VATICAN CITY, 5 APR 2010 (VIS) - At midday today, Easter Monday, the Pope, who has been staying at his residence in Castelgandolfo since yesterday evening, appeared at the balcony of the Apostolic Palace there to pray the Regina Coeli with pilgrims gathered in the courtyard below. The prayer was transmitted by television linkup to faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"In the light of Easter", he said, "I wish to reiterate my cordial hopes for peace and joy. As you know, the Monday following the Sunday of the Resurrection is traditionally known as the 'Monday of the Angel'. It is interesting to examine this reference to the 'Angel'. Naturally one's thoughts immediately go to the Gospel account of the resurrection of Jesus, in which the figure of the Lord's messenger appears".
"But the Angel of the resurrection also has another meaning, We must, in fact, remember that the term 'angel' - apart from referring to the Angels, spiritual creatures endowed with intelligence and will, servants and messengers of God - is also one of the most ancient titles attributed to Jesus Himself", by various Christian writers such as Tertullian.
"Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is also called the Angel of God the Father. He is the Messenger par excellence of God's love", the Pope explained. "Let us now remember what the risen Christ said to the Apostles giving them His Holy Spirit: 'As the Father has sent me, so I send you'.
"This means", the Pope added, "that just as Jesus announced the love of God the Father, so must we too announce the charity of Jesus: we are messengers of His resurrection and His victory over evil and death, bearers of His divine love. Of course, by our nature we remain men and women, but we receive the mission of 'angels', messengers of Christ. This is given to us through Baptism and Confirmation. In particular, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, it is received by priests, ministers of Christ, something I wish to highlight in this Year for Priests", Benedict XVI concluded.
ANG/ANGELS/... VIS 20100407 (360)
"In the light of Easter", he said, "I wish to reiterate my cordial hopes for peace and joy. As you know, the Monday following the Sunday of the Resurrection is traditionally known as the 'Monday of the Angel'. It is interesting to examine this reference to the 'Angel'. Naturally one's thoughts immediately go to the Gospel account of the resurrection of Jesus, in which the figure of the Lord's messenger appears".
"But the Angel of the resurrection also has another meaning, We must, in fact, remember that the term 'angel' - apart from referring to the Angels, spiritual creatures endowed with intelligence and will, servants and messengers of God - is also one of the most ancient titles attributed to Jesus Himself", by various Christian writers such as Tertullian.
"Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is also called the Angel of God the Father. He is the Messenger par excellence of God's love", the Pope explained. "Let us now remember what the risen Christ said to the Apostles giving them His Holy Spirit: 'As the Father has sent me, so I send you'.
"This means", the Pope added, "that just as Jesus announced the love of God the Father, so must we too announce the charity of Jesus: we are messengers of His resurrection and His victory over evil and death, bearers of His divine love. Of course, by our nature we remain men and women, but we receive the mission of 'angels', messengers of Christ. This is given to us through Baptism and Confirmation. In particular, through the Sacrament of Holy Orders, it is received by priests, ministers of Christ, something I wish to highlight in this Year for Priests", Benedict XVI concluded.
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