Vatican
City, 14 April 2013 (VIS) – The episode narrated in the Acts of the
Apostles that tells of the time Jesus first preached in Jerusalem and
the attempts of the high priests and city leaders to stop the growth
of the community of believers in Christ was the central theme of the
Regina Coeli this third Sunday of Easter.
The
Pope explained to the thousands of persons gathered in St. Peter's
Square that the Twelve, who had been jailed with the order to not
teach any more in Christ's name, responded to their persecutors: “We
must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus
… God exalted him at his right hand as leader and saviour … We
are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit.” “They
then had the Apostles flogged and ordered them again not to speak any
more in Jesus' name. And [the Twelve] went, as it says in Scripture,
'rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonour for
the sake of the name' [of Jesus].”
“I
ask myself,” the Bishop of Rome said, “ where did the first
disciples find the strength for their witness? Not just that: Where
did their joy and courage to proclaim, in spite of the obstacles and
violence, come from? Let's not forget that the Apostles were simple
people. They weren't scribes, doctors of the law, or members of the
priestly class. How could they, with their limits and the opposition
made to them by the authorities, 'have filled Jerusalem with your
teaching'? It is clear that only the Risen Lord's presence to them
and the Holy Spirit's action can explain this fact. … Their faith
was based on such a strong and personal experience of Christ, died
and risen, that they had no fear of anything or anyone. In fact, they
saw persecution as a badge of honour that allowed them to follow in
Jesus' footsteps and to be like him, witnessing with their lives.”
“This
story of the first Christian community tells us something very
important, which holds for the Church in every age, even for us: when
a person truly knows Jesus Christ and believes in him, they
experience his presence in their life and the strength of his
Resurrection, and they cannot help but to communicate this
experience. If this person encounters misunderstanding or adversity,
they act as Jesus did at his Passion: they respond with love and with
the strength of truth.”
“Praying
the Regina Coeli together,” the Pope concluded, “we ask Mary Most
Holy's assistance so that the Church throughout the world might
proclaim, with sincerity and courage, the Lord's Resurrection, and
might give effective witness to it with signs of fraternal love.
Fraternal love is the closest witness that we can give that Jesus is
alive with us, that Jesus is risen. Let us pray in a special way for
the Christians who are suffering persecution. In these days there are
many Christians who are suffering persecution, so very many in many
countries. Let us pray wholeheartedly for them with love. May they
feel the living and comforting presence of the Risen Lord.”
After
the Regina Coeli, the Holy Father noted that yesterday, in Venice,
Italy, Don Luca Passi, 19th century founder of the Pious Society of
St. Dorothy for the Laity and the Institute of the Teaching Sisters
of St Dorothy, was beatified. He also spoke of the Day of the Sacred
Heart University, which is celebrated today in Italy, the theme of
which is “New Generations: Beyond the Crisis” this year.
“This
university,” he said, “born of the mind and heart of Fr. Agostino
Gemelli, with great popular support, has trained thousands upon
thousands of young people to be competent and responsible citizens,
builders of the common good. I invite you to always support this
University so that it might continue to offer an excellent education
to new generations, so that they can face the challenges of our
present time.”
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