them! They could not even imagine the depth of the mystery of the Jesus of Nazareth; how unfathomable, impenetrable his ‘face’ could reveal itself to be”. Recalling that Jesus told his Apostles : "He who has seen me has seen the Father " (Jn 14,9), the Holy Father explained: “Only after His passion, when they meet the Risen Lord, when the Spirit illuminates their minds and hearts, the Apostles understand the meaning of those words of Jesus and recognise Him as the Son of God, the promised Messiah for the redemption of the world. Then they become his tireless messengers and courageous witnesses, even to martyrdom.”
In order to "see God" we must know Christ and let ourselves be moulded by his Spirit, the Pope recalled, ready to follow Him to the sacrifice of life on the cross: “This is the way of Christ, the way of total love which conquers death: those who walk it "hate their life in this world, and keep it for eternity". They live in God already on this earth, they are drawn and transfigured by the brightness of His face. This is the experience of the real friends of God, the saints, who saw and loved in their brothers and sisters, the poor and needy especially, the face of the God at length contemplated with love in prayer”.
Turning to address the priests present, the Pope said that if the saintliness of Christ's face remains impressed within them "the faithful entrusted to your care will be affected and transformed." He asked seminarians not to allow themselves to be attracted "by anything other than Jesus and the desire to serve His Church." Finally, the Pope exhorted male and female religious to ensure that all their activities become "a reflection of divine goodness and mercy. ... Searching for the face of Christ must be the desire of all Christians." The Pope’s last thought was for nature and creation, (Sunday in Italy was the 1st national Day for the Protection of Creation) and he said: “May the Virgin Mary in whose face more than in any other creature the features of the incarnate Word are visible, watch over families and parishes, over cities and nations of the whole world. May the Mother of the Creator also help us to respect nature, that great gift of God which here we see in the magnificent mountains which surround us. A gift which, nonetheless, is ever more exposed to risk of degradation, and must therefore be protected and secured.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 4/9/2006 - righe 45, parole 669)
