MASS ON THE FEAST OF ALL SAINTS
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
St. Peter
Wednesday November 1, 2006
The Roman Pontiff
celebration and introduced the penitential rite with these words: Dear
brothers and sisters, today we contemplate the mystery of the communion of the saints in heaven and earth. We are not alone, we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses with them we are the Body of Christ, they are children of God, they have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit. Rejoice heaven and earth rejoice! The glorious army of saints intercede for us before the Lord accompanies us on our way to the Kingdom and encourages us to keep our eyes on Jesus, our Lord, who will come in glory in the midst of his saints.
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Our Eucharistic celebration began with the exhortation "Let us all rejoice in the Lord." The liturgy invites us to share the heavenly joy of the saints, to enjoy his joy. The saints are not selected for a low caste, but an innumerable crowd, towards which the liturgy exhorts us to lift our eyes today. In that crowd are not only the officially recognized saints, but also the baptized of every age and nation who have striven to meet love and faithfulness God's will. In many of them do not know neither the face nor the name, but with eyes of faith we see them shine like stars full of glory in the firmament of God.
Today the Church celebrates the dignity of the "mother of the holy image of the heavenly city" (A. Manzoni), and expresses its beauty immaculate bride of Christ, source and model of all holiness. Certainly no shortage of unruly children and even rebels, but the saints which recognizes their features, and precisely in them find their deepest joy.
At first reading, the author of the book of Revelation describes as "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, race, tribe and tongue" (Rev 7, 9). These people understand the saints of the Old Testament, from the just Abel and the faithful patriarch Abraham, the New Testament, the many martyrs of the early days of Christianity and the beatification and canonization of later centuries, to the witnesses of Christ in our time. All are united by the will to incarnate the Gospel in his life, under the impulse of the eternal soul of the people of God, which is the Holy Spirit.
But, "what good is our praise of the saints, our tribute of glory and this solemnity ours?". This question begins a famous homily of St. Bernard for the feast of All Saints. It is a question that also can be opened today. Current is also the answer to the Santo da "Our saints, he says, do not need our honors and not win anything with our worship. For my part, I confess that when I think of the saints, I feel burning in me a strong desire" ( Address 2: Opera Omnia cysticercus. 5, 364 ff.)
This is the meaning of today's solemnity: to contemplate the shining example of the saints, arouse in us a strong desire to be like the saints, happy to live close to God, in His light, in the great family of friends of God. Being a saint means living close to God live in their family.
This is the vocation of all of us, vigorously reaffirmed by Vatican II, and now becomes a solemn way to propose to our attention.
But how can we become saints, friends of God? This question can be answered negatively to all: To be holy is not necessary to take action and extraordinary works, or possess exceptional charisms. Then comes the hit: it is necessary, above all, listen to Jesus and follow him without losing heart before the difficulties. "If anyone wants to serve me, he exhorts us," that I follow, and where I am, there also will my servant. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him " ( Jn 12, 26).
who trust him and love him with sincerity, like the grain of wheat buried in the earth, accepting death to himself, knowing that whoever wants to save his life loses himself, and who comes, who lost, and finds life (cf. Jn 12, 24-25). The Church's experience shows that every form of godliness, although following different paths, always passes through the Way of the Cross, the path of self-denial.
The biographies of the saints have men and women who, obedient to the divine, have sometimes faced unspeakable trials and sufferings, persecutions and martyrdom. They persevered in delivery, "have gone through great tribulation," we read in Revelation, and have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb "(Rev 7, 14). Their names are written in the book of life (cf. Rev 20, 12), their eternal home is heaven. The example of the saints is an encouragement for us to follow the same path, to experience the joy of those who trust in God, because the only real cause of sadness and unhappiness for man is to live away from him.
Holiness demands a constant effort, but it is possible for everyone because, rather than manmade, is above all a gift of God, thrice holy (cf. Is 6, 3). In the second reading, the Apostle John observes: "See what love the Father has given us should be called children of God, as we are!" (1 Jn 3, 1). Therefore, it is God who first loved us and Jesus made us his sons. In our life everything is a gift of his love. How to be indifferent to a great mystery? How can we respond to the heavenly Father's love with a life of grateful children? In Christ we totally gave himself, and calls us to a deeper personal relationship with him.
