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December 27

Pope John Paul II' message for Christmas

Rome, 27 (NE - eclesiales.org) Before thousands of faithful from all over the world gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope John Paul II gave this Wednesday his traditional Christmas message and his "Urbi et orbi" (to the city and the world) blessing.

1. "To us a child is born, to us a son is given" (Is 9:5). Today the mystery of Christmas is renewed: this Child who brings salvation to the world is also born for the men and women of our own time, bringing joy and peace for all. We approach the crib with emotion; together with Mary we go to meet the Long-Awaited of the Nations, the Redeemer of humanity. Cum Maria contemplemur Christi vultum. With Mary let us contemplate the face of Christ: in that Child, wrapped in swaddling cloths and laid in the manger (cf. Lk 2:7), it is God himself who comes to visit us, to guide our feet in the way of peace (cf. Lk 1:79). Mary watches him, caresses him and keeps him warm, pondering the meaning of the wondrous signs which surround the mystery of Christmas.

2. Christmas is a mystery of joy! The Angels sang in the night: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased" (Lk 2:14). To the shepherds they described the event as "a great joy for all the people" (cf. Lk 2:10). Joy, despite distance from home, the poverty of the manger, people's indifference, the hostility of power. A mystery of joy nonetheless, for in the City of David "to you is born this day a Saviour" (Lk 2:11). The Church shares in this same joy, surrounded today by the light of the Son of God: the darkness can never obscure it. It is the glory of the Eternal Word, who out of love has become one of us.

3. Christmas is a mystery of love! The love of the Father, who has sent into the world his only-begotten Son, to bestow on us the gift of his own life (cf. 1 Jn 4:8-9). The love of "God-with-us", Emmanuel, who came to earth in order to die on the Cross. In the cold stable, wrapped in silence, the Virgin Mother, with prophetic intuition, already tastes the violent drama of Calvary, the traumatic struggle between darkness and light, between death and life, between hatred and love. The Prince of Peace, born today in Bethlehem, will give his life on Golgotha, so that love may reign on earth.

4. Christmas is a mystery of peace! From the cave of Bethlehem there rises today an urgent appeal to the world not to yield to mistrust, suspicion and discouragement, even though the tragic reality of terrorism feeds uncertainties and fears. Believers of all religions, together with men and women of good will, by outlawing all forms of intolerance and discrimination, are called to build peace: in the Holy Land, above all, to put an end once and for all to the senseless spiral of blind violence, and in the Middle East, to extinguish the ominous smouldering of a conflict which, with the joint efforts of all, can be avoided; in Africa too, where devastating famines and tragic internal conflicts are aggravating the already precarious conditions of entire peoples, although here and there signs of hope are present; in Latin America, in Asia, in other parts of the world, where political, economic and social crises disturb the serenity of many families and nations. May humanity accept the Christmas message of peace!

5. Adorable mystery of the Incarnate Word! Together with you, O Virgin Mother, may we stop and reflect at the manger where the Child lies, to share your own amazement at the immense "condescension" of God. Grant us your own eyes, O Mary, that we may understand the mystery hidden within the frail limbs of your Son. Teach us to recognize his face in the children of every race and culture. Help us to be credible witnesses of his message of peace and love, so that the men and women of our own time, still torn by conflicts and unspeakable violence, may also recognize in the Child cradled in your arms the one Saviour of the world, the endless source of that true peace for which every heart profoundly yearns.

December 17

Pope calls faithful to fill hearts with joy in preparation for Christmas

Rome, 17 (NE) Last Sunday Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in the Paul VI Hall for the community of the Roman parish of St. John Nepomucene Neumann. The Pope affirmed in the homily that "in the face of the difficulties of life, uncertainties and fears for the future and the temptation to get discouraged and disappointed, the Word of God once again puts forth the 'joyful proclamation' of salvation. ... May this joy, precursor of the joy of Christmas which is near, penetrate our hearts and every sphere of our existence."

After recalling that the parish, founded two years ago, "still does not have a suitable cultural center", John Paul II said: "Precisely on this third Sunday in Advent, the diocese celebrates a day of prayer and awareness so that all areas of the city, especially those on the outskirts, may have a church with the necessary facilities in order to carry out liturgical, formative and pastoral activities. I hope," he added, "that you also may be able to realize this project as soon as possible, without losing the missionary style that in these years has made your parochial life lively and dynamic."

