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Reflects on the Sacrament of Penance During General Audience Continuing his catechetical series on the Sacraments, Pope Francis reflected on the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which along with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick form what he described the “Sacraments of Healing”. “The Sacraments of Penance and Reconciliation [...] flow directly from the Paschal mystery,” he told pilgrims attending his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square. "In fact, the same evening of Easter the Lord appeared to the disciples, closed in the Cenacle, and, after addressing to them the greeting ‘Peace be with you’, he breathed on them...

Vatican City, 27 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, Benedict XVI celebrated his last general audience. In St. Peter's Square, crowded with tens of thousands of people wishing to bid him farewell, the Pontiff said: “Thank you for coming in such large numbers to this, my last general audience. Thank you, I am truly moved! And I see the Church is alive! I think we also have to thank the Creator for the beautiful weather that He is giving us now, even in winter.” Following is the entire text of the Holy Father's words. Like the Apostle Paul in the Biblical...

On Ash Wednesday "The forty days of Lent recall Israels sojourn in the desert and the temptations of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry." Vatican City, February 13, 2013 (Zenit.org). Before delivering his catechesis today, the Holy Father said the following to the faithful present: "Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you know, I have decided [applause] Thank you for your sympathy, I have decided to give up the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to me on April 19, 2005. I did this in full freedom for the good of the Church, after having prayed at length and...

On God As Creator of Heaven and Earth "In the work of creation, God is seen as the almighty Father who by his eternal Word brings into existence a universe of goodness, harmony and beauty" Vatican City, February 06, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Creed, which begins by describing God as "Almighty Father," as we meditated on last week, then adds that He is the "Creator of heaven and earth," and thus takes up the Bible's opening line. In the first...

On Abraham's Faith "Saying 'I believe in God' means founding my life on Him" Vatican City, January 23, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Year of Faith, I would like to start today to reflect with you on the Creed, the solemn profession of faith which accompanies our lives as believers. The Creed begins, "I believe in God." It is a fundamental affirmation, deceptively simple in its essentiality, but one that opens onto the infinite world of the relationship...

On Christ As Mediator Between God and Man "Jesus is Truly God Among Us, 'The Mediator and the Fullness of All Revelation'" Vatican City, January 16, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Second Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, says that the intimate truth of the revelation of God shines for us "in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation"(no. 2). The Old Testament tells us how God, after the creation, despite...

On the Incarnation "God gives us the greatest gift possible, the gift of himself " Vatican City, January 09, 2013 (Zenit.org). Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Christmas season we focus once again on the great mystery of God who came down from Heaven to enter into our flesh. In Jesus, God became incarnate, He became man like us, and thus opened for us the door to His Heaven, to full communion with Him. In recent days, the term "incarnation" of God has resounded several times in our churches, to express the reality we celebrate on Christmas: the Son of...

On God the Almighty Father "Despite the Crisis of Fatherhood in Many Societies, the Scriptures Show us Clearly what it Means to Call God 'Father'" VATICAN CITY, January 30, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the General Audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In last Wednesday's catechesis we focused on the words of the Creed: "I believe in God." But the profession of faith specifies this statement: God is the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I should like to reflect with you now on the first, fundamental definition of...

On the Identity of Jesus "The Incarnation is the Beginning of the New Creation" VATICAN CITY, January 2, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is the translation of the Holy Father's weekly general audience address. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Nativity of the Lord once again illuminates the darkness that often surrounds our world and our hearts with His light, bringing hope and joy. Where does this light come from? From the stable in Bethlehem, where the shepherds found "Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger" (Lk 2:16). Before this Holy Family, another and deeper question arises: how can the...

On the Faith of Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ "Marys Faith [] Combines Complete Trust in the Lords Promises with a Certain 'Unknowing'" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the journey of Advent, the Virgin Mary has a special place as the one who in a unique way waited for the fulfillment of the promises of God, accepting Jesus in faith and in the flesh, the Son of God, in full obedience to the divine will....

On The Unfolding of God's Self-Revelation "God Continues to Draw Near to Us" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 12, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the last catechesis I spoke of God's revelation, as a communication He makes of Himself and of His plan of kindness and love. This revelation of God inserts itself in time and in the history of mankind: history that becomes "the arena where we see what God does for humanity. God comes to us in the things we...

On the Beauty of God's Plan of Salvation "Gods Self-Revelation in Christ Corresponds to Our Deepest Human Hopes and Aspirations" VATICAN CITY, DEC.5, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, At the beginning of his letter to the Christians of Ephesus (cf. 1:3-14), the apostle Paul raises a prayer of blessing to God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the prayer we just heard, that helps us enter into living the time of Advent, in the context of the Year of Faith....

On Bearing Witness to the Christian Faith "The God of Jesus Christ has Revealed our Grandeur as Persons Redeemed by Love" VATICAN CITY, NOV.28, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, The main question that we ask today is: how can we speak of God in our time? How can we communicate the Gospel, to open roads to his saving truth in the hearts, that are often closed, of our contemporaries and in...

On the Splendor of God's Truth "Through Faith We Come to True Knowledge of God and Ourselves" VATICAN CITY, Nov. 21, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, We go forward in this Year of Faith, bearing in our hearts the hope of rediscovering how much joy there is in believing and of finding the enthusiasm to communicate to all the truths of the faith. These truths are not a simple message about...

On the Knowledge of God "God Inspires and Accompanies our Efforts to Know Him and to Find Our Happiness in Him" VATICAN CITY, Nov. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last Wednesday we reflected on the desire for God that the human being carries within his very depths. Today I would like to continue and delve deeper into this aspect, meditating with you briefly about some ways to arrive at the...

On the Desire for God Our Hearts Are Restless Until They Find Their Rest in God VATICAN CITY, Nov. 7, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, The path of reflection that we have undertaken together in this Year of Faith leads us to meditate today on a fascinating aspect of human and Christian experience: man bears within him a mysterious desire for God. Very significantly, the Catechism of the Catholic Church opens...

On the Ecclesial Nature of Faith No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother. VATICAN, OCT. 31, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father continued with the second reflection in his new series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, We continue on our journey of meditation on the Catholic Faith. Last week I explained that faith is a gift, for it is God who takes the initiative and comes to meet us. Thus faith...

On the Nature of Faith "Faith is a gift of God, but it is also a profoundly free and human act" VATICAN, OCTOBER 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father continued his new series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Last Wednesday, with the inauguration of the Year of Faith, I began a new series of catecheses on faith. And today I would like to reflect with you on the basic question: What is faith? Does faith still make sense...

On A New Series of Audiences for The Year of Faith "With Faith, Everything Changes in Us and for Us" VATICAN, OCTOBER 18, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. Today the Holy Father introduced a new series of catechesis meant to accompany the Church during the Year of Faith. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to introduce a new series of catecheses that will be developed throughout the course of the newly inaugurated Year of Faith and that, for the time being, will interrupt...

On the 50th Anniversary of the Second Vatican Council "An Event of Light That Shines Forth Even Until Today" VATICAN, OCTOBER 10, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in St. Peter’s Square. On this Eve of the 50th anniversary of Vatican II, the Holy Father dedicated his reflection to the importance of rediscovering the conciliar documents. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, We have arrived at the eve of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the beginning of the Year of Faith....