VATICAN CITY, FEB 25, 2004 (VIS) - Today, Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, at 10:30 a.m. in the Vatican Basilica the Holy Father presided at a celebration of the Word during which ashes were blessed and distributed.
After the rite of introduction and the liturgy of the Word, the Holy Father gave the homily.
The Pope said that Lent, "a journey of prayer, penitence and authentic Christian asceticism," begins with the imposition of ashes, "an austere, penitential act that is highly esteemed in Christian tradition. It emphasizes the awareness of man who is a sinner before the majesty and sanctity of God. At the same time, it shows man's willingness to embrace and translate adhesion to the Gospel into specific choices."
"External gestures of penitence," he affirmed, "have value if they express an interior attitude, if they express the firm will to avoid evil and to take up the just path. It is here that the profound meaning of Christian asceticism lies. 'Asceticism': the word itself evokes an image of rising up toward higher goals. This necessarily involves sacrifice and self-denial. . In order to become authentic disciples of Christ, it is necessary to deny oneself, take up the cross every day and follow Him. It is the arduous path of holiness which every baptized person is called to take."
John Paul II recalled that the Church indicates many ways of embarking on this path: "Above all, it is the humble and docile adhesion to the will of God, accompanied by incessant prayer; these ways are the typical penitential customs of Christian tradition, such as abstinence, fasting, mortification and giving up goods that are in and of themselves legitimate; there are the specific gestures of embracing our neighbor which today's Gospel evokes with the word 'alms.' All of this is proposed again with greater intensity during the period of Lent which represents an 'intense time' of spiritual training and generous service to our brothers and sisters."
Referring to this year's Lenten message which speaks of "the difficult conditions in which so many children live in the world," the Holy Father concluded: "The problems that afflict children in the world are many and complex. I hope that we, as a result of our solidarity, will dedicate necessary care to our smallest brothers and sisters who are frequently left to themselves. This is a specific way to channel our Lenten effort."
After the homily, the ashes were blessed and distributed. The Pope received ashes from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, secretary of State, while the faithful present received them from a number of priests. After the prayers of the faithful and of the Lord, the liturgy concluded.
Click here to retrieve the Pope's entire homily in Italian.
HML/ASH WEDNESDAY/. VIS 20040225 (460)
No comments:
Post a Comment