Therefore, the more we imitate Jesus and remain united to him, the more we enter into the mystery of divine holiness. We discovered that we are loved by him infinitely, and this also encourages us to love ourselves to our brothers. Love always involves an act of self-denial, "losing themselves", and in this way makes us happy.
Now to consider the Gospel of this feast, the proclamation of the Beatitudes, which we recently heard echoing in this basilica. Jesus says: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness' sake" (cf. Mt 5, 3-10).
In fact, the blessed par excellence just him, Jesus. In fact, he is the truly poor in spirit, the cries, the meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure of heart, a peacemaker, he is persecuted for righteousness' sake.
The Beatitudes show us the spiritual features of Jesus and thus express their mystery, the mystery of death and resurrection, passion and joy of the resurrection. This mystery, which is the mystery of true happiness, invites us to follow Jesus and thus the road leading to it.
As we welcome the proposal and follow it, each with their circumstances, including we can share in his happiness. With him the impossible becomes possible and even a camel passing through the eye of a needle (cf. Mk 10, 25), with your help, only with your help, we can be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (cf. . Mt 5, 48).
Dear brothers and sisters, we are now in the heart of the Eucharistic celebration, encouragement and nourishment of holiness. Soon this will be higher as Christ, the true vine, which, like branches, are united the faithful on earth and saints in heaven. So be more intimate communion of the pilgrim Church in the world with the Church triumphant in glory. In the Preface
proclaim that the Saints are for us friends and role models. Let us invoke
to help us to imitate and strive to respond generously as they did, to the divine call.
especially invoke Mary, Mother of the Lord and mirror of all holiness. She, the all-holy, make us faithful disciples of His Son Jesus Christ. Amen.
ANGELUS
St. Peter's Square Sunday November 1, 2009
Dear Brothers and Sisters
This Sunday coincides with the feast of All Saints, which invites the pilgrim Church on earth to enjoy the party in advance of endless heavenly community and revive the hope in eternal life. This year celebrates fourteen centuries since the Pantheon, one of the oldest and most famous Roman monuments, was intended for Christian worship and dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all martyrs, "Sancta Maria ad Martyres ." Thus, the temple of all the pagan gods became the site are reminded that, as the Book of Revelation , "come from the great tribulation and have washed their robes white in the blood of the Lamb "(Rev 7, 14). Later, the celebration of all the martyrs was extended to all the saints," a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, races, peoples and languages \u200b\u200b"(Rev 7, 9), as also says John. In this year of priesthood, I recall with special veneration of holy priests, both the Church has canonized, proposing them as example of pastoral and spiritual virtues as the "much more numerous, that only the Lord knows. Each of us retains fond memories of one of them, has helped us grow in faith and made us feel the goodness and nearness of God.
Tomorrow we expect the annual commemoration of all faithful departed. I invite you to live this day as the true Christian spirit, that is, light from the Paschal Mystery. Christ died and rose again, and opened the way to the house of the Father, the Kingdom of life and peace. Those who follow Jesus in this life is welcomed where he came before us. So, when we visit the cemeteries, remember that there, in the tombs, lie only remains of our loved ones, waiting for the final resurrection. Their souls, as Scripture tells and "are in the hands of God" (Wis 3, 1). Therefore, the most proper and effective to honor them is to pray for them, offering acts of faith, hope and charity. In union with the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we can intercede for their eternal salvation and experience the deepest communion, waiting to meet them, to enjoy forever the love that created us and redeemed.
Dear friends, what a beautiful and comforting is the communion of saints! It is a fact that gives a different dimension to our whole life. We are never alone! We are part of a "company" spirit in which profound solidarity reigns: the good of each one is in the interest of all and, conversely, the common happiness radiates about each person. It is a mystery to some extent, we can experience in this world, family, friendship, especially in the spiritual community of the Church. May Mary Most Holy help us to walk briskly along the path of holiness and show Mother of mercy for the souls of the dead.
Plaza de San Pedro
Saturday November 1, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Today we celebrate with joy the Feast of All Saints. When you visit a garden botanical surprising variety of plants and flowers, and it is natural to think of the fantasy of the Creator, who has turned the land into a wonderful garden. We experienced a similar feeling when we consider the performance of holiness: the world is presented as a "garden" where the Spirit of God has arisen with a multitude of wonderful fantasy saints of all ages and social status of every language , people and culture.
