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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 108
DATE 02-06-2012
Summary:
- THE FAMILY IS MAN'S MOST IMPORTANT HERITAGE
- WE ARE CALLED TO TRANSFORM SUFFERING INTO LOVE
- LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE, RELYING ON GOD'S FIDELITY
- TO YOUNG PEOPLE: AIM AT HIGH IDEALS! BE SAINTS!
___________________________________________________________
THE FAMILY IS MAN'S MOST IMPORTANT HERITAGE
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - "We must rediscover the family as human
beings' most important heritage, one of the elements and signs of an authentic
and stable culture in favour of man". Benedict XVI pronounced these words
yesterday evening during
his meeting with the citizens of Milan, having travelled today to that Italian
city to participate in the seventh World Meeting of Families. The event began
on 30 May and has as its theme: "The Family: Work and Celebration".
After landing in Milan the Pope travelled to Piazza del Duomo where he met
with local citizens and with pilgrims from all over the world who have come to
the city for the occasion. Benedict XVI began by making affectionate
recollection "of those who are
alone or in difficulties, the unemployed, the sick, the imprisoned, the
homeless and those who do not have the means to live a dignified life. May
none of these brothers and sisters of ours lack the collective and constant
concern of society as a
whole". In this context he praised the efforts of the archdiocese of Milan to
help the families most deeply affected by the economic crisis, and the people
of the Emilia Romagna region who have recently suffered a series of
earthquakes.
The Pope then went on to highlight "the profound ecclesial sense and sincere
and affectionate communion with Peter's Successor, which have been part of the
richness and identity of the Milanese Church throughout her history, and which
are well expressed
in the great pastors who have guided her". In this context, he mentioned St.
Ambrose, St. Charles Borromeo, Blessed Andrea Carlo Ferrari, Alfredo Ildefonso
Schuster, Pope Pius XI and Pope Paul VI, both former archbishops of Milan, and
St. Gianna Beretta
Molla.
"Your history is rich in culture and faith", the Pope told the Milanese. "Now
it is up to you, the heirs to a glorious past and to a priceless spiritual
heritage, to ensure you hand on the torch of this lustrous tradition to future
generations. Well you
know how vital it is to introduce evangelical leaven into modern culture.
Faith in Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again for us, Who is alive among us,
must animate the entire fabric of individual and community life, of private
and public affairs, so as
to create a stable and authentic 'well being' on the basis of the family".
At the end of the meeting, the Pope travelled to the nearby archbishopric
where he will be staying during his time in Milan.
___________________________________________________________
WE ARE CALLED TO TRANSFORM SUFFERING INTO LOVE
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At 7.30 p.m. yesterday the Pope went to the
La Scala opera house in Milan, where a concert was held in his honour. The
Pope is currently visiting Milan to participate in the seventh World Meeting
of Families. Daniel
Barenboim conducted the orchestra and choir of La Scala in Beethoven’s
ninth symphony.
At the end of the concert Benedict XVI expressed his thanks to the musicians,
singers and conductor. "By choosing Beethoven's ninth symphony we are sending
a message in music which affirms the fundamental value of solidarity,
fraternity and peace. This,
I believe, is also an important message for the family, because it is in
families that we first experience how human beings are not created to live
closed in themselves, but in relation with others. It is in the family that we
understand that self
realisation does not mean being guided by selfishness and putting oneself at
the centre, but giving oneself. It is in the family that the light of peace
begins to burn in people's hearts, so as to illuminate our world".
The Holy Father also noted that the joy of the concert had been clouded by the
recent earthquakes, "which have brought great suffering to so many inhabitants
of this country. The words taken from Schiller's "Hymn to joy" sound empty to
us, they seem
untrue", he said. "At this time ... we have no need for inauthentic accounts
of a distant God or of a fraternity without commitment. We are searching for a
God Who is close. We are searching for a fraternity which, in the midst of
suffering, supports
others and helps us to carry on. After this concert many people will go on to
adore the Eucharist, they will go to the God Who placed Himself in our
sufferings and continues to do so, the God Who suffers with us and for us, and
thus makes men and women
capable of sharing the suffering of others and of transforming it into love.
This is the message we have received from this concert".
At the end of the concert the Holy Father returned to the archbishopric where
he spent the night.
___________________________________________________________
LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE, RELYING ON GOD'S FIDELITY
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today the Holy Father presided at
the celebration of Terce in the Duomo of Milan, in the presence of priests,
deacons, seminarians and religious of the local archdiocese. Following the
recitation of the
Psalms Benedict XVI pronounced a mediation, extracts of which are given below:
"At this moment we are experiencing the mystery of the Church in its most
exalted form, that of liturgical prayer. In ecclesial prayer our lips, our
hearts and our minds, interpret the needs and longings of all humankind. ...
