The Holy Father's Angelus For March 2, 2008

The Holy Father has a great Angelus for today's Sunday. I though his "mini homily" on the Gospel today was excellent. HE also prayers for the Souls of the three aides of the Iraqi Bishop that were killed as well that the Iraqi Bishop be found safe. He also talks about the tragic ending of saga in Italy involving two children and reflects on that. Thanks to the Ratzinger Forum for the quick translation.


ANGELUS OF 3/2/08

Here is a translation of the Holy Father's words at the noonday Angelus today:

Dear brothers and sisters, In these Sundays of Lent, through texts from the Gospel of John, the liturgy is leading us through a true and proper baptismal itinerary. Last Sunday, Jesus promised the gift of 'living water' to the Samaritan woman at the well. Today, healing a man who was born blind, he revealed himself as 'the light of the world'.

Next Sunday, in bringing back to life his friend Lazarus, he will present himself as 'the resurrection and the life'. Water, light, life: these are the symbols of Baptism, a sacrament which 'immerses' believers in the mystery of Christ's death and resurrection, liberating them from the slavery of sin, and giving them eternal life. Let us dwell briefly on the account of the man who was born blind (Jn 9,1-41).

The disciples, according to the mentality common at the time, took it for granted that his blindness was the consequence of sin by himself or his parents. But Jesus rejects this prejudice and says, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible" (Jn 9,3). What comfort these words give us!

They make us hear the living voice of God, who is Love that is both provident and wise. In the face of mankind marked by limitations and sufferings, Jesus does not think of eventual sins but of the will of God who created man for life. Therefore, he solemnly declares: "We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day... While I am in the world, I am the light of the world" (Jn 9,4-5). And immediately he goes into action:

With a little clay and saliva, he makes a paste that he spreads on the eyes of the blind man. This action refers to the creation of man, which the Bible recounts with the symbol of clay that is shaped, which comes alive with the breath of God (cfr Jn 2,7). 'Adam', in fact, means 'earth', and the human body is indeed made up of the elements of the earth. In healing the man, Jesus performs a new creation. But that healing raises a heated discussion, because Jesus did it on the Sabbath, violating the Holy Day, according to the Pharisees.

Thus, after the healing, Jesus and the once-blind man find themselves 'chased out' by the Pharisees - one because he violated the law, the other because, despite his healing, he remains marked as a sinner from birth. To the healed man, Jesus reveals that he came to the world to work justice, to separate the curable blind from those who do not allow themselves to be cured because they presume themselves to be healthy.

In fact, the temptation is strong in man to build an ideological security system - and even religion can become part of this system, just like atheism, or secularism - but in so doing, he is blinded by his own egoism.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us allow ourselves to be healed by Jesus, who can and wants to give us the light of God!

Let us confess our blindness, our myopia, and above all what the Bible calls the 'great sin' (cfr Ps 13,14) - pride. May the Most Blessed Mary help us, who in generating Christ in the flesh, gave the world true light.

After the Angelus, the Holy Father had several special messages:

With profound sorrow, I have been following the events following the abduction of Mons. Paulos Faraj Rahho, Archbishop of Mosul of the Chaldeans, in Iraq. I join the appeal of the Patriarch, Cardinal Emmanuel III Delly, and his co-workers, so that the beloved prelate, who is in precarious health, may be released quickly.

At the same time, I offer my prayers of intercession for the souls of the three young men who were killed during his abduction. And I express my closeness to the Church in Iraq, especially to the Chaldean Church, which has been struck a harsh blow once again, even as I encourage the Pastors and the faithful to be strong and firm in hope.

May those who govern the destinies of the beloved Iraqi people multiply their efforts so that through wise commitment, everyone may find peace and security, and will not be denied the future to which they have a right.

Unfortunately, in recent days, the tension between Israel and Palestine in the Gaza Strip has reached very serious levels. I renew my urgent call on the authorities, Israeli and Palestinian, to stop this spiral of violence, on each side, without conditions. Only by showing absolute respect for human life, even that of the enemy, can one hope to give a future of peace and coexistence to the young generations of these peoples which both have their roots in the Holy Land. I invite the entire Church to raise prayers to the Almighty for peace in the land of Jesus and to show attentive and concrete solidarity with both peoples, Israeli and Palestinian.

During the week, the Italian media has focused its attention on the sad ending for two children known as Ciccio and Tore. [Their remains were found at the bottom of a well in Bari, southeastern Italy, after having disappeared in 2006]. It is an ending which has had a profound impact on me as it has on many families and persons. I wish to take the occasion to launch a cry of help in the name of children. Let us take very good care of them.

We should love them and help them to grow. I say this to parents but also to institutions. In making this appeal, my thought goes to children everywhere in the world, especially those who are most helpless, exploited and abused. I entrust every child to the heart of Christ, who said, "Let the children come to me!" (Lk 18,16).

Later, in English, he said:

I am happy to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for this Angelus. In today’s Gospel, we encounter Jesus, the light of the world, who cures the man born blind. By opening our eyes to faith, to the light that comes from God, Jesus continues to cure us from the darkness of confusion and sin present in this world. May his light always purify our hearts and renew our Christian love as we journey with him to Eternal Life. I wish you all a pleasant stay in Rome, and a blessed Sunday!