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Precisely because he has been redeemed by Christ and become the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit, every Christian can find in himself those various talents and Charisms that allow him to develop his life creatively. He is thus able to serve God and his brothers and sisters, suitably responding to his particular vocation in the Christian community and in the social context in which he lives. I hope that you will all be aware of the dignity of your Christian vocation, attentive to the voice of God who calls and generous in proclaiming his saving presence to your brothers and sisters.
Speak, Lord, because we, your servants, are ready to listen to you!
“You alone have the words of eternal life” (cf. Gospel acclamation).
Amen! |
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1 Corinthians 5: 9-13 (Encouragements-475). |
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The theme of reconciliation, which is also the subject of this year’s Message for the World Day of Peace, has a twofold dimension: reconciliation with God, first of all, and then reconciliation with one’s brethren. The true and ultimate reason for the division between Christians is human sin, which is a rebellion against God’s will. Precisely for this reason the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council stated: “There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion” (Unitatis redintegratio, n. 7). This is why a firm will to conform one’s life to the Gospel, a will sustained by constant prayer, is required of all who wish to be effective builders of unity. - Saint Pope John Paul II |
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JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS Sunday, 19 January 1997
1. “On behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).
The pressing appeal for reconciliation, contained in these words of the Apostle Paul, is raised with force, and also with joy and hope, during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which began yesterday and will close on Saturday, 25 January, the feast of the Conversion of St Paul. It is an appeal which serves as the main theme of the interdenominational gatherings planned for the various days of this week.
On the closing day, as is customary, I will preside at a solemn Eucharistic celebration in the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls.
2. The theme of reconciliation, which is also the subject of this year’s Message for the World Day of Peace, has a twofold dimension: reconciliation with God, first of all, and then reconciliation with one’s brethren.
The true and ultimate reason for the division between Christians is human sin, which is a rebellion against God’s will. Precisely for this reason the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council stated: “There can be no ecumenism worthy of the name without interior conversion” (Unitatis redintegratio, n. 7). This is why a firm will to conform one’s life to the Gospel, a will sustained by constant prayer, is required of all who wish to be effective builders of unity.
The Christian community is on the way towards reconciliation and full communion in faith, sacraments and ministry. Today relations between Christians are in fact more fraternal. We note that there is better knowledge of one another, more attentive respect and increasing co-operation in strengthening understanding and brotherhood. Nevertheless, there remain doctrinal and practical differences which impede full communion. Dialogue must therefore be intensified and the commitment to prayer be further developed.
3. Dear brothers and sisters, in today’s world, as in every age, there are tensions and conflicts that show the need for profound reconciliation. As Christians, we are called by the Gospel to be peacemakers who proclaim the reconciliation Christ has brought to every man and to all men (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14, 18).
This mission becomes more pressing as we head towards the Holy Door of the Year 2000, when we will celebrate the Great Jubilee. If we wish to be faithful to Jesus Christ, we must be thoroughly committed so that, at the dawn of the third millennium, we may find ourselves closer to one another; and everyone, together, closer to God. To lead us on this path, we now call upon the Mother of God, one of whose titles is “Hodegetria”, she who shows the Way. -----------------------------------------------------------
After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father said:
We hope that this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity will be fruitful for the Church of Rome and for all Christendom. I wish you a pleasant week. Praised be Jesus Christ! |
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JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS
Dear Brothers and Sisters!
1. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which assumes even greater importance during the Jubilee Year, will begin the day after tomorrow, 18 January. Indeed, the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 has a strong ecumenical character as a "concrete sign of the journey which ... the faithful of the different Churches and Ecclesial Communities have been making" (Incarnationis mysterium, n. 4). To underscore this fundamental aspect of the Holy Year, we will go with the delegations of many Churches and Ecclesial Communities to the Basilica of St Paul-Outside-the-Walls to open the Holy Door with a solemn Ecumenical Celebration.
Only with God's help can we advance on the path of unity and overcome the divisions created in the Christian world during the second millennium. I thank the Lord that in St Paul's Basilica we will have the joy of meeting and praying with representatives of the principal Churches and Ecclesial Communities, to whom I extend at this moment a most cordial welcome. We will ask God and one another to forgive the sins committed against the unity of the Church and, at the same time, we will give thanks for the journey of reconciliation we have made, especially in the last century. I invite all believers to join in our prayer that the beginning of the third millennium can experience a promising development in ecumenical relations.
