VATICAN CITY, 1 NOV 2009 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus today, Solemnity of All Saints, Benedict XVI recalled that this feast "invites the pilgrim Church on earth to enjoy a foretaste of the endless feast of the heavenly community, and to revive hope in eternal life".
Addressing the faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father pointed out that "this year marks fourteen centuries since the Pantheon - one of the most ancient and famous of Roman monuments - was consecrated for Christian worship and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all Martyrs. ... Subsequently the celebration of all martyrs was extended to all saints".
"In this Year for Priests", he went on, "I particularly wish to recall and venerate priest saints, both those the Church has canonised proposing them as an examples of spiritual and pastoral values, and those - far more numerous - whose saintliness is known to the Lord".
Referring then to tomorrow's commemoration of All Souls Day, the Pope invited people "to live this moment in an authentic Christian spirit; in other words, in the light that comes from the Paschal mystery. Christ died and rose again, opening our way to the house of the Father, the Kingdom of life and peace.
"Thus, as we visit cemeteries, let us remember that only the mortal remains of our loved ones lie there in the tombs awaiting the final resurrection. Their souls - as Scripture says - are already 'in the hands of God'. And so the most appropriate and effective way to honour them is to pray for them, offering acts of faith, hope and charity".
The Pope also spoke of the communion of the saints, explaining that it "is a reality that gives a different dimension to all of our life. We are not alone! We are part of a spiritual 'company' in which profound solidarity reigns. The good of each individual brings advantage to everyone and, vice versa, shared happiness irradiates upon individuals. This is a mystery which, in some way, we can already experience in this world, in the family, in friendship, and especially in the spiritual community of the Church".
After praying the Angelus Benedict XVI recalled that ten years ago, on 31 October 1999, the World Lutheran Federation and the Catholic Church signed their Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification. Something John Paul II described as "a milestone on the not easy path of recomposing full unity among Christians".
That document, to which the World Methodist Council adhered in 2006, enshrines "an agreement between Lutherans and Catholics on fundamental truths of the doctrine of justification, truths that lead to the very heart of the Gospel and to the essential questions of our lives. God listens to and redeems us; our lives are inscribed within the horizon of grace, they are guided by a merciful God Who forgives our sin and calls us to a new life, following His Son. We live in the grace of God and are called to respond to His gift; all this frees us from fear and gives us hope and courage in a world full of uncertainty, disquiet and suffering".
"My heartfelt hope is that this anniversary may help us to advance along the path towards the full and visible unity of all Christ's disciples", said the Pope.
Finally, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in various languages, inviting them "to follow joyfully in Christ's footsteps, moulding yourselves to His image and being obedient in all to the will of the Father. Do not be afraid to be saints! It is the best service you can offer to your brothers and sisters".
ANG/SAINTS SOULS JUSTIFICATION/... VIS 20091103 (620)
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