Each one is different from the other, the uniqueness of the human personality and the spiritual charism. But all engraved with the "seal" of Jesus (cf. Rev 7, 3), ie the trace of his love, witnessed through the cross. All live happily in an endless party, but as Jesus conquered this goal through hardships and trials (cf. Ap 7, 14), facing each his share of sacrifice to participate in the glory of the resurrection.
The solemnity of All Saints was consolidated during the first Christian millennium as a collective celebration of the martyrs. In the year 609 in Rome, Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon, dedicated to the Virgin Mary and all martyrs . Moreover, we can understand this martyrdom in the broadest sense is, as love for Christ without reservation, love expressed in the total gift of self to God and neighbor. The spiritual goal, which tend all the baptized, is reached by following the path of the "Beatitudes" evangelical, the liturgy tells us in today's solemnity (cf. Mt 5, 1-12). It's the same path for Jesus and the Saints have struggled to go, though aware of their human limitations.
In his earthly life have been poor in spirit, have felt sorrow for sins, have been tame, have been hungry and thirsty for justice, have been merciful, pure in heart, have worked for peace and have been persecuted for of justice. And God has made them sharers in his own happiness: foretaste in this world and in the hereafter, enjoy it fully. Now they have been comforted, have inherited the earth have been filled, forgiven, see God, whom are children. In a word: "theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 5, 3.10).
On this day we feel that it revives in us the allure of the sky, that impels us to expedite the passing of our earthly pilgrimage. Sorry going on in our hearts the desire to join the family forever with the saints, of which we now have the grace to take part. As one famous song spiritual : "When you come to the multitude of thy saints, O Lord, how I wish to be among them! ".
May this beautiful aspiration encourage all Christians and help them to overcome all difficulties, all fears, all the tribulations. Dear friends, put our hand on the mother's hand of Mary, Queen of All saints, let us be guided by it to the heavenly homeland, accompanied by the Blessed Spirits "from every nation, people and language" (Ap 7, 9). and join in prayer and remembrance of our beloved deceased, who will mark tomorrow.
Plaza de San Pedro
Thursday November 1, 2007
Dear Brothers and Sisters
On this solemnity of All Saints, our hearts, overcoming the limits of time and space, expands the dimensions of the sky. At the beginning of Christianity, the Church members are also used to call "saints." For example, St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, addresses "those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with those who in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1, 2).
Indeed, the Christian and is holy, for Baptism unites Jesus and his paschal mystery, but at the same time must come to be, conforming him more intimately. Sometimes people think that holiness is a privilege reserved for a select few. In fact, become a saint is the task of every Christian, indeed, we might say, of every man.
The Apostle Paul writes that God has always blessed us and chose us in Christ to be holy and blameless before him in love "(Eph 1, 4). Therefore, all human beings are called to holiness that, ultimately, is to live as children of God, in the "likeness" to him according to which they were created.
All human beings are children of God, and all should become what they are, through the demanding path of freedom. God invites everyone to join his holy people. The "way" is Christ, the Son, the Holy One of God, no one comes to the Father except through him (cf. Jn 14, 6).
The Church has wisely established the feast of All Saints immediately follows the commemoration of All Souls. Our prayer of praise to God and veneration of the blessed spirits, he has presented today the liturgy as "a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, races, peoples and tongues" (Rev 7, 9 ) joins the prayers for who have preceded us in the passing from this world to eternal life. Tomorrow I will spend them in a special way for them our prayers and celebrate the Eucharistic Sacrifice. In truth, every day the Church invites us to pray for them, providing also the suffering and the daily efforts to fully purified, are admitted to enjoy forever the light and peace of the Lord.
In the center of the assembly of the holy shines the Virgin Mary, "the most humble and exalted of creatures" (Dante, Paradise , XXXIII, 2). When shaking hands, we are encouraged to walk more momentum on the path of holiness. To her we entrust our commitment today newspaper and ask also for our dear departed, with the profound hope to meet again one day all together in glorious communion of saints.
