Angelus

January 20, 2013

 

          Blessed Week of Christian Unity!  This past Sunday, the Holy Father greeted all of the pilgrims in Saint Peter's Square and prayed with them the Angelus. 

            In his message this week, the Holy Father reflected a bit on Sunday's Gospel passage – the wedding feast at Cana.  He mentioned that the reason why the Church meditates on this Gospel right now is because it is a part of the “Epiphany Triology”, along with the arrival of the Magi and the Baptism of the Lord.  It is another of event of the manifestation of Christ, and, it is “the first miracle that Jesus worked with which he showed his glory in public, inspiring faith in his disciples”. 

            Recalling the events of the Gospel passage, the Holy Father taught that with the sign of Jesus in which He turns the six jars of water into wine, even better wine, He is revealing Himself,

as the messianic Bridegroom come to establish with his people the new and eternal covenant, in accordance with the prophets' words: 'as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you' (Is 62:5).  Moreover, wine is a symbol of this joy of love; but it also alludes to the blood that Jesus was to pour out at the end to seal his nuptial pact with humanity.

Pope Benedict XVI then related this to the Church, how Christ's grace makes her holy and pure.  However, the Church, formed by human beings, needs to be constantly purified.  One of the greatest sins is the division which undermines her visible unity.  These have taken place due to historical circumstances and their consequences that have yet to be healed and resolved.  The Holy Father mentioned that this week, January 18-25, is the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and he will be celebrating Vespers on January 25 (Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul) with the different Ecclesial Communities and other Churches.  The theme of the week is about achieving “what the Lord requires of us” (cf. Mic 6:6-8), and he asked all to pray to overcome discrimination, to achieve visible unity, and to pray for peace.  Through the intercession of Mary Most Holy, Mediatrix of Grace, pray for us!

          Also, this past week, on the Feast of Saint Agnes, the Holy Father was presented with blessed lambs!  The wool from the lambs is used to make the Palliums given by the Holy Father to certain archbishops and bishops as a sign of unity with the Bishop of Rome.  

 

Image from http://catholicheritage.blogspot.it/2012/01/blessing-of-lambs-for-pallium.html