Vatican
City, 25 November 2013 (VIS) – The rite of admission to the
catechumenate took place this afternoon in the Vatican Basilica,
convoked in the context of the Year of Faith and presided by Pope
Francis. More than five hundred catechumens participated in the rite,
from 47 countries and all five continents, accompanied by their
catechists. At 4 p.m., shortly before the arrival of the Holy Father,
several adults who were preparing to receive the Sacrament of
Christian initiation spoke to those present about their experience,
alongside a couple of catechists. The liturgy began at 4.30 p.m. with
the rites of introduction which took places at the entry to the
basilica. The Pope then welcomed a representative of the candidates
with their godparents, invited them to enter the Church.
During
the liturgy of the Word, before the presentation of the book of the
Gospel to the catechumens, the Pope pronounced a homily for those
present, mentioning that they came “from many different countries,
from different cultural traditions and experiences. However”, he
observed, “this evening we feel that we have many things in common.
One above all: the wish for God. … How important it is to keep this
wish alive! … If it lacks the thirst for the living God, faith
risks becoming a habit, it risks being extinguished, like a flame
that is not revived. It risks becoming 'rancid', without meaning”.
Pope
Francis cited the passage in the Gospel in which John the Baptist
indicates to the disciples that Jesus is the Lamb of God. “Two of
them follow the Master and then in turn become 'mediators' who enable
others to encounter the Lord, to know him and to follow him. There
are three moments in this narrative that recall the experience of the
catechumenate”.
“First
of all, there is listening. The two disciples listen to the testimony
of the Baptist. You too, dear catechumens, have listened to those who
have spoken to you about Jesus, and have proposed to you to follow
him. … In the tumult of the many voices that resound around and
inside us, you have listened and welcomed the voice that indicated
Jesus to you as the only one who can give full meaning to our lives”.
“In
second place”, he continued, “there is encounter. The two
disciples encounter the Master and stay with him. After meeting him,
they are immediately aware of something new in their hearts: the need
to transmit their joy to others, in order that they too may encounter
him. … This scene … reminds us that God has not created us to
remain alone, closed up in ourselves, but rather to be able encounter
Him and to open ourselves to the encounter with others. God, first of
all, comes toward each of us, and this is marvellous. … In the
Bible, God always appears as the one who takes the initiative in the
encounter with humanity: it is God Who seeks man, and usually he
seeks him precisely when man is embarking on the bitter and tragic
experience of betraying God and breaking away from him. God does not
waste time in seeking him out: he looks for him immediately. … He
never tires of awaiting us. .. And when the encounter takes place, it
is never a hasty one, because God wishes to remain with us a long
time, to support us and to console us. … God is quick to seek us
out, but is not hasty to leave us! … Just as we long for Him and
yearn for Him, He too wishes to be with us, because we belong to Him
… we are His creatures”.
“The
final part of the passage refers to walking. The two disciples walk
towards Jesus and then take a part of the path with Him”, explained
the Holy Father. “Faith is a path we walk with Jesus … and it is
a path that lasts all our lives. At the end the definitive encounter
will take place. Certainly, in some moments along the path we will
feel tired and confused. However, faith gives us the certainty of the
constant presence of Jesus in all situations, even the most painful
and difficult to understand”.
“Dear
catechumens”, the Pontiff concluded, “today you begin the path of
the catechumenate. I hope that you will follow it with joy, certain
of the support of all the Church, which looks to you with great
trust. May Mary, the perfect disciple, accompany you! I invite you to
keep alive the enthusiasm of the first moment that opened your eyes
to the light of faith”.
No comments:
Post a Comment