For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/041608.shtml
2nd Day of Apostolic Visitation of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the United States of America
+JMJ
Mary, Mother of the Risen Lord, pray for us!
The pope is appropriately called the Vicar of Christ - his principal representative. I saw in the National Catholic Register today a large apologetic piece talking about the papacy. It looks like it has been prepared for printing in major newspaper around the country, and I hope that it is. The pope as the Vicar of Christ takes on the responsibility of speaking on behalf of Christ, and this is what he is in the United States to do. First of all, the pope must strive to know Christ, especially in the Scriptures and in the breaking of the bread, and no doubt Pope Benedict has done this well or he would have never been elected to this special office. But what is more, through the holy office of the papacy which is Christ's gift to the Church, the pope receive the special assistance of the Holy Spirit to help him to speak the words Christ would want us to hear. Just as Barnabus and Paul were impelled by the Holy Spirit to carry the Gospel to new lands, so Pope Benedict has also been driven by the Spirit to carry the Gospel to every corner of the earth. Now is the time he sees fit to visit the United States and to proclaim the Gospel to all people here whom he has the responsiblity to shepherd. May he be helped by all our prayers and he takes on this responsibility. The pope must imitate Jesus closely by always reminding us of the great love Christ has for us. The pope does not visit us to condemn us, but to remind us of all that Jesus did and said. It is the word of Christ which gives life, and gives life in abundance. It is this word that the pope comes to speak to us, so that we will no longer dwell in darkness, but can enjoy the happiness that God the Father intends for us through the redemption of His only begotten Son. The pope does not come to condemn, but in imitation of Christ, he does come to leave us a word that can lead to life, or if it is ignored, to death. Let us pray that our country will have the humility to listen to this Vicar of Christ, and the courage to be converted by the words we hear!
2nd Day of Apostolic Visitation of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI to the United States of America
+JMJ
Mary, Mother of the Risen Lord, pray for us!
The pope is appropriately called the Vicar of Christ - his principal representative. I saw in the National Catholic Register today a large apologetic piece talking about the papacy. It looks like it has been prepared for printing in major newspaper around the country, and I hope that it is. The pope as the Vicar of Christ takes on the responsibility of speaking on behalf of Christ, and this is what he is in the United States to do. First of all, the pope must strive to know Christ, especially in the Scriptures and in the breaking of the bread, and no doubt Pope Benedict has done this well or he would have never been elected to this special office. But what is more, through the holy office of the papacy which is Christ's gift to the Church, the pope receive the special assistance of the Holy Spirit to help him to speak the words Christ would want us to hear. Just as Barnabus and Paul were impelled by the Holy Spirit to carry the Gospel to new lands, so Pope Benedict has also been driven by the Spirit to carry the Gospel to every corner of the earth. Now is the time he sees fit to visit the United States and to proclaim the Gospel to all people here whom he has the responsiblity to shepherd. May he be helped by all our prayers and he takes on this responsibility. The pope must imitate Jesus closely by always reminding us of the great love Christ has for us. The pope does not visit us to condemn us, but to remind us of all that Jesus did and said. It is the word of Christ which gives life, and gives life in abundance. It is this word that the pope comes to speak to us, so that we will no longer dwell in darkness, but can enjoy the happiness that God the Father intends for us through the redemption of His only begotten Son. The pope does not come to condemn, but in imitation of Christ, he does come to leave us a word that can lead to life, or if it is ignored, to death. Let us pray that our country will have the humility to listen to this Vicar of Christ, and the courage to be converted by the words we hear!
+m
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