VATICAN - “The Epiphany of Christ is also the epiphany of the Church” Pope Benedict XVI says in his reflection at the midday Angelus prayer on 6 January. On the annual Day of Holy Childhood he mentions children “valuable co-operators of the Gospel and apostles of Christian solidarity”

Monday, 8 January 2007

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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Saturday January 6th, before reciting the midday Angelus prayer with the people gathered in St Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict XVI reflected on the Feast of the Epiphany which, he recalled, celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the Wise Men and constitutes a most important event because it marked “the beginning of the adhesion of the pagan peoples to faith in Christ, as God promised Abraham… if therefore Mary, Joseph and the shepherds in Bethlehem represent the people of Israel who welcomed the Lord, the Wise Men are the first of the nations, also called to become members of the Church, the new people of God, based no longer on ethnic, linguistic or cultural homogeneity, but only on common faith in Jesus, the Son of God” the Pope said.
“Therefore the Epiphany of Christ is at the same time the epiphany of the Church, the manifestation of her vocation and universal mission” the Pope said adding a special greeting to “our beloved brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches” preparing to celebrate Christmas on January 7 wishing them “abundant peace and Christian prosperity”.
The Holy Father mentioned also that 6 January is the annual Holy Childhood Day: “a day of celebration for Catholic children who live the gift of the faith with joy and pray that the light of Jesus may reach all the children of the world. I thank Holy Childhood children present in 110 countries, valuable cooperators with the Gospel and apostles of Christian solidarity with those in need. I urge educators to encourage a missionary spirit among children, that some may become passionate missionaries, witnesses of God’s tenderness and announcers of his love”.
The Pope concluded: “Now we address the Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of Evangelisation: through her intercession may Christians all over the world live as children of the light and lead all men and women to Christ, the true light of the world”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 8/1/2007; righe 24, parole 323)