VATICAN - The Pope makes a pastoral visit to the parish of Saint Felicity and Children, Martyrs: “on our Lenten path … may we be accompanied by the certainty that God never abandons us and that His love is a source of joy and peace; a power which impels us to walk the path of holiness, even to martyrdom if necessary”

Vatican City (Fides Service) - On the 5th Sunday of Lent, March 25 Pope Benedict XVI visited the Roman parish community of Santa Felicita e Figli martiri. In his homily the Pope spoke about the “mission of every parish community, called to announce the Gospel and to be a place of welcome and listening, fraternal sharing, dialogue and forgiveness”. This is no easy task, the Pope said. Referring to the Sunday readings he continued “our pilgrimage on earth is filled with difficulties and trials, like the journey of the chosen people in the desert before they reached the promised land. But God’s intervention can render it easy”. In fact the Lord supplies every Christian community with “abundant spiritual provisions to cross the desert of this world and transform it into a fertile garden. These provisions are listening to His Word, the Sacraments and every other spiritual resource of the liturgy and personal prayer. In brief, the real provision is His love. That same love which led Jesus to immolate himself for us, transforms us and enables us to follow Him faithfully”.
With regard to the Sunday Gospel on the woman accused of adultery the Pope said: “Jesus does not start a theoretical discussion with his interlocutors: he is not interested in winning an argument about the interpretation of the Law of Moses, his aim is to save a soul and show that salvation is found only in God’s love. This is why He came on earth, this is why He died on the cross and was raised up by the Father on the third day. Jesus came to say he wants us all to go to Heaven and that hell, little spoken about in our day, exists and is eternal for those who close their hearts to his Love. In this episode too therefore we understand that our true enemy is attachment to sin, which can lead us to lose our life. Jesus says to the adulterous woman: "Go, and sin no more". He forgives her so that she may sin “no more”. In a similar episode, the one about the sinful woman who repents, found in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus welcomes a repentant woman and tells her to go in peace. Here instead we have an adulterous woman who receives unconditioned forgiveness. In both cases - for the repentant sinful woman and the adulteress- the message is the same. In any case it is emphasised that there can be no forgiveness without repentance; only God’s forgiveness and love received by a heart which is open and sincere give the strength to resist evil and "sin no more". Jesus’ attitude is an example for every community called to make love and forgiveness the beating heart of its life.”
The Pope concluded: “on our Lenten journey which is coming swiftly to an end, may we be accompanied with the certainty that God never abandons us and his love is a source of joy and peace; his love is a power which impels us to walk the path of holiness, even to martyrdom if necessary”, like the children and then the courageous mother Felicita, the patrons saints of your parish … may their example and intercession be a source of continual encouragement to follow the Gospel without hesitation or compromise”.
(S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2007, righe 38, parole 598)