Angelus
Epiphany of
the Lord – January 6, 2013
This morning, His Holiness Pope
Benedict XVI, during the Holy Mass at Saint Peter's Basilica, ordained four new
bishops. Following the Mass, the Holy
Father prayed the Angelus with all the pilgrims gathered in Saint Peter's
Square. He spoke about the faith of the
magi. At Christmas, we see the faith of
Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, and on the Epiphany, we contemplate the mystery
of the faith of the wise men from the East.
He pointed out that in the Eastern Churches following the Julian
calendar celebrate Christ's birth on this day, and he asked all to keep them in
prayer.
In speaking about the magi from the
East, he taught that they represent peoples, the civilizations, the nations,
that are on their way toward God and searching for His Kingdom. Mary and Joseph represent the “remnant” of
Israel foretold by the prophets.
Embodied by Mary, there was a nucleus of Israel who knew and believed in
the God who revealed Himself to the patriarchs.
She becomes the Mother of God and the model of faith for the
Church. As can be seen, however, by the
Magi, the People of the New Covenant is universal. Pope Benedict declared, “...the light
of Christ is so clear and strong that it makes both the language of the cosmos
and of the Scriptures intelligible, so that all those who, like the Magi, are
open to the truth can recognize it and come to contemplate the Savior of the
world”. Quoting Saint Leo the
Great, he continued, “Let the full number of nations now take their place
in the family of the patriarchs... let all people adore the Creator of the
universe; let God be known, not only in Judea, but in the whole world”.
Blessed Epiphany!
No comments:
Post a Comment