The daily prayer of the
Liturgy of the Hours is an essential task of the ordained ministry of the
Church. It is also through the divine office, which prolongs the central
mystery of the Eucharist throughout the day, that priests have a special bond
to the Lord Jesus".
"What a precious gift the priesthood is! ... If Christ, to build His Church,
delivers Himself into the hands of the priest, then the priest must in turn
entrust himself to Christ without reserve. Love for the Lord Jesus is both the
soul of and the
reason for priestly ministry. ... There is no contrast between the good of the
priest's person and his mission, Quite the contrary, pastoral charity is a
unifying element which, on the basis of an increasingly intimate rapport with
Christ in prayer,
enables us to experience the total gift of self for our flock. ... Each of our
actions, in fact, has the aim of leading the faithful to union with the Lord,
and of increasing ecclesial communion for the salvation of the world.
"One luminous sign of pastoral charity and an undivided heart is priestly
celibacy and consecrated chastity. ... Without doubt love for Jesus regards
all Christians, but it acquires particular significance for the celibate
priest and for those who have
responded to the vocation to consecrated life. The source and model for
repeating our daily 'yes' to God's will is only and always in Christ". In the
Virgin Mary "we recognise that 'chaste and detached life, which Christ the
Lord chose for Himself and
which His Mother also embraced', a life full of obedience to the will of God".
"Dear consecrated brothers and sisters, ... look to the future with
confidence, relying on God's fidelity and the power of His grace, which is
always capable of working new miracles. ... At this time I wish to render
thanks unto God for the many
Ambrosian priests and religious who have spent their lives at the service of
the Gospel, sometimes even unto the supreme sacrifice of their lives". Among
these, the Holy Father made specific mention of the priests Luigi Talamoni,
Luigi Biraghi, Luigi
Monza, Carlo Gnocchi and Serafino Morazzone; the religious blesseds Giovanni
Mazzucconi, Luigi Monti, Clemente Vismara, Maria Anna Sala and Enrichetta
Alfieri.
"Through their joint intercession, we trustingly ask the Giver of all gifts to
make the ministry of priests fruitful, and to strengthen the testimony of
consecrated persons, so as to show the world the beauty of giving oneself to
Christ and the Church,
and to renew Christian families according to God's plan, that they may become
places of grace and sanctity, a fertile terrain for vocations to the
priesthood and consecrated life".
___________________________________________________________
TO YOUNG PEOPLE: AIM AT HIGH IDEALS! BE SAINTS!
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At around midday today, following the
celebration of Terce in the Duomo of Milan, Benedict XVI travelled by car to
the stadium of San Siro where he was greeted by a crowd of around 80,000 made
up of young people who
have recently received or about to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,
members of their families and catechists.
"Assisted by your itinerary (of formation), you have learned to recognise the
wonderful things the Holy Spirit has done and does in your lives, and in all
those who say 'yes' to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have discovered the
great value of Baptism,
the first of the Sacraments, the entranceway to Christian life. You received
all this thanks to your parents who ... committed themselves to educating you
in the faith".
"Now you have grown and can say your own 'yes' to God, a free and conscious
'yes'. The Sacrament of Confirmation confirms Baptism and infuses you
abundantly with the Holy Spirit . Now you, full of gratitude, have the chance
to accept His great gifts
which, on life's journey, will help you to become faithful and courageous
witnesses of Jesus. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are stupendous, enabling you
to be formed as Christians, to live the Gospel and to be active members of the
community".
"All of Christian life is a journey. It is like following a path up a
mountain, sometimes a difficult path, in company with Jesus. ... With the
precious gifts (of the Holy Spirit) your friendship with Him will become more
authentic and closer. It is
constantly nourished by the Sacrament of the Eucharist, ... for which reason I
invite you to participate joyfully and faithfully in Sunday Mass, and ... to
attend Confession, which is the meeting with Jesus Who forgives our sins and
helps us to do good.
... Learn to enter into dialogue with the Lord, tell Him of your joys and
concerns, and ask for light to support you on your journey".
"In the family, be obedient to your parents, listen to the instructions they
give you so as to grow, like Jesus, 'in wisdom and in years, and in divine and
human favour'. Finally, do not be lazy but hard-working, particularly in your
studies. That is
your daily duty and a great opportunity you have to develop and to prepare
your future. Be open and generous towards others, vanquishing the temptation
to place yourselves at the centre, because selfishness is the enemy of
authentic joy.
"If you now have a taste of the beauty of being part of the community of
Jesus, then you too will be able to make your contribution to help it grow.
