Pope: in Mexico, overcome “fatigue related to faith" and convert
Leon (AsiaNews)
- The '"Year of Faith", convened by Pope Benedict XVI " is an
invitation to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the only Saviour
of the world ", an invitation to the bishops of Latin America have
made in their Continental Mission, which wants to " to overcome fatigue
related to faith and rediscover "the joy of being Christians, of being
sustained by the inner happiness of knowing Christ and belonging to his Church.
From this joy spring the energies that are needed to serve Christ in distressing
situations of human suffering, placing oneself at his disposition and not
falling back on one's own comfort. "
There was a huge crowd in the Bicentennial Park in León, where this morning
(local time) the Pope celebrated Mass, not far from the immense Christ, 22 meters high,
overlooking the sanctuary over which that Benedict XVI flew by helicopter on
his way to the site for the celebration.
Five hundred thousand people confirmed the enthusiasm with which the Mexicans
are embracing the Pope, who today celebrated the only public Mass in this visit
to Mexico, which ends tomorrow, when Benedict XVI will leave this country and
travel to Cuba
Today, the Pope was joined by the Presidents of the 22 Episcopal conferences on
the continent and the bishops of Mexico.
Benedict XVI was inspired by the words of the responsorial psalm, " A pure
heart, create for me, O God " (Ps 50.12). "" This
exclamation - he says - shows us how profoundly we must prepare to celebrate
next week the great mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord.
It also helps us to look deeply into the human heart, especially in times of
sorrow as well as hope, as are the present times for the people of Mexico and of Latin America".
The reference is to that bloody violence and drug trafficking that plagues this
country, of which the Pope had already spoken during the flight that brought
him here and was a significant moment in his encounter yesterday with some
relatives of victims of violence. And even today, in the Angelus, he said "
t this time, when so many families are separated or forced to emigrate, when so
many are suffering due to poverty, corruption, domestic violence, drug
trafficking, the crisis of values and increased crime, we come to Mary in
search of consolation, strength and hope. She is the Mother of the true God,
who invites us to stay with faith and charity beneath her mantle, so as to
overcome in this way all evil and to establish a more just and fraternal
society. "." I now ask - he concluded - that her presence in
this nation may continue to serve as a summons to defence and respect for human
life. May it promote fraternity, setting aside futile acts of revenge and
banishing all divisive hatred. May Holy Mary of Guadalupe bless us and obtain
for us the abundant graces that, through her intercession, we request from
heaven. "
In short, the call to conversion of hearts of which the Pope spoke during the
mass. " The desire for a heart that would be pure, sincere, humble,
acceptable to God was very much felt by Israel as it became aware of the
persistence in its midst of evil and sin as a power, practically implacable and
impossible to overcome. There was nothing left but to trust in God's mercy and
in the hope that he would change from within, from the heart, an unbearable,
dark and hopeless situation. In this way recourse gained ground to the infinite
mercy of the Lord who does not wish the sinner to die but to convert and live .
A pure heart, a new heart, is one which recognizes that, of itself, it is
impotent and places itself in God's hands so as to continue hoping in his
promises. Then the psalmist can say to the Lord with conviction: "Sinners will
return to you". And towards the end of the psalm he will give an explanation
which is at the same time a firm conviction of faith: "A humble, contrite heart
you will not spurn"
" From this park, foreseen as a memorial of the bicentenary of the
birth of the Mexican nation, bringing together many differences towards one
destiny and one common quest, we ask Christ for a pure heart, where he as
Prince of Peace may dwell "thanks to the power of God who is the power of
goodness, the power of love". But for God to dwell in us, we need to listen to
him; we must allow his Word to challenge us every day, meditating upon it in
our hearts after the example of Mary (cf. Lk 2:51). In this way we grow in
friendship with him, we learn to understand what he expects from us and we are
encouraged to make him known to others".
" At Aparecida, the Bishops of Latin America and the Caribbean saw with
clarity the need to confirm, renew and revitalize the newness of the Gospel
rooted deeply in the history of these lands "on the basis of a personal and
community encounter with Jesus Christ which raises up disciples and
missionaries" (Final Document, 11). The Continental Mission now taking place in
the various dioceses of this continent has the specific task of transmitting
this conviction to all Christians and ecclesial communities so that they may
resist the temptation of a faith that is superficial and routine, at times
fragmentary and incoherent. Here we need to overcome fatigue related to faith
and rediscover "the joy of being Christians, of being sustained by the inner
happiness of knowing Christ and belonging to his Church. From this joy spring
the energies that are needed to serve Christ in distressing situations of human
suffering, placing oneself at his disposition and not falling back on one's own
comfort" (Address to the Roman Curia, 22 December 2011). This can be seen
clearly in the saints who dedicated themselves fully to the cause of the Gospel
with enthusiasm and joy without counting the cost, even of life itself. Their
heart was centred entirely on Christ from whom they had learned what it means
to love until the end".
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12/02/2016 15:14
