New Year thought

For the past several days, I have been thinking about and missing the presence of 50 to 70 million people. Who are those people? They would be the ones alive today, able to celebrate the New Year, whether it is on their cultural calendar or not, if they had not been aborted worldwide.

They are missing at the table, for they never had a chance to sit down at it.

I feel very personally their loss, as does the whole world, while I am conscious of what it is like without them, while many others have no clue that they are suffering the loss too. They are, however, alive in heaven, which is the glory of God's consolation and rescue of them....but they were needed here on earth.

Rather than contradict, this underscores Pope Benedict XVI's Day of Peace message that the world must turn attention to being good steward and protecting God's creation. The usual haters comment that "less people" and "abortion" "helps" to preserve the environment. Really?

Let me refute that with one of many observations that I could make. If the oceans had not been polluted and overfished, on seafood alone those 50-70 million people who are not alive today could have been easily sustained and fed.

Return to respecting and protecting all of God's creation, the earth and the people who were created in order to share the abundance, not be the victims of ignorant misers.

Genesis 1.
Luke 16.

More information for "astrology" believers

First, here are some comments by the Pope. Even if you do not believe his words are helpful in using an analogy that helps you to understand how we view the cosmos.

http://www.zenit.org/article-24710?l=english

snip

Benedict XVI explained that "Christian thought compares the cosmos to a 'book,' -- Galileo himself said this -- considering it as a work of an Author."

According to this book, he said, "divine love, incarnated in Christ is the fundamental and universal law of creation. This should not be understood in a poetic, but in a real sense."

Dante also understood it this way, the Pope said, noting how the author concludes "Paradise" with a definition of God as "the love that moves the sun and the other stars."

"This means that the stars, the planets [and] the entire universe are not governed by a blind force, [and] do not obey only the dynamics of matter," he said. "Therefore, cosmic elements shouldn't be divinized, but on the contrary, in everything and above everything, there is a personal will, the Spirit of God, who in Christ revealed himself as love."


I've written the rational reasons why one should not and indeed must not believe in occult practices and forces such as astrology. Just to quickly link what the Pontiff says here to something I've pointed out before, consider this. The motivation of God is love, and he has created the cosmos based on the pure love that only he possesses and humans cannot understand. Thus the motivation of the entire cosmos and all that is within it is love.

What I've pointed out before is that occult practices assign portions of life to various topics, both good and "bad." Thus in tarot cards, for example, one fourth of the cards are assigned to "bad" categories, making 25% of tarot cards indicative of something bad. This is not consistent with one's day to day life, where one certainly is not having 25% of one's time taken up by tragedy day after day, year after year, and further, as you can now see with the Pope's analogy of a book being written totally about love, tarot cards, for example, dictate that one fourth of the pages of the book are not based on love but about misfortune and tragic events.

Do you see what I mean? Any divination or occult practice "assumes" through its use of numbers, assigned suits, astrology "meanings" and so forth that "bad" and "unlucky" events operate independent of the context of love. That is why the occult is totally contrary to God and his will. Occult practices "assign" proportions of "good" and "bad" "events" totally outside of the context of both divine and humanitarian love. People are therefore reduced to "bottom line" status ("good" or "bad") without giving consideration at all to the ongoing nature of their life.

Here is a simple example. Suppose an astrology reader "assesses" jobs and careers only based on money, future promotion, power and how "happy" you will be. However, are there not millions of people who work in not so great jobs in order to support their families and have a better future? Where is that in a "sword, pentacle, rod or cup?" Occult practices were never developed with day to day normalcy in mind. Ironically, people nowadays crave some stability and normalcy, and less "drama" not more. Yet the occult strips away all the reality of normalcy for a totally unreal worldview that is proportions of unrealistic expectations and bleakness.

With that as an introduction, here is another mental detox exercise I've prepared for those of you trying to, thank God, wean yourselves from astrology. I know many of you have or are working on it, and bless you for that. But it's pernicious and as bad as any drug. So I continue to offer to you who are working on it and those of you who still do not believe helpful exercises in logic to wean you away from occult "thinking" and back to reality.

