SUMMARY:
- NO
PRAYER IS EVER LOST
- MIDDLE
EAST CHRISTIANS MUST BE BUILDERS OF PEACE AND ARCHITECTS OF
RECONCILIATION
-
DECLARATION BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR
-
DEVELOPMENT OF EVERY PERSON AND OF THE WHOLE PERSON IS THE HEART OF
EVANGELISATION
-
AUDIENCES
______________________________________
NO
PRAYER IS EVER LOST
Vatican
City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - During his general audience, held
this morning in the Paul VI Hall, Benedict XVI focused his catechesis
on prayer in the second part of the Book of Revelation in which, he
noted, attention moves from the interior life of the Church "to
the entire world, because the Church advances through history and is
a part thereof".
In this
second part of Revelation, the Christian assembly is called "to
undertake a profound interpretation of the history in which it lives,
learning to discern events with faith so that, through its actions,
it may collaborate in the advancement of the kingdom of God. Such
interpretation, discernment and action are closely associated with
prayer".
The
assembly is invited to ascend unto heaven "in order to see
reality with the eyes of God". There, according to St. John's
narrative, we find three symbols with which to interpret history: the
throne, the scroll and the Lamb. On the throne sits Almighty God "Who
has not remained isolated in heaven but has approached man and
entered into a covenant with him". The scroll "contains
God's plan for history and mankind, but it is hermetically sealed
with seven seals and no one can read it. ... Yet there is a remedy to
man's confusion before the mystery of history. Someone is able to
open the scroll and illuminate him".
That
someone appears in the third symbol: "Christ, the Lamb, Who was
immolated in the sacrifice of the cross but stands in sign of His
resurrection. The Lamb, Christ, Who died and rose again, will
progressively open the seals so as to reveal the plan of God, the
profound meaning of history".
These
symbols, the Pope explained, "remind us of the path we must
follow to interpret the events of history and of our own lives.
Raising our gaze to God's heaven in an unbroken relationship with
Christ, ... in individual and community prayer, we learn to see
things in a new way and to grasp their most authentic significance".
The Lord invites the Christian community "to a realistic
examination of the present time in which they are living. The Lamb
then opens the first four seals of the scroll and the Church sees the
world of which she is part; a world containing ... the evils
accomplished by man, such as violence ... and injustice, ... to which
must be added the evils man suffers such as death, hunger, and
sickness".
"In
the face of these often dramatic issues the ecclesial community is
invited never to lose hope, but to remain firm in the belief that the
apparent omnipotence of the Evil One in fact comes up against true
omnipotence, that of God". St. John speaks of the white horse,
which symbolises that "the power of God has entered man's
history, a power capable not only of counterbalancing evil, but also
of overcoming it. ... God became so close as to descend into the
darkness of death and illuminate it with the splendour of divine
life. He took the evil of the world upon Himself to purify it with
the fire of His love".
The Holy
Father went on: "How can we progress in this Christian
interpretation of reality? The Book of Revelation tells us that
prayer nourishes this vision of light and profound hope in each one
of us and in our communities. ... The Church lives in history, she is
not closed in herself but courageously faces her journey amidst
difficulties and sufferings, forcefully affirming that evil does not
defeat good, that darkness does not shade God's splendour. This is an
important point for us too: as Christians we can never be pessimists.
... Prayer, above all, educates us to see the signs of God, His
presence and His action; or rather, it educates us to become lights
of goodness, spreading hope and indicating that the victory is
God's".
At the
end of the vision an angel places grains of incense in a censer then
throws it upon the earth. Those grains represent our prayers, the
Pope said. "and we can be sure that there is no such thing as a
superfluous or useless prayer. No prayer is lost. ... God is not
oblivious to our prayers. ... When faced with evil we often have the
sensation that we can do nothing, but our prayers are in fact the
first and most effective response we can give, they strengthen our
daily commitment to goodness. The power of God makes our weakness
strong".