Solemnity of All Saints
Wednesday November 1, 2006
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Today we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints and tomorrow will mark a the faithful departed. These two liturgical feasts, deeply rooted, give us a unique opportunity to meditate on eternal life. Modern man, do you expect even this eternal life, or considered to belong to a mythology already outdated? In our time more than in the past, people are so absorbed by earthly things, sometimes it is difficult to think of God as the protagonist of the story and our life. But human existence, by its nature, tends to something bigger, that transcends it, is irrepressible in the human yearning for justice, truth, happiness full. Faced with the enigma of death, many feel an ardent desire and hope to meet again in the afterlife with their loved ones. It is also strong conviction of a final trial that will restore justice, pending a final confrontation in which each is given what is due.
But for us Christians, "eternal life" indicates not only a life that lasts forever, but rather a new quality of life, fully immersed in the love of God, from evil and death, and we put in endless communion with all the brothers and sisters who share the same love, therefore, eternity and may be present in the center of earthly and temporal life when the soul, through grace, is united to God, their ultimate foundation.
Everything passes, only God remains. Says a psalm: "My flesh and my heart is consumed: Rock my heart, my portion, God forever!" (Sal 73, 26). All Christians, called holiness, are men and women living firmly anchored in the "Rock" have their feet on the ground, but the heart is already in heaven, final resting place of the friends of God.
Dear brothers and sisters, let us reflect on these realities with the heart facing our last and final destination, which gives meaning to everyday situations. Rekindle the joyful feeling of the communion of saints, let us be attracted by them towards the goal of our existence: face to face with God. Let us pray that this is the heritage of all the faithful departed, not only of our loved ones but also of all souls, especially of the most neglected and in need of mercy divine.
May Mary, Queen of All Saints, guide us to choose at any time of eternal life, "the life everlasting," as we say in the Creed , a world already inaugurated by the resurrection of Christ, and whose coming we can expedite our sincere conversion and charity work.
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Solemnity of All Saints
Dear Brothers and Sisters
Today we celebrate the solemnity of All Saints, which makes us taste the joy of being part of the great family of friends of God, or Paul writes, to "participate in the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1, 12). The liturgy proposes again the expression, full of wonder, of the Apostle John: "See what love the Father has given us should be called children of God, as we are!" (1 Jn 3, 1). Yes, being a saint means to fully realize what we already are as high in Christ Jesus, to the dignity of adopted children of God (cf. Eph 1, 5; Rm 8, 14-17). With the Incarnation of the Son, by His death and resurrection, God willed to reconcile humanity and make him share in his own life. Those who believe in Christ, the Son of God, reborn "From above", is regenerated by the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 3, 1-8). This mystery takes place in the sacrament of baptism, through which the Mother Church gives birth to "saints."
The new life received in Baptism, is not subject to corruption and the power of death. For those who live in Christ, death is the passage of the earthly pilgrimage to the homeland of heaven where the Father welcomes all his children, "from every nation, race, people and language" as we read today in the Book of Revelation (Ap 7, 9). Therefore, it is very significant and appropriate that after the feast of All Saints, the liturgy makes us celebrate tomorrow the commemoration of All Souls. The "communion of saints" which we profess in the Creed, is a reality that is built here on earth, but will be fully revealed when we see God "as is" (1 Jn 3, 2). It is the reality of a family united by deep bonds of spiritual solidarity that unites the faithful departed to those who are pilgrims in the world. A link is mysterious but real, nourished by prayer and participation in the sacrament of the Eucharist. In the Mystical Body of Christ the souls of the faithful are, overcoming the barrier of death, pray for one another and realize in charity a profound exchange of gifts. In this dimension of faith is understood also the practice of offering prayers for the dead to vote in a special way the Eucharistic Sacrifice, the memorial of Christ's Passover, which opened to believers the way to eternal life. Joining
spiritually to all go to cemeteries to pray for their dead, I too, tomorrow afternoon, will go pray in the Vatican Grottoes, at the tombs of the Popes, which form a crown around the tomb of the Apostle Peter, and a special way to remember our beloved John Paul II. Dear friends, may the traditional visit of these days to the tombs of our dead is a time to think without fear in the mystery of death and hold the unceasing vigilance para que nos prepares Afront with Serenidad. Que esto nos ayuda en la Virgen María, Reina de los santos, a la confianza que ahora nos dirigimos with branches.
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