Author Topic: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God (Read 878 times)

Scarb · « **on:** December 25, 2007, 09:22:53 PM »

12/25/2007 | 08:48 AM
VATICAN CITY - Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time
in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas
early Tuesday by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world,
Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for
spiritual matters in their lives.

"Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all
the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains
for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God," he said.

Benedict also use the homily to link the Christmas message to the
church's growing environmental concerns, referring to early
theologians who interpreted Christ's role as also a healer of the
Earth and universe.

"He came to restore beauty and dignity to creation, to the universe:
This is what began at Christmas and makes the angels rejoice. The
Earth is restored to good order by virtue of the fact that it is
opened up to God ... Thus Christmas is a feast of restored creation."

Under Benedict, the Vatican has been taking steps toward greater
environmental action, a key element of which has been its involvement
in reforestation project aimed at offsetting its carbon emissions.

In a homily delivered in Italian in front of thousands packing the
basilica, Benedict asked the faithful to make room for God, as well
as the less fortunate, in their lives.

"Do we have time for our neighbor who is in need of a word from us,
from me, or in need of my affection? For the sufferer who is in need
of help? For the fugitive or the refugee who is seeking asylum? Do we
have time and space for God?"

Benedict drew parallels between what he perceives as modern society's
refusal of God and the story of how Jesus was born in a manger
because there was no space for his family at a nearby inn.

"In some way, mankind is awaiting God, waiting for him to draw near.
But when the moment comes, there is no room for him," he said.

But the message of Jesus' birth, which is marked on Christmas, is
also that "God does not allow himself to be shut out," Benedict
said. "He finds a space, even if it means entering through the
stable; there are people who see his light and pass it on."

Earlier, as Midnight Mass began, Benedict blessed the crowd of
pilgrims, Romans and tourists, as he walked in a procession up the
main aisle to the central altar, which was decorated with red
poinsettia flowers.

As a choir sang, Benedict sprinkled incense on the altar under
Bernini's massive bronze baldachin before opening the service with
the traditional wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with
you"). The faithful responded: "Et cum spiritu tuo." ("And also with
you.")

Four children, some in native costume from their countries, brought
flowers to the altar, placing them near a statue depicting baby Jesus
as Benedict, dressed in white and gold-colored robes, joined a choir
in a hymn.

For those unable to get into the midnight service there were giant
screens set up in St. Peter's Square, which was made festive with a
twinkling Christmas tree and the Vatican's Nativity scene.

Officials unveiled the life-size Nativity on Monday, revealing the
statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus' parents, in a huge house-like
structure located next to the Vatican's giant, twinkling Christmas
tree.

This year, the scene of Jesus' birth was depicted in a recreation of
Joseph's Nazareth home rather than the traditional manger in
Bethlehem. Officials at the unveiling said the shift underscored the
idea that Jesus was born not just in a single place, but everywhere
and for everyone.

Hours before Midnight Mass, Benedict briefly appeared at his studio
window to light a candle as a symbol of peace, blessing the crowd
with the light before leaving it on the sill.

At noon on Tuesday, Benedict was to deliver his traditional Christmas
Day "Urbi et Orbi" speech â€” Latin for "to the city and to the world" â€”
from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, in which he often touches
on current events and issues of concern to the Vatican. He then is
expected to issue Christmas greetings to the faithful in more than 60
languages. - AP

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glacier_71 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2009, 06:08:29 AM »

yes

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Scarb · « **Reply #2 on:** December 13, 2009, 08:56:20 PM »

yes

unja asa naman ka ron ICE ? mi follow na kaw sa "calls"?

nangoykoy ang baje or naka koyÂ² - a smile for jah !

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glacier_71 · « **Reply #3 on:** December 14, 2009, 12:00:48 AM »

unja asa naman ka ron ICE ? mi follow na kaw sa "calls"?

nangoykoy ang baje or naka koyÂ² - a smile for jah !

been chasing "calls" (phone calls, traffic calls, emergency calls), blue, that's making me busy...am melting away too, experiencing an inevitable surge of feeling to discern what I need to do with my "icy" life...

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Scarb · « **Reply #4 on:** December 14, 2009, 12:17:02 AM »

been chasing "calls" (phone calls, traffic calls, emergency calls), blue, that's making me busy...am melting away too, experiencing an inevitable surge of feeling to discern what I need to do with my "icy" life...

whew mitungÃ¤ ~! nice having U back Ice Age (Glace) WB bords. !

nag "chasing rainbows" ka? hahaÂ³ aminin ! atik woi hmn - jokies

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Author Topic: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God (Read 878 times)

Scarb

Pope calls on faithful to have time with God

glacier_71

Re: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God

Scarb

Re: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God

glacier_71

Re: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God

Scarb

Re: Pope calls on faithful to have time with God