MIDDLE
EAST CHRISTIANS MUST BE BUILDERS OF PEACE AND ARCHITECTS OF
RECONCILIATION
Vatican
City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - At the end of his general audience
today, the Holy Father spoke of his forthcoming apostolic trip to
Lebanon, where he is due to sign the Post-Synodal Apostolic
Exhortation of the Special Assembly for the Middle East of the Synod
of Bishops.
"At
this hour in two days' time", he said, "I will be on a
plane bound for Lebanon. I rejoice at this apostolic trip which will
enable me to meet many members of Lebanese society: the civil and
ecclesiastical authorities, Catholic faithful of various rites, other
Christians, and the Muslims and Druze of the region. I thank the Lord
for this rich variety, which will be able to continue only if people
live in permanent peace and reconciliation. For this reason I exhort
all Christians of the Middle East, both those born there and the
newly arrived, to be builders of peace and architects of
reconciliation. Let us pray to God that He may fortify the faith of
Christians in Lebanon and the Middle East, and fill them with hope. I
thank God for their presence and call upon the entire Church to show
solidarity, that they may continue to bear witness to Christ in those
blessed lands, seeking communion in unity. I thank God for all the
individuals and institutions who, in many ways, help them to do so.
The history of the Middle East teaches us the important and sometimes
primordial role. played by the various Christian communities in
inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue Let us ask God to give
that region of the world its longed-for peace, and respect for
legitimate differences. May God bless Lebanon and the Middle East.
May God bless you".
DECLARATION
BY HOLY SEE PRESS OFFICE DIRECTOR
Vatican
City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a
declaration made by Holy See Press Office Director Fr. Federico
Lombardi following episodes of violence in the Libyan city of
Benghazi yesterday.
"Profound
respect for the beliefs, texts, outstanding figures and symbols of
the various religions is an essential precondition for the peaceful
coexistence of peoples. The serious consequences of unjustified
offence and provocations against the sensibilities of Muslim
believers are once again evident in these days, as we see the
reactions they arouse, sometimes with tragic results, which in their
turn nourish tension and hatred, unleashing unacceptable violence.
"The
message of dialogue and respect for all believers of different
religions, which the Holy Father is preparing to carry with him on
his forthcoming trip to Lebanon, indicate the path that everyone
should follow in order to construct shared and peaceful coexistence
among religions and peoples".
DEVELOPMENT
OF EVERY PERSON AND OF THE WHOLE PERSON IS THE HEART OF
EVANGELISATION
Vatican
City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio
Bertone S.D.B. has sent a letter, in the Holy Father's name, to
Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, archbishop of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, for
the opening of the first Integrated Meeting for the Pastoral Care of
the Road/Street for the Continent of Africa and Madagascar, which is
currently taking place in that city.
"As
the Synod Fathers at the two Special Assemblies for Africa of the
Synod of Bishops prophetically acknowledged, the Church's concern for
the development of every person and the whole person, especially of
the poorest and most neglected, is at the heart of her mission of
evangelisation in Africa", the English-language text reads.
"His
Holiness trusts that the present meeting will lead to greater
cooperation and coordinated efforts among the particular Churches for
the sake of safeguarding every life at risk on African streets and
roads. He asks that special attention be paid to the pastoral needs
of those women and children who find themselves on the streets,
whether as a result of concrete social, economic and political
factors, or as victims of organised national and international
exploiters. He is likewise confident that the meeting will address
situations affecting the lives of those who travel in their work and,
not least, the road insecurity which threatens the lives of millions
on African soil.
"With
these sentiments, the Holy Father offers fervent prayers that the
meeting will confirm the Church in Africa and Madagascar in its
witness to the Gospel and its contribution to the building up of
civil society and to the forging of a new Africa".
AUDIENCES
Vatican
City, 12 September 2012 (VIS) - Following this morning's general
audience, the Holy Father received in audience Karekin II, Catholicos
and Supreme Patriarch of All Armenians.
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