... Every day, including here today, the Lord is calling you to great things,
Remain open to what He is
suggesting and, if He calls you to follow Him on the path of the priesthood or
consecrated life, do not say no! ... Jesus will fill your hearts for all your
lives".
"I say with conviction: Aim at high ideals! ... Be saints! Yet, you may ask,
is it possible to be saints at your age? I tell you that it is, ... as is
clear from the witness of many saints who were your peers, such as Domenico
Savio and Maria Goretti.
Sanctity is the normal path for Christians, it is not reserved for the chosen
few but open to everyone, though naturally with the light and strength of the
Holy Spirit ... and the guidance of our Mother, ... Mary the Mother of Jesus.
... May the Virgin
Mary, then, always watch over the beauty of your 'yes' to Jesus, her Son, the
great and faithful Friend of your lives".
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews120602
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 108DATE 02-06-2012
Summary: - THE FAMILY IS MAN'S MOST
IMPORTANT HERITAGE - WE ARE
CALLED TO TRANSFORM SUFFERING INTO LOVE - LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH
CONFIDENCE, RELYING ON GOD'S FIDELITY - TO YOUNG PEOPLE: AIM AT HIGH
IDEALS! BE SAINTS!
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - "We must rediscover the family as human
beings' most important heritage, one of the elements and signs of an authentic
and stable culture in favour of man". Benedict XVI pronounced these words
yesterday evening
during his meeting with the citizens of Milan, having travelled today to that
Italian city to participate in the seventh World Meeting of Families. The
event began on 30 May and has as its theme: "The Family: Work and
Celebration".
After landing in Milan the Pope travelled to Piazza del Duomo where he met
with local citizens and with pilgrims from all over the world who have come to
the city for the occasion. Benedict XVI began by making affectionate
recollection "of those who
are alone or in difficulties, the unemployed, the sick, the imprisoned, the
homeless and those who do not have the means to live a dignified life. May
none of these brothers and sisters of ours lack the collective and constant
concern of society as a
whole". In this context he praised the efforts of the archdiocese of Milan to
help the families most deeply affected by the economic crisis, and the people
of the Emilia Romagna region who have recently suffered a series of
earthquakes.
The Pope then went on to highlight "the profound ecclesial sense and
sincere and affectionate communion with Peter's Successor, which have been
part of the richness and identity of the Milanese Church throughout her
history, and which are well
expressed in the great pastors who have guided her". In this context, he
mentioned St. Ambrose, St. Charles Borromeo, Blessed Andrea Carlo Ferrari,
Alfredo Ildefonso Schuster, Pope Pius XI and Pope Paul VI, both former
archbishops of Milan, and St.
Gianna Beretta Molla.
"Your history is rich in culture and faith", the Pope told the Milanese.
"Now it is up to you, the heirs to a glorious past and to a priceless
spiritual heritage, to ensure you hand on the torch of this lustrous tradition
to future generations. Well
you know how vital it is to introduce evangelical leaven into modern culture.
Faith in Jesus Christ, Who died and rose again for us, Who is alive among us,
must animate the entire fabric of individual and community life, of private
and public affairs,
so as to create a stable and authentic 'well being' on the basis of the
family".
At the end of the meeting, the Pope travelled to the nearby archbishopric
where he will be staying during his time in Milan.
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At 7.30 p.m. yesterday the Pope went to
the La Scala opera house in Milan, where a concert was held in his honour. The
Pope is currently visiting Milan to participate in the seventh World Meeting
of Families. Daniel
Barenboim conducted the orchestra and choir of La Scala in Beethoven’s
ninth symphony.
At the end of the concert Benedict XVI expressed his thanks to the
musicians, singers and conductor. "By choosing Beethoven's ninth symphony we
are sending a message in music which affirms the fundamental value of
solidarity, fraternity and peace.
This, I believe, is also an important message for the family, because it is in
families that we first experience how human beings are not created to live
closed in themselves, but in relation with others. It is in the family that we
understand that self
realisation does not mean being guided by selfishness and putting oneself at
the centre, but giving oneself. It is in the family that the light of peace
begins to burn in people's hearts, so as to illuminate our world".
The Holy Father also noted that the joy of the concert had been clouded by
the recent earthquakes, "which have brought great suffering to so many
inhabitants of this country. The words taken from Schiller's "Hymn to joy"
sound empty to us, they seem
untrue", he said. "At this time ... we have no need for inauthentic accounts
of a distant God or of a fraternity without commitment. We are searching for a
God Who is close. We are searching for a fraternity which, in the midst of
suffering, supports
others and helps us to carry on. After this concert many people will go on to
adore the Eucharist, they will go to the God Who placed Himself in our
sufferings and continues to do so, the God Who suffers with us and for us, and
thus makes men and women
capable of sharing the suffering of others and of transforming it into love.
