BENEDICT XVI GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Audience Hall Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Ash Wednesday
Dear brothers and sisters,
today, marked by the austere symbol of ashes, we enter the Season of Lent, beginning a spiritual journey that prepares us to celebrate the Easter mysteries. The blessed ashes on our head tax is a sign that reminds us of our condition as creatures, invites us to repentance and conversion to step up efforts to follow the Lord more and more.
Lent is a journey, that rises to accompany Jesus to Jerusalem, site of the fulfillment of the mystery of his passion, death and resurrection reminds us that the Christian life is a "way" to go, consisting not so much a law observe, but in the person of Christ, to meet, to be accepted, to be followed. Jesus, in fact, tells us: "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Lk 9:23). It tells us, that is, that to come with him to the light and joy of the resurrection, the victory of life, love and goodness, that we ought to take up the cross each day, as calls us a nice page of the Imitation of Christ: "Take, then, your cross and follow Jesus, so you will enter into eternal life. We preceded himself, carrying his cross (Jn 19:17) and died for you, so that you to bring your cross and I wanted to be crucified too. In fact, if you die with him, with him and like him live. If you have been companion in suffering, you will be a companion in glory "(L. 2, c. 12, n. 2). In the Mass of the First Sunday of Lent we will pray: "O God our Father, with the celebration of this Lent, the sacramental sign of our conversion, grant to your faithful to grow in knowledge of the mystery of Christ and to bear witness to a worthy way of life "(Prayer). E 'invocation that turn to God because we know that only He can change our heart. And it is especially in the liturgy, participation in the sacred mysteries, we are led to take this journey with the Lord, is a teaching from Jesus, to retrace the events that have brought salvation, but not as a simple commemoration, a remembrance of past events. In liturgical celebrations, Christ is made present through the Holy Spirit, those saving events become current. There is a key word that occurs frequently in the liturgy to indicate this: the word "today" and it must be understood in the original sense and practical, not metaphorical. Today, God reveals His law and has given us today to choose between good and evil, between life and death (cf. Deut 30:19) and today "the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the Gospel "(Mk 1:15); today that Jesus Christ died on Calvary and rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right the Father, today we are given the Holy Spirit today is a favorable time. Participating in the Liturgy, then, means immerse their lives in the mystery of Christ, in his permanent presence, take a journey in which we enter into His death and resurrection to have life.
On Sundays of Lent, in a special way this year liturgical cycle A, we are introduced to live a baptismal journey, as if to retrace the journey of the catechumens, those preparing to receive Baptism, to revive in and to us this gift so that our life recovery needs and commitments of this sacrament, which is the basis of our Christian life. In the message I sent to this Quaresima, ho voluto richiamare il nesso particolare che lega il Tempo quaresimale al Battesimo. Da sempre la Chiesa associa la Veglia Pasquale alla celebrazione del Battesimo, passo per passo: in esso si realizza quel grande mistero per cui l’uomo, morto al peccato, è reso partecipe della vita nuova in Cristo Risorto e riceve lo Spirito di Dio che ha risuscitato Gesù dai morti (cfr Rm 8,11). Le Letture che ascolteremo nelle prossime domeniche e alle quali vi invito a prestare speciale attenzione, sono riprese proprio dalla tradizione antica, che accompagnava il catecumeno nella scoperta del Battesimo: sono il grande annuncio di ciò che Dio opera in questo Sacramento, una stupenda catechesi battesimale rivolta a ciascuno di noi. La Prima Domenica, Sunday call of temptation, because it presents the temptations of Jesus in the desert, invites us to renew our final decision to God and to courageously face the fight ahead to stay faithful. There is always a need for this new decision, to resist evil, to follow Jesus in the Church this Sunday, after hearing the testimony of godparents and catechists, celebrates the election of those who are admitted to the Easter Sacraments. The Second Sunday is that of Abraham and the Transfiguration. Baptism is the sacrament of faith and of divine, like Abraham, the father of believers, we too are invited to leave, to go out from our land, to leave the security that we built to put our trust in God, the goal can be seen in the transfiguration of Christ, the beloved Son, in whom we become "sons of God." Is presented in the following Sunday Baptism in the images of water, light and life. The Third Sunday lets us meet the Samaritan woman (cf. Jn 4.5 to 42). Like Israel in the Exodus, we have received in Baptism that saves water, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman as he water of life, extinguishing every thirst, and this water is its own spirit. The Church celebrates this Sunday in the first round of the catechumens during the week and gives them the Symbol: The Profession of Faith, I think. The Fourth Sunday makes us reflect on the experience of "blind man" (cf. Jn 9.1 to 41). In Baptism we are freed from the darkness of evil and receive the light of Christ to live as children of light. We too must learn to see the presence of God in the face of Christ and thus the light. In the journey of the catechumens is celebrated on the second ballot. Finally, the Fifth Sunday presents the resurrection of Lazarus (cf. Jn 11.1 to 45). In Baptism we have passed from death to life and we are enabled to please God, to kill the old man to live by the Spirit of the Risen One. For catechumens is celebrated on the third ballot lasted a week and is delivered to them the Lord's Prayer: Our Father. "
Questo itinerario della Quaresima che siamo invitati a percorre nella Quaresima è caratterizzato, nella tradizione della Chiesa, da alcune pratiche: il digiuno, l’elemosina e la preghiera. Il digiuno significa l’astinenza dal cibo, ma comprende altre forme di privazione per una vita più sobria. Tutto questo però non è ancora la realtà piena del digiuno: è il segno esterno di una realtà interiore, del nostro impegno, con l’aiuto di Dio, di astenerci dal male e di vivere del Vangelo. Non digiuna veramente chi non sa nutrirsi della Parola di Dio.
