June 2013
Pope's Intentions
Mutual Respect. That a culture of dialogue, listening, and mutual respect may prevail among peoples.
New Evangelization. That where secularization is strongest, Christian communities may effectively promote a new evangelization.
"Whose image is this?"
O man, what makes you so wretched in your own eyes when you are so very precious in God's eyes? Why put yourself down when God has so highly honored you? Why ask yourself how you were created but fail to find out to what end? Hasn't this earthly dwelling place you see around you been constructed entirely for you? For your sake light sprang forth to cast out darkness; for you the night was ordered and the day measured; for you the heavens shine with the brightness of sun, moon, stars; for you the earth is covered with flowers, forests, fruit; for you the wonderful multitude of all the animals live in the air, in the fields and in water lest sadness and loneliness should overshadow the happiness of an emerging creation.
God fashioned you from the earth (Gn 2,7) that you might be master of the things of this earth while sharing a common nature with them. However, earthly as you are, God has not set you on the same level to such an extent as to be no longer heavenly as regards your soul. That you might have a mind in common with God and a body in common with the animals, God has gifted you with a heavenly soul and an earthly body. Thus, a permanent union between heaven and earth is bonded within you.
And still your Creator is searching for what he could add to your elevation. See how he goes so far as to place his own image in you (Gn 1,26) so that this visible image might make the invisible Creator present on earth... If this is the case then how could it be thought dishonorable that God, in his goodness, should accept within himself what he has created in you and want to appear in reality in the appearance of man?... The Virgin conceived and bore a son (Mt 1,23-25).