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January 17

Pope invites faithful to invoke the Lord with confidence

Rome, 17 (NE) Psalm 41 was the theme of Pope John Paul II catechesis, during yesterday's general audience held in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. The Psalm, explained the Pope to faithful gathered for the audience, contains the image of the deer longing for cooling streams to quench its thirst. This, he said, symbolizes "the person in prayer who tends with all his being, body and soul, towards the Lord Who is felt to be distant yet, at the same time, necessary."

"The opening scene of the Psalm is an expression of the profound nostalgia generated by a past rendered joyful by wonderful liturgical celebrations that are now unattainable. ... The festive prayer of the past, raised to the Lord during worship in the Temple, is substituted by tears, lamentation and imploration."

However, the Pope further explained, "the Psalmist is now far from Zion." He is in Galilee near the cataracts of the Jordan River. "However, these waters do not quench the thirst as do those of Zion. In the eyes of the psalmist they are similar to the turbulent waters of the flood that destroy all before them. He feels them overwhelm him like a raging torrent that annihilates life."

The Pope then explained that this deluge symbolizes "the corrupt, the enemy, perhaps even the pagans who live in the remote region where the faithful Psalmist has been relegated. They despise the just man and deride his faith, asking him ironically 'where is your God?' While he raises the anguished question to the Lord: 'Why have you forgotten me?' ... Faced by this tormented soul, can God remain silent? Of course not!" The following Psalm, number 42, contains "a faithful invocation to God: 'Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy'."

Toronto prepares for World Youth Day

Toronto, 17 (NE - eclesiales.org) Approximately 400 representatives from different parts of the world gathered in Toronto, Canada, to prepare the next World Youth Day that will take place in this city. This is the second meeting in preparation for the XVII World Youth Meeting that takes place every two years. The representatives will discuss organizational and pastoral aspects of the encounter.

Cardinal J. Francis Stafford, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity was present at the meeting. His council is in charge of organizing World Youth Day. Representatives from different Bishops Conferences and Church movements and associations also participated.

The first meeting in preparation took place in Rome in June, last year. Around half a million young people from 150 different countries are expected for the World Youth Meeting, which will take place from July 18 to 28.

Venezuela: Bishops ask for greater dialogue and harmony

Caracas, 17 (NE - eclesiales.org) Concluding the 77th Ordinary Assembly of the Venezuelan Bishops Conference, the Bishops of this country issued the document "Dialogue: the Way to Peace", expressing their concern about social conflict and calling for dialogue to assure living together in harmony. In the document the Bishops regretted that in the country "ideological positions have radicalized. Some people try to impose exclusive and excluding political and social models, and they donut open themselves to ambits of reconciliation of points of view". The bishops also expressed the commitment of the Catholic Church to make dialogue easier, even serving as mediators between the government and the opposition. On the other hand, they insisted on the need to elaborate a project for a country to be shared by all, in which the search for the common good should triumph over ideologies and in which human dignity should be respected.

Holy Land: Resident and pilgrim Christians should offer "witness of peace"

Rome, 17 (NE - eclesiales. Org) The difficult situation of the Middle East has made "the world fear the Holy Land". This was lamented by the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, as he addressed a group of Italian pilgrims to the Holy Land. In his words, the Patriarch made a double call, to foreign pilgrims and to Christians living in the Holy Land. He first asked the foreign pilgrims to "come back to this land, for you are a part of our Christian life." On the other hand, he told those Christians who leave for fear of violence, to "accept their vocation to be Christians here, with all the difficulties that this decision takes." He asked both not to be afraid, for their presence means "offering a witness of peace to all."

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