Il digiuno, nella tradizione cristiana, è legato poi strettamente all’elemosina. San Leone Magno insegnava in uno dei suoi discourses on Lent: "As every Christian is obliged to do at all times, must now practice with greater zeal and devotion, because it fulfills the norm of the apostolic Lenten fasting consistent not only abstinence from food, but also from their sins. These obligations and holy fasting, then, no work can be more usefully associate of almsgiving, which, under the single name of 'mercy' embraces many good works. A vast field of works of mercy. Not only the rich and the wealthy can benefit others through charity, but even those of modest and poor. Thus, unequal in fortune, they can all be equal in feelings of pity the soul "(Sermon on Lent 6, 2: PL 54, 286). San Gregorio Magno recalled, in his Pastoral Rule, that fasting is made holy by the virtues that accompany it, especially by the charity, every gesture of generosity, giving to the poor and needy the result of our deprivation (cf. 19, 10-11).
Lent is also a special time for prayer. St. Augustine says that fasting and almsgiving are "two wings of a prayer," which allow it to more easily take its momentum and reach up to God, he says: "In this way our prayer of humility in and charity nell'elemosina in fasting and in moderation and forgiveness of injuries, giving good things and not returning the bad and away from evil and doing good, seek peace and follows. With the wings of these flies under our prayer is safer and more easily reach up to heaven, where Christ is our peace came before us "(Sermon 206, 3 on Lent: PL 38.1042). The Church knows that, for our weakness, it's hard to get to be silent before God, and become aware of our condition as creatures that depend on Him, and sinners in need of his love for this, Lent invites us to a prayer most loyal and intense and prolonged meditation on the Word of God St. John Chrysostom says: "Decorate your home with modesty and humility with the practice of prayer. Make your home beautiful with the light of justice, its walls adorned with good works as a layer of pure gold, and instead of the walls of precious stones and places the supernatural faith and magnanimity, putting above all else, above on the pediment, the pattern of prayer to the entire complex. So prepare a worthy dwelling place for God, so welcome him in a splendid palace. He will only allow you to transform your soul in the temple of his presence "(Homily on Prayer 6: PG 64.466).
Dear friends, in this Lenten journey we are careful to take the call of Christ to follow a more determined and consistent, the grace and renewing our baptismal commitments, to abandon the old man that is in us and put on Christ, to achieve renewed at Easter and can say with Saint Paul "I no longer live but Christ lives in me "(Gal 2:20). Good Lenten journey to you all! Thanks!
[ Greetings: Je vous salue avec joie, chers Pèlerins de langue française et plus particulièrement les jeunes presents! Je vous invite à prendre très au sérieux ce Carême pour vivre dans un esprit de foi et faire en temps d'authentique a conversion. En participant aux saints Mysteries, vous vous à désaltérez la source d'eau vive qui est en Dieu! Avec bénédiction!
I welcome all the English-speaking visitors present at today's Audience, especially those from Ireland, Japan, South Korea and the United States. My special greeting goes to the priests and semi-Arians of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. With prayerful good wishes for a spiritually fruitful Lent, I cordially invoke upon you and your families God's blessings of joy and peace! I cordially greet
the German-speaking pilgrims and visitors, especially the diocesan committee of the diocese of Regensburg and the priesthood of Eichstätt Seminary, of course, the Surberg and Traunstein. Very sincerely thank ich der Allgäuer Blaskapelle für ihre wunderbare Musik. Gehen wir mit Fasten, Almosengeben und Gebet den Weg der Erneuerung in Christus, so daß auch wir mit dem heiligen Apostel Paulus sagen können: »Nicht mehr ich lebe, sondern Christus lebt in mir« (Gal 2,20). Euch allen wünsche ich eine gesegnete Fastenzeit!
