» 10/09/2011 13:51 VATICAN The faith of saints renews the world, pope says During his visit to Lamezia Terme and Serra Saint Bruno, Benedict XVI calls on all the faithful not to give in to discouragement and pessimism when faced with problems like crime and unemployment. For him, it is pressing to experience “ecclesial communion and missionary commitment” by bearing witness to one’s faith “in the various domains of society and the many situations of human existence.”
Lamezia Terme (AsiaNews) – “The faith of the saints renews the world. With such faith, you too, can renew today your beloved Calabria,” said Benedict XVI ahead of today’s Angelus in front of more than 100,000 faithful who came to Lamezia Terme from across Calabria, where the pontiff arrived this morning on a pastoral visit.
This morning, the pope celebrated Mass in an industrial area (known as Zona ex Sir) on the edge of town. This afternoon, he will visit Serra Saint Bruno and the Carthusian abbey founded by Saint Bruno in the 11th century. “Saint Bruno,” the pontiff said in his reflection before the Angelus, “came from this land nine centuries ago and left a deep mark with the strength of his faith.”
In his address, the pope urged bishops, priests and lay people to lead a life in accordance with the faith of Saint Bruno, holding “ecclesial communion and missionary commitment” dear to their hearts.
“Let us also invoke Mary’s intercession for the most serious social problems that plague this area and Calabria as whole, especially those of employment, youth and the protection of the disabled, who require greater attention on everyone’s part, especially public agencies. In communion with your bishops, I urge you in particular, lay believers, not to withhold your contribution of knowledge and responsibility in building the common good.”
Earlier, during the Mass’s homily, the pope described Calabria as “a quake-prone land, not only from a geological perspective, but also from a structural, behaviour and social perspective, a land, that is, where problems are acute and destabilising, a land where unemployment is a major concern, where criminals are often ruthless, a scourge on the social fabric, a land where a constant sense of emergency prevails.”
Yet, “Do not be tempted, ever,” he urged, “by pessimism or the desire to turn inward. Summon all the resources of your faith and human strengths, improve your capacity to work with others, take care of one another and the public good, keep the wedding gown of love, persevere in bearing witness to human and Christian values, which are rooted in the faith and history of this territory and people.”
Benedict XVI said he appreciated some new proposals put forward by the Diocese of Lamezia Terme to bolster the faith, including monthly meetings on the Lectio Divina and the School of Social Doctrine of the Church. The Holy Father further urged the faithful “to bear witness to the faith in the various domains of society, and the many situations of human existence.”
“You have all the reasons to show your strength, confident and courageous, thanks to the light of faith and strength of charity. When you encounter the world’s opposition, heed the words of the Apostle: “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Phil 4:13). This is how saints acted, blossoming throughout the centuries, across Calabria”.
