Pope Benedict Talks About Angels at Sunday Angelus

This is a nice short talk by the Pope. Thanks to the Ratzinger Forum for the translation. The March 1st Angelus should be officially translated into English on the Vatican web site here in the next couple of days.

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today is the first Sunday of Lent, and the Gospel, in the sober concise style of St. Mark, introduces us to the climate of this liturgical season: "The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan" (Mk 1,12). In the Holy Land, west of the river Jordan and the oasis of Jericho, the desert of Judea extends over rocky valleys (with mountains) that reach an altitude of about a thousand meters, to the edge of Jerusalem.

After having received Baptism from John, Jesus went into solitude led by the the same Holy Spirit which had descended on him, consecrating and revealing him as the Son of God. In the desert, a place of trial, as shown by the experience of the people of Israel, the reality of kenosis, the emptying out of Christ, who stripped himself of the form of God (cfr Phil 2,6-7), is played out in vivid darama. He, who had not sinned and cannot sin, was put to the test, and thus, he could suffer our infirmity with us (cfr Heb 6,15).

He allows himself to be tempted by Satan, the adversary, who had opposed, from the beginning, God's salvific design for men. Almost fleetingly, in the brevity of the account, against this dark and shadowy figure which dares to tempt the Lord, angels appear, luminous and mysterious figures. The angels, says the Gospel, 'ministered to' Jesus (Mk 1,13). They are the counterpoint to Satan. 'Angel' means 'a person sent', a messenger. In all the Old Testament, we find these figures, who in the name of God, help and guide men. Let us recall the Book of Tobias, where the angel Raphael appears to assist the protagonist in so many vicissitudes.

The reassuring presence of the angel of the Lord accompanies the people of Israel in all its experiences, good and bad. On the threshold of the New Testament, Gabriel is sent to announce to Zachariah and to Mary the happy events that are begin the story of our salvation. And an angel, whose name is not told us, advises Joseph and orients him in his time of uncertainty.

A chorus of angels brings the shepherds the good news of the birth of the Savior, just as it was angels who announced to the women of Jerusalem the joyous news of the Resurrection. At the end of time, angels will accompany Jesus when he comes in glory (cfr Mt 25,31). The angels ministered to Jesus, who is certainly superior to them, and this elevated status comes forth in the Gospel, proclaimed clearly though discreetly.

Indeed, even in situations of extreme poverty and humility, when he is tempted by Satan, he remains the Son of God, the Messiah, the Lord. Dear brothers and sisters, we discard a noteworthy part of the Gospel when we set aside these beings sent by God, who announce his presence among us, and of whom they are a sign.

Let us invoke them often, so that they may support us in the task of following Jesus to the point of identifying ourselves with him. Let us ask them today, in particular, to watch over myself and my co-workers in the Roman Curia who, this afternoon, as we do every year, will begin a week of spiritual exercises. Mary, Queen of Angels, pray for us.