Saludo cordialmente a los peregrinos de lengua española, en particular a los grupos provenientes de España, México, Chile y otros países latinoamericanos. Queridos amigos, en este camino cuaresmal, os invito a acoger la invitación de Cristo a seguirlo de un modo más decidido y coherente, renovando la gracia y los compromisos bautismales, para que revistiéndoos de Cristo, Claw llegar a la Pascua renovated y decir con San Pablo "yo vivo, pero no soy yo, quien es live en mí Christ" (Gal 2, 20). Deseo un holy to all Cuaresma.
I cordially greet the faithful of the parishes of Calhariz Brandoa and Benfica Lisbon at the Patriarchate, the teachers and students of the school communities of the diocese of Coimbra and Porto and the group of pilgrims, doctors and teachers, in Guimarães. To you and all the gifts of Portuguese want a blessed Lenten journey, that allows you to find, accept and follow Jesus more closely, and so ye can say with St. Paul, "no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me '. Thanks Voss pela presença. Ide com Deus.
Saluto in lingua polacca:
cordial greetings to the Poles. Lent is a time sposobnym to strengthen our relationship with Christ and to imitate Him in sacrificial love. Resuming our baptismal commitment, Leave the old man, who is in us, and put on Christ, we live Passover renewed and ready to repeat St. Paul: "This is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." God bless you! Traduzione italiana
:
Un cordiale Saluto rivolgo polacchi ai. È la quaresima opportuno il tempo per il nostro consolidare getting along with colleagues con Cristo e per seguire sulle vie dell'amore disposto al sacrificio. Accogliendo nuovamente gli impegni del nostro Battesimo, abbandoniamo vecchio l'uomo che è in noi e rivestiamoci di Cristo, per vivere la Pasqua Rinnovati e pronti a ripetere con S. Paolo: "non vivo piu 'io, ma Cristo vive in me." Part VI Benedico!
Saluto lingua in Italiano:
Croatian cordially greet all the pilgrims, and especially those from the parish of St. Anthony of Padua from Sesvetskih Sela.
As we begin the Lenten journey, I urge you, dear friends, to take advantage of this grace, a time of fasting and prayer for personal conversion and of charity. Praised Isus i Marija!
Traduzione italiana:
Cordialmente salute tutti i Pellegrini Croata particolarmente della parrocchia i Fedeli di Sant'Antonio di Padova in Sesvetska Sela. Il camino Cominciando quaresimale, vi esorto, Cari Amici, ad approfittare di questo tempo di favorevole digiuno preghiera per la conversione e di personale e per opera di Caritat off. Sian Lodato Gesù e Maria!
ungherese Salute in lingua:
Welcome to the Hungarian parishioners, especially those who arrived in Budapest and Bodajkról. We greet you all.
period of Lent begins today. Forty days, the liturgy helps us to újra átélhessük megváltásunk titkát. A böjt és és az imádság egyesít bennünket Krisztussal, Aki az Atya akaratát teljesítve Önmagát ADTA to keresztfán.
Szívesen adom áldásomat Kedves Mindannyiotokra apostles.
Dicsértessék to Krisztus Jezus!
Italian translation:
greet with affection the Hungarian-speaking pilgrims, especially the groups that came from Budapest and Bodajk.
Today we begin Lent - forty days during which the liturgy will help us relive the mystery of our redemption. Through the sacrifice and prayer, we unite with Christ who does the will of the Father e dona with nell'offerta stesso della Croce. Volentieri la vi imparto Benedizione Apostolica.
Sia Lodato Gesu Cristo!
Salute in lingua inglese:
greet pilgrims from Slovakia.
brothers and sister, the apostle Paul calls "In the name of Christ, you pray to God be reconciled with one another." At the beginning of Lent počujme this invitation, which is addressed to each of us happy and it nasledujme.
bless you with love.
Praised be Jesus Christ!
Traduzione italiana:
Salute di cuore i Pellegrini provenienti dalla Slovacchia.
Fratelli e Sorelle, l'Apostolo Paul asks: "We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" We feel the beginning of Lent this appeal addressed personally to each one of us and let's put it into practice with generosity. I bless you with affection.
Praised be Jesus Christ! ] * * *
extend a cordial welcome to the Italian-speaking pilgrims. In particular, I greet you, Montecalvo Irpino faithful gathered here in memory of San Pompilio Maria Pirrotta, and I urge you to make a generous Christian witness everywhere, following in the footsteps of your patron and supported by the maternal intercession of Mary, whom you venerate the title of Our Lady of Abundance. Greeting you with affection, pilgrims from the parish of St Matthew in Asiago, and encourage you to faithfully follow Jesus and his Gospel, to be authentic Christians in the family and in any other environment. I greet the members of the "United World" and invite them to continue their generous commitment to projects of solidarity and peace.
I offer, finally, my greetings to the young, the sick and newlyweds. The Lenten season, which begins today, will lead each to a more intimate knowledge of Christ, for you in different situations where you are, have his own feelings and do everything in communion with him
© Copyright 2011 - Library Editrice Vaticana
0 comments:
Post a Comment