» 12/31/2009 19:11 VATICAN Pope: The Church promotes integral development of man in response to God's love Celebrating the Te Deum in the end of year thanksgiving Benedict XVI underlines how with the Incarnation "Eternity entered into time." A choice made for love. "The Word, believed, proclaimed and lived calls on us to sharing and solidarity”.
Vatican City (AsiaNews)-The Church is committed to promoting the integral development of the person in response to the love given to us by God in the Incarnation. The solemn Te Deum of thanksgiving for the end of year, celebrated by Benedict XVI this evening in St. Peter's was dedicated by Pope to a reflection on the meaning that the time and life have after that event.A moment he “revisited” at the end of the celebration, when he went to visit the big crib in St Peter's Square.
During his homily, Benedict XVI said that with the coming of Jesus in the world "Eternity entered into time, and the history of man is open to the absolute fulfilment of God. Time has been - so to say - 'touched' by Christ, the Son of God and Mary, and from him received new and surprising meanings: it has become time of salvation and grace. Precisely in this perspective, we must consider the time of the year that ends and that which begins, in order to lay the most diverse events of our lives - important or small, simple or indecipherable, joyful and sad - under the sign of salvation and accept the call that God extends to us to lead us towards a goal that is beyond time itself: eternity. "
"Just contemplating the mystery of the Incarnate Word, man can find the answer to the great questions of human existence and thereby discover the truth about his identity. For this reason the Church throughout the world and even here, in Rome, is committed to promoting the integral development of the human person. "
In this prospective the Pope, the Bishop of Rome, also spoke about some initiatives in the diocese, particularly the planning of a series of cultural events, which will focus on his recent Encyclical Caritas in Veritate. "For several years - he continued - many families, many teachers and parish communities are dedicated to helping young people build their future on solid foundations, especially on the rock that is Jesus Christ."
"The Word, believed, proclaimed and lived calls us to solidarity and sharing. In praising the Lord for the help that Christian communities have been able to give generously to those who knock at their doors, I would encourage everyone to pursue the commitment to alleviate the difficulties many families still experience due to the economic crisis and unemployment. The Birth of the Lord, who reminds us of the generosity with which God came to save us, taking charge of our humanity and giving us his divine life, can help everyone of good will to understand that only by opening up to the love of God can human action change, be transformed, become the leaven of a better future for all. "