In astrology there is the assumption that certain bodies in the cosmos called "planets" (whether they are planets or not) "cause" certain types of events to happen. In other words planets have "specialties" and "govern" areas of life. The same is true of the signs of the zodiac, where each of the twelve signs have "specialities" and "govern" areas of life. Thus Mercury is viewed as being "in charge of communications" (even though it is just a dumb rock orbiting the mindless sun). Astrologers care about where Mercury "is" including in which of the twelve signs it is "traveling through." For example, astrologically speaking Mercury is now "in" Aquarius.

Of course Mercury is not "in" Aquarius since Aquarius does not even exist. Aquarius is a bunch of stars that are not even together in space, but are viewed as forming a shape in the same general direction of the galaxy. Suppose you are standing in New York City and have magical eyes so you can see for thousands of miles around the globe. You have someone standing in front of you in New York, and over his or her shoulder see someone standing in London, and over his or her shoulder someone in Russia. They are all in a line. Um, are they "together?" No, obviously not. But this is what astrologers "believe." They take the names and meanings that ancient people gave to stars that appear in the same part of the sky and view them as being "together" in both their meaning and their supposed "influence" on people's lives and events.

So whenever a planet "moves" from sign to sign its "areas of control" and the events that are supposedly "caused" changes in nature and tone since it supposedly picks up the characteristics of the sign it is "in." But that is an optical illusion because the planet is not "out there" among the stars, but just circling our important but boring sun. Like an actor walking across a stage with scenery a planet is seen against the backdrop of stars, but the stars themselves are not even connected together in a meaningful way. Here is an analogy. Suppose that you are standing in your kitchen with your back to the wall that is opposite the doorway to the kitchen. Suppose that by facing the door you are facing west. That means your back and your rear end are against the wall that is to the east. What does any of that mean? Nothing. When astrologers draw their charts all they are doing is using the earth as the back wall that you are leaning your butt against and looking at the door, in this case what direction each planet is in.

Now with very slow planets, such as Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, astrologers are all ga-ga whenever they are in a sign, calling it a "huge" "shift" and a "generational" impact. So when Pluto spends like ten years "going through" a sign astrologers expect and project upon the big events of humanity the "influences" of that sign. So according to western astrology Pluto has just entered Capricorn. Now astrologers "expect" and "demand" that humanity now has "typical" "Pluto in Capricorn 'behavior' and 'events.'" Here is the problem with such garbage.

Suppose I stuffed you into a rocket ship and took you to the actual planet Pluto. You are now in orbit around Pluto. As you orbit around Pluto, Pluto is not "stuck" in Capricorn. In fact, you see Pluto "framed" against each of the twelve signs in turn. Thus while you are orbiting you see Pluto "in" Aries, then travel more in your orbit and see Pluto "in" Taurus, and then you travel more and you see Pluto "in" Gemini, and you travel a little further and see Pluto "in" Cancer, and so on through each of the twelve signs as you finish one orbit, and your next orbit starts with seeing Pluto "in" Aries again.

Doe that make you Master of the Universe? I mean, if you are out there all by yourself in the rocket that I sent you out on and you can just move your spaceship to any part of your orbit and thus have Pluto, the slowest planet, now moving from sign to sign in a matter of hours, should you not be able to just kind of do whatever you want, make Pluto "serve" you in all ways?