2. The theme of the Week of Prayer this year 2000 is inspired by a well-known phrase of St Paul at the beginning of the Letter to the Ephesians: "Blessed be God ... who has blessed us in Christ" (Ephesians 1: 3). The Apostle raises a hymn of praise to the Triune God for this marvellous plan of salvation, which embraces history and the cosmos and is centred in Christ.
This theme, which we are reflecting on during the 2,000th anniversary of the Incarnation, was chosen by a working group from the Middle East representing the various Christian confessions in the Land of Jesus. This gives me the opportunity to recall that the Day for Religious Dialogue between Jews and Christians will be observed tomorrow in Italy: an initiative which, although distinct from the Ecumenical Week, in some way prepares for it by inviting us to go to the roots, that is, to God's covenant with Israel.
3. Jesus sprang from these roots through the Blessed Virgin Mary. Let us ask her to protect the ecumenical journey. Let us entrust to her motherly intercession the prayer for unity which will rise with one voice from all the Ecclesial Communities in the next few days, so that it will prompt attitudes and acts of true reconciliation and fraternal love everywhere. -----------------------------------------------------------
After leading the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father said:
I extend a cordial greeting to everyone who attended the international conference on Hansen's disease which was held at the Vatican yesterday and organized by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health-Care Workers and the Italian Association of the Friends of Raoul Follereau. I express my appreciation of their effort on behalf of those suffering from leprosy, of whom there are still about 15 million in the world.
I hope that the year 2000 will mark a decisive step forward in the treatment and recovery of our brothers and sisters. Hansen's disease can actually be cured with medicines that are relatively inexpensive but are often not available to the sick because of their poverty. The most dangerous "leprosy", in fact, is poverty, which must be combatted at the economic level, and prior to that, by a profound conversion from the logic of selfishness to one of solidarity. May the Holy Year awaken in Christian souls generous openness to all our brothers and sisters in need. |
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JOHN PAUL II ANGELUS Sunday, 19 January 2003
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
1. Yesterday we began the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity" which is observed every year from 18 to 25 January and, in the Southern Hemisphere, around Pentecost. The intentions for this "Week" were prepared by a mixed international commission, made up of Catholic representatives and of the "Faith and Order" Commission of the World Council of Churches.
This year the theme is "We have this treasure in earthen vessels" taken from the Second Letter of St Paul to the Corinthians (cf. 4:7). In our hearts shines the vision of the divine glory that shines on the face of Christ. However, we bear this treasure "in earthen vessels", namely, in the frailty of the human condition, "to show that the transcendent power belongs to God and not to us" (II Corinthians 4:7).
The re-composition of the unity of all the baptized is a gift that comes from God and our dedication to promoting it is not by itself sufficient to realize it, but, when Christians come together, discover they are brothers, collaborate to relieve suffering and pray for unity, they contribute to making shine forth the face of Christ and his glory.
2. On the second day of the "Week of Prayer", the verse suggested for our meditation is drawn from the text of the Apostle and says, "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed" (II Corinthians 4:8). Yes, we are oppressed by division and there are many barriers that still separate us. But we are not crushed because the glory of the Lord, that shines upon us, continues to guide us toward purification and reciprocal pardon, and gives light and force to the common prayer that we offer together to God so that he might heal the wounds of our division.
3. Dear Brothers and Sisters, let us ask the Lord that he may make grow to its fullness the communion between Christians in truth and in charity. Let this be our common aspiration. At the closing of the Week, on 25 January, we will solemnly renew it together when I will preside at the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, where events of great importance connected with the ecumenical journey have taken place.
Let us entrust this ardent prayer to the intercession of Our Lady, Mother of the Church. ----------------------------------------------------------
After the Angelus the Holy Father spoke on the initiative "Catholic Schools Day" organized by the diocese of Rome that brought a crowd into St Peter's Square:
I greet the directors, teachers, parents and students of the Catholic schools of Rome who have gathered for the observance of "Catholic Schools Day", that has the theme "Family, School, Community. Together to educate for life". It is a wonderful chance to reflect on the original plan of formation, inspired by the Gospel, and by the integral vision of the human person that the school offers children to help them in a positive way think through the great questions of life.
While I thank all those who live and work in Catholic schools, I also strongly hope that every family may have the concrete possibility to choose this kind of school for their children. I express my appreciation for the quality of service they render and for the tenacity and spirit of sacrifice with which they face the difficulties. I encourage all to persevere in this valuable mission that is an integral part of the diocesan pastoral programme that deals with vocations.
22 February 2015 |
