.- On
Saturday, just after Pope Benedict XVI and the Roman Curia had
completed their annual Lenten spiritual exercises, the Holy Father
recalled the past week’s profound experiences and called on Christians
to bring the “joyful news” of Christ to the world.
The Pope,
speaking off-the-cuff to fellow participants, praised Cardinal Marco
Ce, patriarch emeritus of Venice, Italy, who was this year’s preacher
of the spiritual exercises, saying that he had led the group on a
“Marian journey” to become part of the Word of God.
Pope Benedict
reminded the group that Cardinal Ce had begun by guiding them "in the
footsteps of St. Mark, walking the road with Jesus towards Jerusalem"
and by highlighting "the profoundly ecclesial nature" of the spiritual
exercises.
The Holy Father
continued by saying that "We cannot bring the world the joyful news
that is the person of Christ if we ourselves are not profoundly united
to Christ, if we do not know Him deeply and personally, if we do not
live from His Word."
Cardinal Ce, he
said, also dwelt upon "the Christological nature" of the exercises,
helping the Pope and Curia “to listen to the Master Who speaks with us
and within us; he helped us to respond, to speak with the Lord and
listen to His Word."
Pope concluded,
saying that ultimately, the cardinal guided the group "on a Marian
journey, a journey that calls us to become part of the Word of God, to
place our lives within the Word of God and so allow our being to be
permeated by this Word, that we may then become witnesses to the living
Word of Christ Himself in our time.”
Highlighting
what he called “renewed courage,” and “renewed joy,” he said that now,
“we move towards Easter, towards the celebration of the Mystery of
Christ, which is always more than a celebration or a rite, it is
Presence and Truth."
Pope Benedict: Christians cannot bring world the joy of Christ if we are not profoundly united with Him
Related news
Related articles
* The number of messages that can be online is limited. CNA reserves the right to edit messages for content and tone. Comments and opinions expressed by users do not necessarily reflect the opinions or beliefs of CNA. CNA will not publish comments with abusive language, insults or links to other pages
Featured Videos
May
25
Catholic Daily
Gospel of the Day
Jn 21,15-19
Gospel
Date
05/25/12
05/24/12
05/23/12
Daily Readings
First Reading:: Acts 25:13b-21Psalm:: Ps 103:1-2, 11-12, 19-20abGospel:: Jn 21:15-19Homily of the Day
Jn 21,15-19
Homily
Date
05/25/12
05/24/12
05/23/12
Most Popular
