VATICAN CITY, 31 DEC 2007 (VIS) - In the Vatican Basilica at 6 p.m. today, the Pope presided at first Vespers of the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God. This was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the singing of the traditional "Te Deum" of thanksgiving for the conclusion of the year, and the Eucharistic blessing.
The day's Gospel reading from the Letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, which touches on "the liberation of man achieved by God through the mystery of the Incarnation", said the Pope, "discreetly mentions the woman by whom the Son of God entered into the world".
"Mary is the Mother of the Saviour", said the Holy Father. "She is also our mother because, in her unique maternal relationship with the Son, she shared His mission, for us and for the salvation of all mankind. ... Thus Mary represents the Church's most authentic image: the person in whom the ecclesial community must continually discover the authentic meaning of its own vocation and mystery".
The Word Incarnate "became like us to make us like Him: children in the Son and, hence, men and women free from the law of sin. Is this not one of the main reasons to give thanks to God ... for the numerous benefits and the constant assistance we have experienced over the course of the last twelve months?" It is for this reason, the Pope explained, "that this evening each Christian community comes together to sing the 'Te Deum', the traditional hymn of praise and thanksgiving to the Most Holy Trinity".
The Pope called upon the Lord "in His mercy" to help individuals and families whose lives "are weighed down by serious shortages and poverty which prevent them from looking trustingly to the future". Many people, he went on, "especially the young, are attracted by the false exaltation or, more accurately, the profanation of the body and the trivialisation of sexuality".
The Holy Father dwelt upon "the many challenges ... associated with consumerism and secularism", pointing out how, "even in Rome we notice that deficit of hope and trust in life which constitutes the 'dark' evil of modern Western society". Nonetheless, he noted, "there is no shortage of lights and of reasons for hope" for which we must "implore special divine blessing".
Benedict XVI then went on to refer to the diocesan community of Rome and its commitment to respond to the "educational emergency", which is "the difficulty we find in transmitting to new generations the basic values of existence and of correct behaviour.
"Without clamour and with patient trust", he added, "we seek to confront that emergency, especially within the family". In this context, the Pope noted how efforts by parishes and associations over recent years have ensured that the pastoral care of families "continues to develop and is producing fruit".
May the Lord, said Pope Benedict, "protect the missionary initiatives that involve the world of youth. These are increasing and see a now considerable number of young people assume the responsibility and the joy of announcing and witnessing the Gospel".
The Pope concluded by highlighting how "Christ is our 'dependable' hope. ... Let us call on the Lord to make each of us a true ferment of hope in our various fields of activity, that we may build a better future" for the whole world.
HML/VESPERS:TE DEUM/... VIS 20080102 (580)
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