The Holy Father urged the parishioners to take special care of children and adolescents "so that they do not want for attention, friendship and faith. Support families, in particular those that are young and those that are poor or experiencing difficulties." Referring at the end to St. John Nepomucene, "this figure of missionary Bishop and extraordinary pioneer of the Gospel in North America in the second half of the nineteenth century", he concluded: "Imitate his zeal for proclaiming the Gospel and his ardent love for the Church and for those in need."

Christian families must give hope to the world, says Pope

Rome, 17 (NE) "The world needs a sign of hope to come from Christian families", said Pope John Paul II last Sunday, during his address to pilgrims before the Angelus prayer. Christmas, the Pope said, "is par excellence the feast of the family because God, being born into a human family, chose it as the first community consecrated by his love." The Pope also recalled the celebration of the 4th World Meeting with Families on January 22 and 26 of 2003 in Manila, Philippines. Previous meetings were held in Rome (1994), Rio de Janeiro (1997) and again in Rome during the Jubilee Year. "The next meeting," he affirmed, "will help to promote once again the Gospel of the Family in the third millennium. ... The world needs a sign of hope to come from Christian families."

December 12

The Lord never abandons man, says Pope John Paul II

Rome, 12 (NE) The Canticle of the prophet Jeramiah, "The people's cry in times of hunger and war", was the theme of Pope John Paul II' catechesis during yesterday's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall. The canticle is read in the Liturgy of Praise on Friday which is the day the Lord died. In his reflection, the Pope said that "the context in which this lamentation occurs, is represented by an affliction which frequently affects the land of the Near East: drought. To this natural disaster is added the "tragedy of war. ... Unfortunately the description is tragically true to life in so many regions of our planet."

The Pope affirmed that the second part of the Canticle is a "collective supplication to God. ... In addition to the sword and hunger, there is in fact a greater tragedy, that of the silence of God who does not reveal himself anymore and seems to have locked Himself up in heaven, as if he were displeased by man's behavior." This makes humanity feel "alone, abandoned, deprived of peace, salvation, and hope. The people, left to themselves, feel lost and overcome by terror."

"Is it not perhaps this existential solitude that is the deep font of so much dissatisfaction which we observe in these days? So much insecurity and so many thoughtless reactions come from having abandoned God, the rock of salvation." The Pope indicated that at a certain point in the Canticle, the people return to God and "recognize their own sin most of all, with a short but heartfelt confession of guilt." Therefore, it is revealed that "God's silence was provoked by man's rejection. If the people convert and return to the Lord, God will be willing to go meet and embrace them."

"Together with the Israelites," he concluded, "we also can be sure that the Lord does not abandon us forever but rather He makes His face shine on us after each purifying trial."

Pope stresses need of integral education in universities

Rome, 12 (NE) Pope John Paul II presided last Monday the annual mass for students who attend Roman universities. Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the Pope's vicar for the diocese of Rome and president of the Italian Episcopal Conference, celebrated the Eucharist, held in St. Peter's Basilica.

The homily, given by the Holy Father, focused on the Book of Consolation of Isaiah who prophesies "Christ's birth, a consoling announcement for all humanity" when the "'Lord's glory will be revealed and every man will see'." In this context, the Pope spoke about the "glory of God and of man", recalling that since the times of Nebuchadnezzar "nothing withstands God. Only He with his omnipotence ... guides the destiny of man and history."

Afterward, while reflecting on current times, he said: "How fragile are the powers that tried to impose their dominion! Science, technology, and culture, when they show pretensions of omnipotence, prove to be grass that dries out quickly, like a flower that withers away."

Recalling his university experience, the Holy Father said that he learned through "daily contact with students and professors that an integral development that prepares students for life is necessary. Also necessary is an education that teaches them to assume responsibly their role in the family and society, with professional as well as human and spiritual competence."

The Pope concluded by mentioning the Gospel read during the mass about the shepherd that leaves the flock to look for the one lost sheep. "God's omnipotence," he said, "... is full of mercy. It is a loving authority which is partial to the weakest and humblest. God does not consider humanity an anonymous mass, on the contrary he dwells on each individual and personally takes care of each person. Christ is the true shepherd who gathers his flock under his arm."

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