This is the message we have received from this concert".
At the end of the concert the Holy Father returned to the archbishopric
where he spent the night.
LOOK TO THE FUTURE WITH CONFIDENCE, RELYING ON GOD'S FIDELITY
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At 10 a.m. today the Holy Father presided
at the celebration of Terce in the Duomo of Milan, in the presence of priests,
deacons, seminarians and religious of the local archdiocese. Following the
recitation of the
Psalms Benedict XVI pronounced a mediation, extracts of which are given
below:
"At this moment we are experiencing the mystery of the Church in its most
exalted form, that of liturgical prayer. In ecclesial prayer our lips, our
hearts and our minds, interpret the needs and longings of all humankind. ...
The daily prayer of the
Liturgy of the Hours is an essential task of the ordained ministry of the
Church. It is also through the divine office, which prolongs the central
mystery of the Eucharist throughout the day, that priests have a special bond
to the Lord Jesus".
"What a precious gift the priesthood is! ... If Christ, to build His
Church, delivers Himself into the hands of the priest, then the priest must in
turn entrust himself to Christ without reserve. Love for the Lord Jesus is
both the soul of and the
reason for priestly ministry. ... There is no contrast between the good of the
priest's person and his mission, Quite the contrary, pastoral charity is a
unifying element which, on the basis of an increasingly intimate rapport with
Christ in prayer,
enables us to experience the total gift of self for our flock. ... Each of our
actions, in fact, has the aim of leading the faithful to union with the Lord,
and of increasing ecclesial communion for the salvation of the world.
"One luminous sign of pastoral charity and an undivided heart is priestly
celibacy and consecrated chastity. ... Without doubt love for Jesus regards
all Christians, but it acquires particular significance for the celibate
priest and for those who
have responded to the vocation to consecrated life. The source and model for
repeating our daily 'yes' to God's will is only and always in Christ". In the
Virgin Mary "we recognise that 'chaste and detached life, which Christ the
Lord chose for Himself
and which His Mother also embraced', a life full of obedience to the will of
God".
"Dear consecrated brothers and sisters, ... look to the future with
confidence, relying on God's fidelity and the power of His grace, which is
always capable of working new miracles. ... At this time I wish to render
thanks unto God for the many
Ambrosian priests and religious who have spent their lives at the service of
the Gospel, sometimes even unto the supreme sacrifice of their lives". Among
these, the Holy Father made specific mention of the priests Luigi Talamoni,
Luigi Biraghi, Luigi
Monza, Carlo Gnocchi and Serafino Morazzone; the religious blesseds Giovanni
Mazzucconi, Luigi Monti, Clemente Vismara, Maria Anna Sala and Enrichetta
Alfieri.
"Through their joint intercession, we trustingly ask the Giver of all gifts
to make the ministry of priests fruitful, and to strengthen the testimony of
consecrated persons, so as to show the world the beauty of giving oneself to
Christ and the
Church, and to renew Christian families according to God's plan, that they may
become places of grace and sanctity, a fertile terrain for vocations to the
priesthood and consecrated life".
Vatican City, 2 June 2012 (VIS) - At around midday today, following the
celebration of Terce in the Duomo of Milan, Benedict XVI travelled by car to
the stadium of San Siro where he was greeted by a crowd of around 80,000 made
up of young people who
have recently received or about to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation,
members of their families and catechists.
"Assisted by your itinerary (of formation), you have learned to recognise
the wonderful things the Holy Spirit has done and does in your lives, and in
all those who say 'yes' to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You have discovered the
great value of
Baptism, the first of the Sacraments, the entranceway to Christian life. You
received all this thanks to your parents who ... committed themselves to
educating you in the faith".
"Now you have grown and can say your own 'yes' to God, a free and conscious
'yes'. The Sacrament of Confirmation confirms Baptism and infuses you
abundantly with the Holy Spirit . Now you, full of gratitude, have the chance
to accept His great gifts
which, on life's journey, will help you to become faithful and courageous
witnesses of Jesus. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are stupendous, enabling you
to be formed as Christians, to live the Gospel and to be active members of the
community".
"All of Christian life is a journey. It is like following a path up a
mountain, sometimes a difficult path, in company with Jesus. ... With the
precious gifts (of the Holy Spirit) your friendship with Him will become more
authentic and closer. It is
constantly nourished by the Sacrament of the Eucharist, ... for which reason I
invite you to participate joyfully and faithfully in Sunday Mass, and ... to
attend Confession, which is the meeting with Jesus Who forgives our sins and
helps us to do good.
--- NetMgr/2 1.0y+
* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
