VATICAN - “Those who encounter the Risen Jesus and entrust themselves to him with docility need never fear again. This is the message which Christians are called to carry to the far corners of the earth”: Benedict XVI says at the midday prayer Regina Cæli on Easter Monday

Wednesday, 11 April 2007

Castel Gandolfo (Agenzia Fides) - The profound “spiritual joy” which comes from the celebration of Easter, the “unspeakable joy” experienced by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary when they saw the Risen Lord, the necessity for Christians to spread the news of the Resurrection “to the ends of the earth”, were the subjects of the reflections the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI proposed to the people of Castel Gandolfo and visitors gathered in the Pope’s Summer Residence for the recitation of the midday prayer of the Regina Cæli on Easter Monday, 9 April.
“We are still filled with spiritual rejoicing which the solemn celebrations of Easter give to the hearts of believers. Christ is risen! To this great mystery the Liturgy dedicates not just one but no less than fifty days, the whole Season of Easter which concludes with Pentecost” said Pope Benedict XVI in his reflections before the midday Marian prayer. Recalling the Gospel of the day when Mary of Magdala and the other Mary are on their way to the tomb: the Risen Lord comes towards them and says: " 'Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there they will see me." (Mt 28,10) the Pope said “They experienced truly unspeakable joy when they saw the Lord, and filled with enthusiasm they ran to tell the disciples. To us today, like those women who stayed with Jesus during his Passion, the Risen Lord says we must not be afraid to spread the news of His resurrection. Those who encounter the Risen Christ and entrust themselves to Him with docility need never fear again. This is the message that Christians are called to spread to far corners of the world. Christian faith is born not from accepting a doctrine but from an encounter with a Person, with Christ who died and is risen”. The Pope said that every day presents “many opportunities to communicate our faith to others in a simple convinced manner. And it is more than ever urgent for the men and women of our day to know and encounter Jesus also through our example, that they may let themselves be captured by Him.” Urging those present to contemplate Mary “happier than anyone else to re-embrace her divine Son whom she had held dead in her arms when He was taken down from the Cross”, the Pope asked Mary to intercede “that our faith in the resurrection will remain strong and render us messengers of the Risen Christ’s hope and love.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 11/4/2007; righe 27, parole 416)


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