Pope Benedict delivers his homily at the Palace Square.
Posted on 05/11/2010 1:55:12 PM PDT by NYer
.- During his apostolic visit to Portugal, the Holy Father presided over Mass in Lisbon's Palace Square on Tuesday evening. Despite negative media attention over sexual abuse that has dogged the Catholic Church in recent weeks, the Pope assured the crowd of 160,000 people that the “resurrection of Christ assures us that no adverse power will ever be able to destroy the Church.”
At the sun-filled open air Mass, a cheering throng welcomed Pope Benedict and the hundreds of clergy who led the procession to the altar. With Lisbon's Tagus River serving as a backdrop, local Cardinal Jose de la Cruz Policarpo presented the Holy Father with the gift of a crucifix featuring seafaring imagery and representing the identity of the country.
In his homily, the Pope centered his message on the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, where Christ told his disciples, “I am with you always to the close of the age.”
“These words of the risen Christ take on a particular significance in this city of Lisbon, the Pope noted, recalling that from the city “generations upon generations of Christians – bishops, priests, consecrated and lay persons, men and women, young and not so young – have journeyed forth in great numbers in obedience to the Lord’s call.”
The Holy Father praised the country for its missionary commitment, saying that Portugal “has gained a glorious place among the nations for the service rendered to the spreading of the faith: in all five continents there are local churches that owe their origin to Portuguese missionary activity.”
“Today, as you play your part in building up the European Community, you offer the contribution of your cultural and religious identity,” he said. “Indeed, just as Jesus Christ joined the disciples on the road to Emmaus, so today he walks with us in accordance with his promise: 'I am with you always, to the close of the age.'”
“We too have a real and personal experience of the risen Lord, even if it differs from that of the Apostles,” the Pope observed.
“In the living river of ecclesial Tradition, Christ is not two thousand years distant from us, but is really present among us: he gives us the Truth and he gives us the light which is our life and helps us find the path towards the future.”
But Christ's presence in the Church can be taken for granted, Pope Benedict warned. “Often we are anxiously preoccupied with the social, cultural and political consequences of the faith, taking for granted that faith is present, which unfortunately is less and less realistic,” he said. “Perhaps we have placed an excessive trust in ecclesial structures and programmes, in the distribution of powers and functions; but what will happen if salt loses its flavor?”
“In order for this not to happen,” the Pope said, “it is necessary to proclaim anew with vigor and joy the event of the death and resurrection of Christ, the heart of Christianity, the fulcrum and mainstay of our faith, the firm lever of our certainties, the strong wind that sweeps away all fear and indecision, all doubt and human calculation.”
“The resurrection of Christ assures us that no adverse power will ever be able to destroy the Church,” Pope Benedict underscored.
He then exhorted the faithful, saying “Never doubt his presence! Always seek the Lord Jesus, grow in friendship with him, receive him in Communion.”
“Learn to listen to his word and also to recognize him in the poor. Live your lives with joy and enthusiasm, sure of his presence and of his unconditional, generous friendship, faithful even to death on the cross,” the Pope urged.
“Bear witness to all of the joy that his strong yet gentle presence evokes, starting with your contemporaries,” he added.
“Tell them that it is beautiful to be a friend of Jesus and that it is well worth following him. With your enthusiasm, demonstrate that, among all the different ways of life that the world today seems to offer us – apparently all on the same level – the only way in which we find the true meaning of life and hence true and lasting joy, is by following Jesus.”
To read Pope Benedict's full homily, click here.
Looks like he had an excellent reception.
Nuns watch on a big screen as Pope Benedict XVI conducts an open mass at the Terreiro do Paco square in Lisbon Tuesday, May 11, 2010
“Real” nuns are so refreshing to see.
FIRE IN THE HOLE!
SnakeDoc
Just to clarify (not to start a war), but according to Catholic ecclesiology, the two are essentially synonymous. As Pius XII stated in the opening to his encyclical letter, Mystici Corporis Christi, The doctrine of the Mystical Body of Christ, which is the Church, was first taught us by the Redeemer Himself.
Note: this is not to assert, as some will have you believe, that those who are not in communion with Rome are not part of that Body of Christ (they are), but that the visible communion, often spoken of by St. Paul in his writings, has been at least partially ruptured.
I'm sure your views are at least somewhat different, but I wanted to make sure that you had a reasonably accurate view of the Catholic position on the matter.
Is that your view? Either one is a member of the catholic church or not a Christian?
As you might suspect, I would disagree with the Pope on that, but I do very much appreciate your manner of disagreement. If we, as I would submit, are brothers and sisters in Christ then it is appropriate that we can discuss such things in love. And by that I don't mean the false "love" people use to justify bashing each other.
LOL...I suppose you're correct, although it honestly wasn't my intent. But often even the best of intent becomes a log for someone's eye...and I suppose I can shoulder a share in that I bothered to comment...although shouldn't Christians be clear to comment honestly? I guess I get stuck between what should be and what is.
You spoke the truth.
Jesus gave Peter the keys and a perpetual lease. Jesus has kept the Roman Catholic Church going for 2000 years in spite of some of it’s members. That’s convincing evidence.
No problem. I’m on your side ... just suggesting you button-up the flak jacket. Haha.
SnakeDoc
There is one truth. Whether that truth is embodied in any single Christian denomination is another question entirely.
I would suggest that Christ’s church includes many Christian denominations, and that His forgiveness covers those doctrinal errors that each denomination has undoubtedly made.
Though I believe there is one true answer to every theological question, I do not believe there is one church with perfect answers.
SnakeDoc
TRANSLATION: "Despite a ginned-up media campaign to smear the Church..."
Well said. I can’t imagine someone going to hell because, even though they have accepted Christ, they believed in a particular doctrine taught by their church that turned out to be false. That scenario reminds of a Monty Python movie where people were asked certain questions and if they got any of them wrong were cast into a pit of fire.
Exactly! HIS CHURCH - Jesus is the cornerstone. Each follower of JESUS is a member of HIS CHURCH. HE is the Head and we (members) are the body.
The “Church” is not a building. It is not an organization. The Church is the body of Christ. The Church is His believers, His disciples. The Church is the people who pray to Him, who praise Him; the people who make room in their hearts for Him to live today. No organized religion owns the Church.
With all the anti-Christian faith at large in the world today, if left unchecked, in a generation or two could slowly dim God’s law, His Word. But even then, God will not be defeated. He is the Truth, and the Light of the world. I pray our spirits will always respond to Him with love and obedience. Our wondrous Triune God, alone, is the Holy Father. All else are either servant or Satan.
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