If Pluto goes "into" a money sign, should not money fall into your lap no matter what you do? Except, oh yeah, wait, earth is back over thar in that thar direction and you are sitting in a rocket. I mean, you actually have to be among people and do things, right? So when you move your ship a little more and Pluto is in your most compatible love sign, should you not know find your perfect "soul mate" and have the most powerful love? Oh yeah, except for one problem. Earth and its humans is back over thar in that thar direction and you are alone in your stupid rocket ship. And what if Pluto is now a few hours later in a sign that indicates "war?" And you duck down and cover your ears and worry about the fighting starting. Oh, but wait, you just are thinking Pluto is "doing something" in that "war sign" because you are just a dummy sitting in a spaceship (which I provided to you) so you can orbit it and watch Pluto seem to be in one sign after the other in a matter of hours. Nothing has changed on earth no matter where Pluto "is" or where you are or where you "think" Pluto "is." Except anyone sane who actually cared about you is sad that you are in your stupid spaceship believing still in astrology. (And I worry about how much it has cost me, especially the fuel bill, in letting you go and "see for yourself" that astrology is a bunch of steaming cruel crap).

When one orbits a planet, as the International Space Station is now doing on earth, one has challenges such as, if you are Muslim, which direction is toward Mecca on earth to pray. This is another prosaic example of how the planets do not "move" into "areas of influence" but instead, people just gaze at the rocks and stars in the cosmos from different places and perspectives. The Muslim has to get his or her bearings in space to know in which direction Mecca lies so they can be prone in the correct direction and pray. But it does not change Mecca that Aries is "behind the earth" at that part of the orbit, or that a few hours later Taurus is "behind the earth" and so forth through the signs. Prayers to Mecca are prayers to Mecca, one just needs to point to Mecca. Astrologers "believe" that the chunks of cosmos "work together" in areas of speciality to influence human lives and events. That is so demonstrably wrong and stupid that it would be funny if I have not seen it harm so many people.

So the next time that you read some astrology crap about a planet or a sign and what is supposedly is going to do "for" you or "against" you, imagine getting in a rocket ship and flying to that planet. What would that do for you? After all, you can then see that planet in all twelve of the zodiac signs in one day as you orbit the planet. What would an astrologer say to that? Take my advice and don't ask and don't even read the daily paper's horoscopes for a laugh, because it stopped being funny a long time ago.

I hope you have found this helpful and that someday all people will see what believing orthodox Christians, Muslims and Jews see, which is the cosmos as the sign of God's love for life.

Pope Benedict 16 explains Advent

I absolutely could not have expressed it better myself. Do read this, everyone... you cannot help but be inspired and uplifted.

http://www.zenit.org/article-24492?l=english

PB16 explains St Paul's "justification" view

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI offers an easy to understand explanation of what St. Paul really meant in his writings about "justification," a much cited but often misunderstood concept.

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=14376

Pope Benedict describes saints most beautifully

http://www.zenit.org/article-24141?l=english

Pope opens synod, warns about Godless society

It is essential that people listen to the Holy Father and believe. The crisis of humanity is very dire. The more that humans disbelieve in God and inflate their own self importance, the lower and more depressive humans actually become, rather than be "enlightened" or "uplifted."

http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=d8f1c44f-8049-402c-98a3-d668ee2bdaec

snip

ROME -- Pope Benedict opened a major Vatican meeting on Sunday by decrying a modern culture so devoid of faith that some people were declaring God 'dead' and entire nations were losing their identity.
The 81-year-old German pope made his comments in the homily of a mass opening a month-long synod of Roman Catholic bishops from around the world who will be discussing God's message through Scripture.
He said nations that were "once rich in faith" were now "losing their identity under the harmful and destructive influence of a certain modern culture."

Text of two Pope messages at Lourdes

Here is the text of his message at the Angelus:

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=29328

(For those who are not Catholics, the Angelus can be thought of as mid-day prayers).

snip

At noon, when the first hours of the day are already beginning to weigh us down with fatigue, our availability and our generosity are renewed by the contemplation of Mary’s “yes”. This clear and unreserved “yes” is rooted in the mystery of Mary’s freedom, a total and entire freedom before God, completely separated from any complicity with sin, thanks to the privilege of her Immaculate Conception. This privilege given to Mary, which sets her apart from our common condition, does not distance her from us, but on the contrary, it brings her closer.

