AUDIENCE: NEW CYCLE OF CATECHESES ON VESPERS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 8, 2003 (VIS) - In Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope began a new cycle of catecheses on the Liturgy of Vespers.

John Paul II explained to the 15,000 people present that "together with the celebration of Lauds at the beginning of the day, the celebration of Vespers has become more common in the Church in the evening."

"When darkness falls, Christians know that God illuminates even the dark night with the splendor of His presence and with the light of His teachings. ... Inspired by the symbolism of light, the prayer of vespers has become a vespertine sacrifice of praise and recognition for the gifts of creation and redemption."

The Holy Father indicated that "the night is a perfect time to reflect upon the day before God in prayer. ... Also it is a moment 'to give thanks for what we have been given or what we have accomplished with rectitude.' It is also a time to ask pardon for sins that we have committed, begging through divine mercy that Christ shine once again in our hearts."

"However," he continued, "nightfall also evokes the 'mysterium noctis.' The darkness is felt as an occasion of frequent temptations, in particular weakness, of giving in to the attacks of the devil. With its dangers, the night becomes a symbol of all the evils from which Christ came to free us."

John Paul II concluded by emphasizing that "the morning and evening are excellent times to dedicate to prayer, in the company of others or in private. United to important moments of living and working, the Hours of Lauds and Vespers are effective ways in order to guide our daily path and direct it to Christ, 'light of the world'."

After greeting pilgrims in different languages, the Pope gave thanks to Our Lady who, he said, "yesterday gave me the opportunity to make a visit to the Shrine of Pompeii which is dedicated to her. Having an enthusiastic memory of this Marian pilgrimage, I invite everyone to value ever more the prayer of the Holy Rosary, so beloved in the tradition of the Christian people. With it, the Church invokes the intercession of Mary, especially for families and for peace in the world in our times."

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