Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Wednesday morning October 4, Pope Benedict XVI returned to the Vatican after spending the Summer at Castel Gandolfo, and gave his customary general audience in St Peter’s square, where he was warmly welcomed by thousands of visitors. On his way to the square the Pope stopped to bless a new statue set in one of the niches on the outside of St Peter’s basilica. The statue represents Saint Genoveva Torres Morales, who founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Angels.
Continuing his catechesis on the Twelve Apostles, this week the Holy Father spoke about Bartholomew: “We have little information with regard to Bartholomew - the Pope said -; his name is found always but only in the lists of the Twelve, never at the centre of a narration. Traditionally however he is identified with Nathaniel, a name which means ‘God has given’. Nathaniel came from Cana and could have been a witness to a great ‘sign’ worked there by Jesus. The identification of these two figures is probably due to the fact that Nathaniel, in the scene of the calling as narrated in the Gospel of John, comes next to Philip, the place given to Bartholomew in the lists of the Apostles in the other three Gospels”.
The Pope recalled that when Philip said he had found “the one of whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth”, Nathaniel replied: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”. This statement tells us that “for the Jews, the Messiah would not come from such an unknown village as Nazareth” and at the same time, “underlines the freedom of God who surprises our expectations by letting Himself be found exactly there where we least expect Him ”.
The story of Nathaniel prompts another reflection: “in our relationship with Jesus we must not be content with words alone... our knowledge of Jesus needs above all living experience: testimony of others is certainly important, since normally our Christian life starts with the announcement which comes to us through one or more witnesses. But then we must let ourselves become personally involved in a profoundly intimate relationship with Jesus”. In the meeting with Jesus, Nathaniel is touched to the heart by the Master’s words, “he feels he is understood and he understands: this man knows everything about me, He knows the path of life, this is a man to whom I can truly entrust myself. And so he replies with a crystal clear confession of faith, saying: ‘Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are the king of Israel’… Nathaniel’s words shed light on a complementary aspect of Jesus’ identity: He is recognised both in his special relationship with God the Father, of whom he is the only begotten Son, and with the people of Israel, of which He is said to be king, a trait proper to the awaited Messiah”. Pope Benedict said both these components must be kept in mind, “because if we proclaim Jesus only in the heavenly dimension, we risk making Him an ethereal and evanescent being, and if on the contrary we recognise only his concrete existence in history, we overlook the divine dimension which properly qualifies him”.
We have little information about the apostolic activity of Bartholomew-Nathaniel, who some sources say left traces of his presence in India. In the Middle Ages the tradition spread that the Saint was skinned alive. “We can say - the Holy Father concluded - that the figure of Saint Bartholomew, despite the scarcity of information about him, remains before us to say that discipleship of Jesus can be lived and witnessed to without sensational any deeds. What is and remains extraordinary is Jesus to whom each of us is called to consecrate our life and our death”.
After greeting groups of visitors in different languages the Pope welcomed the new student priests staying at the Pontifical Colleges San Pietro Apostolo, San Paolo Apostolo and Maria Mater Ecclesiae, run by the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples: “I am happy to greet today priests from many different countries enrolled at the Pontifical Colleges San Pietro Apostolo, San Paolo Apostolo and Maria Mater Ecclesiae in Rome to complete their studies; I wish you all a profitable academic year”. The Pope then mentioned St Francis of Assisi, on his feast day: “May his shining example help you young people to plan your future in total fidelity to the Gospel. May he help you dear sick people to face suffering with courage, and to find light and comfort in Christ crucified. May he teach you newlyweds to love ever more generously”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2006, righe 56, parole 814)
