VATICAN CITY, 6 JAN 2008 (VIS) - At midday today, following the Mass celebrated in the Vatican Basilica for the Epiphany of the Lord, the Pope appeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to pray the Angelus.
Addressing the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father pointed out that today's feast recalls the Lord's appearance "to the people of the entire world, represented by the Magi who arrived from the East to pay homage to the King of the Jews. Observing the heavens, these mysterious individuals had seen the rising of a new star and, also being well versed in the ancient prophecies, had recognised it as a sign of the birth of the Messiah, a descendent of David.
"From its very first appearance", the Pope added, "the light of Christ began to attract to Him those 'whom God favours' from all languages, peoples and cultures. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that moves hearts and minds in search of truth, beauty, justice and peace".
"Men and women of all generations, have need of guidance on their pilgrimage. What star, then, can they follow? ... The star that guided the Magi ceased its function, but its spiritual light remains present in the words of the Gospel, which even today are able to guide all mankind to Jesus, Those same words - which are nothing other than the reflection of Christ, true God and true man - are authoritatively echoed in the Church ".
The Holy Father went on: "The Church, then, also performs the mission of the star for humankind. But something similar may be said for each individual Christian, called to enlighten through word and deed the footsteps of his fellows. How important it is for we Christians to remain faithful to our vocation. All true believers are always travelling along their own personal itinerary of faith and at the same time, with the little light that each of them carries within, they can and must help those whom they encounter and who perhaps are struggling to find the path that leads to Christ".
Benedict XVI then congratulated "our brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who, following the Julian calendar, celebrate Christmas tomorrow. It is a great joy to celebrate the mysteries of the faith in the multifaceted richness of rites which attest to the bi-millennial history of the Church".
Following the Angelus, the Holy Father recalled the fact that today is the World Day of Missionary Children. "Thousands of children seek to meet the needs of other children, inspired by the love that the Son of God, having become a Child, brought to the earth. I say thank you to these little ones", he concluded, "and pray that they may always be missionaries of the Gospel. I also thank their leaders who are accompanying them along the path of generosity, of fraternity and of the joyful faith that generates hope".
ANG/EPIPHANY/... VIS 20080107 (510)
Addressing the thousands of faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father pointed out that today's feast recalls the Lord's appearance "to the people of the entire world, represented by the Magi who arrived from the East to pay homage to the King of the Jews. Observing the heavens, these mysterious individuals had seen the rising of a new star and, also being well versed in the ancient prophecies, had recognised it as a sign of the birth of the Messiah, a descendent of David.
"From its very first appearance", the Pope added, "the light of Christ began to attract to Him those 'whom God favours' from all languages, peoples and cultures. It is the power of the Holy Spirit that moves hearts and minds in search of truth, beauty, justice and peace".
"Men and women of all generations, have need of guidance on their pilgrimage. What star, then, can they follow? ... The star that guided the Magi ceased its function, but its spiritual light remains present in the words of the Gospel, which even today are able to guide all mankind to Jesus, Those same words - which are nothing other than the reflection of Christ, true God and true man - are authoritatively echoed in the Church ".
The Holy Father went on: "The Church, then, also performs the mission of the star for humankind. But something similar may be said for each individual Christian, called to enlighten through word and deed the footsteps of his fellows. How important it is for we Christians to remain faithful to our vocation. All true believers are always travelling along their own personal itinerary of faith and at the same time, with the little light that each of them carries within, they can and must help those whom they encounter and who perhaps are struggling to find the path that leads to Christ".
Benedict XVI then congratulated "our brothers and sisters of the Eastern Churches who, following the Julian calendar, celebrate Christmas tomorrow. It is a great joy to celebrate the mysteries of the faith in the multifaceted richness of rites which attest to the bi-millennial history of the Church".
Following the Angelus, the Holy Father recalled the fact that today is the World Day of Missionary Children. "Thousands of children seek to meet the needs of other children, inspired by the love that the Son of God, having become a Child, brought to the earth. I say thank you to these little ones", he concluded, "and pray that they may always be missionaries of the Gospel. I also thank their leaders who are accompanying them along the path of generosity, of fraternity and of the joyful faith that generates hope".
ANG/EPIPHANY/... VIS 20080107 (510)
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