Vatican City, 29 March 2014 (VIS) –
Yesterday afternoon in St. Peter's Basilica the Holy Father presided
over the rite of Reconciliation, confessing and imparting individual
absolution to several penitents. This ceremony inaugurated an
initiative of the Pontifical Council for New Evangelisation, “24
Hours for the Lord”, which has involved the participation of
dioceses from all over the world, and during which many churches
remained open throughout Friday night and Saturday morning to enable
the faithful to confess.
In his homily, the Pope mentioned that
during Lent the Church renews her call for conversion and her call
for us to change our lives. “Converting is not a question of a
moment or a period during the year: it is a life-long commitment. Who
amongst us presumes not to be a sinner? No-one. We all are. The
Apostle John writes, 'If we claim to be without sin, we deceive
ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all
unrighteousness'”. And that is what happens in this celebration and
in all this day of penance. The Word of God that we have listened to
introduces us to two essential elements of Christian life”.
The first is to “clothe ourselves as
new men”. Pope Francis explained, “The new man, 'created to be
like God', is born in Baptism, where he receives the same life of
God, which makes us His children and incorporates us in Christ and in
his Church. This new life allows us to look at reality through
different eyes, without being distracted by things that do not count
... from things which come to an end over time. For this reason we
are required to abandon sinful behaviour and to focus on the
essential. 'A man is more precious for what he is than for what he
has'. This is the difference between life deformed by sin and life
illuminated by grace”.
Remaining in love is the second
element. “Jesus Christ's love lasts for ever, and will never end
because it is the very life of God. This love conquers sin and gives
the strength to rise and begin again, because through forgiveness the
heart is renewed and rejuvenated. We all know this: our Father never
tires of loving. ...We can speak about the hope of God: our Father
always awaits us; not only does he leave the door open, he awaits us.
… God is not only at the origin of love, but in Jesus Christ he
calls to us to imitate his own way of loving: 'As I have loved you,
so you must love one another'. To the extent that Christians live
this love, they become credible disciples of Jesus Christ in the
world. Love cannot stand to remain closed up in itself. It is by its
nature open, it spreads and it is fruitful, it always generates new
love”.
The Pope concluded by mentioning the
initiative, “24 Hours for the Lord”, and inviting young people to
participate in this as missionaries of reconciliation, communicating
to those they meet “the joy of receiving the Father's forgiveness
and of rediscovering full friendship with Him. And tell them”, he
concluded, “that our Father awaits us, our Father forgives us, our
Father celebrates us. If you go to Him with all your life, even with
many sins, instead of reproaching you, he will rejoice: this is our
Father. You must say this, you must tell many people, today. He who
experiences divine mercy is compelled to become a bringer of mercy to
the least and the poorest among us. In 'the least of these brothers
and sisters', Jesus awaits us”.
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