While sin divides, separating us from one another, Mary’s purity makes her infinitely close to our hearts, attentive to each of us and desirous of our true good. You see it here in Lourdes, as in all Marian shrines; immense crowds come thronging to Mary’s feet to entrust to her their most intimate thoughts, their most heartfelt wishes. That which many, either because of embarrassment or modesty, do not confide to their nearest and dearest, they confide to her who is all pure, to her Immaculate Heart: with simplicity, without frills, in truth. Before Mary, by virtue of her very purity, man does not hesitate to reveal his weakness, to express his questions and his doubts, to formulate his most secret hopes and desires. The Virgin Mary’s maternal love disarms all pride; it renders man capable of seeing himself as he is, and it inspires in him the desire to be converted so as to give glory to God.

And here is the text of Pope Benedict's homily:

http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php?id=29327

snip

This is the great mystery that Mary also entrusts to us this morning, inviting us to turn towards her Son. In fact, it is significant that, during the first apparition to Bernadette, Mary begins the encounter with the sign of the Cross. More than a simple sign, it is an initiation into the mysteries of the faith that Bernadette receives from Mary. The sign of the Cross is a kind of synthesis of our faith, for it tells how much God loves us; it tells us that there is a love in this world that is stronger than death, stronger than our weaknesses and sins. The power of love is stronger than the evil which threatens us. It is this mystery of the universality of God’s love for men that Mary came to reveal here, in Lourdes. She invites all people of good will, all those who suffer in heart or body, to raise their eyes towards the Cross of Jesus, so as to discover there the source of life, the source of salvation.

The Church has received the mission of showing all people this loving face of God, manifested in Jesus Christ.

A homily is the "sermon" given during a Catholic Mass.

These are highly recommended readings because once again Pope Benedict XVI shows himself to be the loving instructor of the flock. He knows that people, even those with great belief, have failings in their knowledge and need to regain educational context for their faith. And so with every paragraph he does three things at once: he preaches, he explains and teaches, and he performs as the role model for the faith. If you read these two texts (and all future ones from him) and keep these three points in mind, you'll see for yourself how he is doing all of those essential tasks at once. For example, through his careful example and explanations, Pope Benedict corrects, without having to say a word about them, misconceptions that people have about the role of Mary and reinforce that Mary is totally about the primacy of God, to whom all worship is due and who holds all power, and the completeness of the role of Savior in and only in Jesus Christ. Pope Benedict demonstrates how he can frame the truthful context of God, Jesus, Mary, and the importance of the Cross so that misguided misconceptions simply fall away and do not have to be confronted.

Studying Pope Benedict and his writings and utterances in this way also helps when one reads the Bible. You see, Bible authors who recorded the true events in faith history were doing the same thing: preaching, instructing and establishing role models. It is much easier to understand Bible figures and also the saints and others who followed when you recognize those who are particularly gifted and conscientious, as is Pope Benedict, to do all of these three tasks at once that are essential to good faith formation.

Parents, you might want to think about this too in your relationship to your children, including in secular activities. Children develop the best when they understand at the same time: 1) what to do 2) why it is the way it is and 3) they can observe good role models.

I hope that you find this helpful.

Glad Pope's fraternal view of Jews getting press

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1221142462433&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull



snip



Sep 13, 2008 23:43 Updated Sep 14, 2008 1:42
Pope slams anti-Semitism in meeting with French Jews

By HAVIV RETTIG



Pope Benedict XVI slammed anti-Semitism as theologically unjustifiable and tantamount to being "anti-Christian" in a meeting with French-Jewish leaders in Paris on Friday.



The meeting came on the first day of a four-day trip to France, the pontiff's 10th trip out of Italy since his election in April 2005.


"The Church is opposed to every form of anti-Semitism, which can never be theologically justified," he said, quoting French theologian Henri de Lubac as saying he had understood that "to be anti-Semitic also signifies being anti-Christian."


Benedict lamented the victims of anti-Semitism, saying: "Once again I feel the duty to pay heartfelt recognition to those who have died unjustly, and to those that have dedicated themselves to assure that the names of these victims may always be remembered. God does not forget."


