GENERAL AUDIENCE: DISCOVERING EVIL AND ASKING FOR PARDON

VATICAN CITY, JUL 30, 2003 - Psalm 50, the famous "Miserere" or "Have mercy on me, Lord," was the theme of the Holy Father's catechesis during this Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo.

The Pope said that this psalm is "proposed to us every Friday so that it may become an oasis of meditation where we can discover the evil that nests within our conscience and ask the Lord for purification and pardon. ... However, the message of hope of the 'Miserere' that the psalmist puts on the lips of David, a converted sinner, is this: God can 'erase, clean, purify' any failing confessed with a contrite heart."

Referring to the end of the psalm, "an end full of hope because the sinner is conscious of having been forgiven," he affirmed: "His mouth will proclaim to the world praise for the Lord, attesting to the joy that the soul, which is purified from evil and therefore freed from remorse, experiences."

John Paul II underlined that "the Psalm concludes in an unexpected way. ... From the last petition of a single sinner, it goes to a prayer for the reconstruction of the whole city of Jerusalem." In the final part, he continued, there is a "later addition" to "correct or at least to complete the outlook of the Psalm of David." On the one hand, the psalmist did not want it to be one individual prayer; it was necessary to also think about the plight of the whole city. On the other hand, the psalmist wanted to put the divine rejection of sacrificial rituals into perspective."

"Sinners are not capable of purifying themselves alone; good intentions are not sufficient," he concluded, adding: "Effective external meditation is necessary. The New Testament will reveal the full meaning of this intuition, showing that by offering His life, Christ made the perfect sacrifice."

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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, JUL 30, 2003 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Les Gonaives, Haiti, presented by Bishop Emmanuel Constant upon having reached the age limit. Bishop Yves-Marie Pean, C.S.C., coadjutor of the same diocese, succeeds him.

- Appointed Professor Jaroslav Sturma, lecturer on Child Psychology and Psychology of religion at the Carl of Prague University, Czech Republic, as an ordinary member of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

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ARCHBISHOP FOLEY TO ADDRESS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS IN U.S.

VATICAN CITY, JUL 29, 2003 (VIS) - Archbishop John Foley, president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, will be in the United States during the month of August. On two occasions during the first two weeks he will preside at Eucharistic celebrations and on two other occasions he will address the Knights of Columbus.

On Sunday, August 3, the archbishop will deliver a homily at the Mass for the 165th anniversary of St. Malachy Church in Doe Run, Chester County, Pennsylvania. On August 7 he will speak to the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus in Washington, D.C. Later that same day he will give an address to the Knights of Columbus Eucharistic Congress at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington on the topic "What is the Purpose of a Eucharistic Congress?" On August 15, feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Archbishop Foley will deliver a homily at Mass in the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

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ST. MARY MAJOR TO CELEBRATE THE MIRACLE OF THE SNOWFALL

VATICAN CITY, JUL 29, 2003 (VIS) - On August 5, as it has done for centuries, St. Mary Major Basilica will celebrate the miraculous snowfall that occurred during the night of August 4-5, 358 on the site where the basilica was built, according to a communique from the basilica administration.

Three days of preparation, in which Cardinals Francesco Mario Pompedda, prefect of the Apostolic Signatura, Sergio Sebastiani, prefect of the Prefecture of Economic Affairs of the Holy See, and Virgilio Noe, archpriest emeritus of St, Peter's Basilica will participate, will mark this annual event. The highlight on August 5 will be a Pontifical Mass celebrated by Cardinal Carlo Furno, archpriest of the basilica. During both Mass and Second Vespers the most noteworthy moment of this feast day occurs when there is a shower of flower petals from the ceiling of the basilica, to commemorate the 358 August snowfall.

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to two faithful Roman Christians, the patrician John and his wife as well as to Pope Liberius (352-366), asking that a church in her honor be built on the site where snow would fall the night of August 4-5. Pope Liberius traced the outlines of the church in the snow and the first basilica was built on that site. It was completed about a century later by Pope Sixtus III, following the Council of Ephesus in 431 during which Mary was declared to be the Mother of God.

The basilica is called St. Mary Major as well as St. Mary of the Snows and the Liberian Basilica, for the Pope who ordered it built. It is famous for housing the relic of the crib of the Baby Jesus as well as the image of "Salus Populi Romani" which is revered by Romans, and which tradition says was painted by St. Luke.

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EUROPE: REDISCOVER EVANGELICAL ENTHUSIASM

VATICAN CITY, JUL 27, 2003 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus today at noon with pilgrims who filled the courtyard of the Apostolic Palace at Castelgandolfo, the Pope spoke about the need to renew the proclamation of the Gospel.

"The Church," he said, "received the mandate from Christ to proclaim the Gospel to the ends of the earth. ... The ecclesial communities of Europe are especially called to carry out this task. Yes, on this continent it is necessary that all believers know how to rediscover the enthusiasm of proclaiming and bearing witness to the Gospel."

John Paul II emphasized that "even if some regions and realms are waiting to receive the Gospel announcement for the first time, it is necessary that it be renewed everywhere. Often, knowledge of Christianity is taken for granted, while in reality the Bible is read or studied very little, catechism is not always studied in depth, and the Sacraments are not frequented. In this way, authentic faith is substituted by a vague and negligent religious sentiment that can turn into agnosticism or practical atheism."

"Europe today," he continued, "requires the presence of Catholics with mature faith and Christian missionary communities that give testimony to God's love to all human beings. This renewed announcement of Christ must be accompanied by deep unity and communion within the Church, as well as a sincere ecumenical commitment and dialogue with followers of other religions. The Gospel is the light that illuminates the vast sphere of social life: family, culture, schools and universities, young people, the media, business and politics. ... Christ goes to encounter man wherever he lives and works and gives meaning to his existence."

The Holy Father concluded by urging all ecclesial communities "to embrace the Gospel with joy" so that it becomes "a credible sign of the message of salvation."

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