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The Pope ... called on those present
to prepare themselves for Easter through the Sacrament of Confession. "We
know we are sinners," he said, "but we trust in divine mercy. Let us be
reconciled with Christ in order to enjoy more intensely the joy He
communicates to us with His resurrection. His forgiveness, which is given to
us in the Sacrament of Penance, is the source of interior and exterior peace
and makes us apostles of peace in a world still marked, alas, by divisions
and suffering, and by the drama of injustice, hatred, violence and the
incapacity to achieve reconciliation and begin again in sincere
forgiveness." (4/12/06)
"Communion, the fruit of the Holy
Spirit, is nourished by the Eucharistic bread and expressed through
fraternal relations, a kind of anticipation of future glory. ... It is the
gift that lifts us out of our solitude and brings us to participate in the
love that unites us to God and with one another. It is easy to understand
how great this gift is if we only think of the fragmentation and conflicts
afflicting relations between individuals, groups and entire peoples."
(3/29/06)
Recalling that [1/6/2006 in Italy]
is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, the Pope dwelt on the figure
of Mary: "Just as she presented Jesus to the Magi, so the Virgin continues
to offer Him to all humanity. Let us accept Him from her hands: Christ
fulfils the most profound expectations of our hearts and gives meaning to
all out plans and actions. May He be present in families and reign
everywhere with the power of His love."
"The twentieth century was a time of
martyrdom. This was much emphasized by Pope John Paul II who asked the
Church 'to update the Martyrologium,' and who canonized and beatified
numerous martyrs of modern history. If then, the blood of martyrs is the
seed of new Christians, at the beginning of the third millennium we may
expect a new flowering of the Church, especially where she suffered most for
the faith and the witness of the Gospel." from:
VIS 050426 (630)
"From God I invoke unity and peace
for the human family and declare the willingness of all Catholics to
cooperate for true social development, one that respects the dignity of all
human beings. I will make every effort and dedicate myself to pursuing the
promising dialogue that my predecessors began with various civilizations,
because it is mutual understanding that gives rise to conditions for a
better future for everyone. I am particularly thinking of young people. To
them, the privileged interlocutors of John Paul II, I send an affectionate
embrace in the hope, God willing, of meeting them at Cologne on the occasion
of the next World Youth Day. With you, dear young people, I will continue to
maintain a dialogue, listening to your expectations in an attempt to help
you meet ever more profoundly the living, ever young, Christ."
from:
VIS 050420 (2370)
Pope Benedict XVI remarked how,
"through words, and even more by example, John Paul II taught us to
contemplate Christ with the eyes of Mary." from:
VIS 050502 (450)
"The faithful need God's
intervention because they are in a dire situation, suffering scorn and
disdain at the hands of the rich and arrogant. ... For this reason, the just
have entrusted their cause to the Lord, Who does not remain indifferent to
their imploring eyes, Who does not ignore their plea, Who does not
disappoint their hope." from:
VIS 050615 (270)
"Priestly identity must never be
likened to any secular title or confused with civic or political office.
Rather, configured to Christ Who emptied Himself taking the form of a
servant, the priest lives a life of simplicity, chastity and humble service,
which inspires others by example. At the heart of the priesthood is the
daily, devout celebration of Holy Mass. In this Year of the Eucharist I
appeal to your priests: be faithful to this commitment."
from:
VIS 050627 (470)
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Papal
Quotes