“Love never fails” St Paul
Yesterday was the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. This feast recognises man’s desire to praise and exalt God and His love for us. It is by the cross however that all mankind was raised as sons and daughters of the living God…raised to eternal life. His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI used the stir caused by his eventful pilgrimage to the grotto at Lourdes to mark the occasion and deliver a much needed message to the world.
On arrival into the Parisian Orly airport on Thursday the Pope plunged straight into that French delicacy, laïcité (French society’s separation from the Church). Highlighting the nation’s strong Christian roots as those of “any genuine culture” Pope Benedict encouraged the eldest daughter of the Church to recognise the crucial place of religiously inspired values in any society.
He also urged France’s 65 million citizens consider adopting President Sarkozy’s “positive laïcité” - a secular governance which enters into open dialogue with faith. This is a big change from France’s traditional, post-enlightenment, approach which aims to keep any mention of religion from the public forum. This trip has been filled with signs of a more Church friendly approach. John Paul II’s voyages included a courtesy visit to the Élysée Palace where the president would humour the the Vicar of Christ. Sarkozy broke with this tradition by travelling to the airport to greet the Pope as he arrived. What a guy!
In Lourdes His Holiness explained why a greater openness to Christ would benefit France and her brothers and sisters across the globe. In his homily at the grotto he brought this great news: “the Gospel you have just heard reminds us of the meaning of this great mystery:The Son of God became vulnerable, assuming the condition of a slave, obedient even to death.” He explained that “the instrument of torture…has become a source of life” and invited us all in the name of the Church ”to give thanks to God because from a tree which brought death, life has burst out anew.”
The Pope then recognised what the choice of Bernadette in Lourdes means for our world today. “Bernadette is the eldest daughter of a very poor family, with neither knowledge nor power, and in poor health. Mary chose her”.
He described Mary as the “image of the new humanity.” The privilege granted to Mary ”discloses to us our own dignity as men and women, admittedly marked by sin, but saved in hope, a hope which allows us to face our daily life.” “Through her ‘yes,’ through the generous gift of herself, she has opened up to God the gates of our world and our history. And she invites us to live … in invincible hope, refusing to believe those who claim that we are trapped in the fatal power of destiny.”
The Holy Father continued: “She invites all people of good will, all those who suffer in heart or body, to raise their eyes towards the cross of Jesus, so as to discover there the source of life, the source of salvation.”
The central message of Pope Benedict’s pilgrimage, and ministry, could be seen with his stating that great proclamation of Christ and His followers which has characterised Christians for two millenia: “there is a love in this world that is stronger than death. … The power of love is stronger than the evil which threatens us.”
In this cold dark world marked by individualism and consumerism there exists a Love which can dispel this darkness. In a world of desolation where suicide rates are soaring there exists a Hope. The message of Christ, brought to us by His Vicar and His Church, is that Faith opens the door to God who is Hope and Love.
Monday, September 15th, 2008 and is filed under The Church, Views on News.
You can leave a comment.