He called for greater Christian-Jewish understanding, noting that the two religions' "fraternal bonds constitute a continual invitation to know and to respect one another better."


Rabbi Joseph Sitruk, a former chief rabbi of France, said after the meeting that it had been a "historic rapprochement between Judaism and the Church."


Benedict also met with French cultural leaders and leaders of the country's Muslim community.


More than a quarter million turned out in Paris for Benedict's outdoor Mass on Saturday morning.

Better than any university lecture, the Pope!

Do read his discourse from yesterday in Paris, on the topic of Christian culture and art, and how it arose from the monastic system in its quest for God based on God's revealed known and true word. This is very scholarly and yet easy to understand. I might make some comments and explanations in a subsequent blog posting.

http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/206663?eng=y

Pope Benedict remarks at Paris official greeting

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804646.htm

Pope arrives in France, says society needs inspiration of Gospel
By John Thavis Catholic News Service

PARIS (CNS) -- Arriving in France for a four-day visit, Pope Benedict XVI called for a new chapter of church-state cooperation, saying modern society greatly needs the inspiration of the Gospel.

The pope appealed in particular on behalf of struggling youths, the suffering poor and the polluted planet.

In all three areas, the pope said Sept. 12, the church can bring hope and help create an "ethical consensus" in a society that sometimes lacks values and direction."

This hope is all the more necessary in today's world, which offers few spiritual aspirations and few material certainties," the pope said at an official welcoming ceremony at Elysee Palace.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warmly welcomed the pope and applauded his words. In the president's own speech, he said religion did not represent a danger for any democracy and that Christian values constituted a "living patrimony" for the whole society.

snip

Describing himself as a "sower of charity and hope," the pope quickly zeroed in on a perennial and crucial issue in France: the proper role of the church in a secular society.

On one hand, he said, it was right to "insist on the distinction between the political realm and that of religion in order to preserve both the religious freedom of citizens and the responsibility of the state toward them."

At the same time, he said, society must become more aware of "the irreplaceable role of religion" in forming consciences and instilling values.

The pope then turned to several specific issues where the church's influence is needed today. His greatest concern, he said, is for young people.

"Some of them are struggling to find the right direction or are suffering from a loss of connection to family life," he said.

Other young people are left on the margins, spiritually seeking but vulnerable, and they need sound educational direction, he said. The church has a specific role in this regard, he said.

Pope Benedict explains prayer highest priority

He truly is the Vicar of Jesus Christ.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0804135.htm

snip

Pope says his most important task is to pray for church, world
By Catholic News Service

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said praying for the church and the world is his most important task as pope.

"By praying I place in the hands of the Lord the ministry he himself has entrusted me with and the fate of the entire church and civil community," the pope said Aug. 13 as he held an abbreviated general audience at his summer residence south of Rome.

snip

Throughout the two-week vacation, he said, he prayed for those who had asked for his prayers.

"Truly, many people write asking me to pray for them. They share their joys, but also their worries; the plans for their lives, but also the problems of their families and their work; the expectations and hopes that they carry in their hearts together with the distress connected with the uncertainties which humanity is experiencing at this moment," the pope said. Pope Benedict said that especially during his daily Mass and recitation of the rosary, he prays for each person who writes to him.

"I know well that the first service I can render to the church and to humanity is precisely that of prayer," he said.

Pope Benedict said the Bible and the example of the saints demonstrate that "one who prays never loses hope, even when he finds himself in difficult or even humanly desperate situations."

snip

St. Maximilian Kolbe's last words were reported to be the beginning of the Hail Mary, he said.

"It is moving to note that the humble and trusting recourse to the Blessed Mother is always a source of courage and serenity," he said.

As the church prepared to celebrate the Aug. 15 feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the pope told his visitors, "Let us renew our trust in the one who, from heaven, watches over us with maternal love at every moment."

Important reminder by Pope Benedict XVI

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=13429

Rome, Aug 3, 2008 / 10:41 am (CNA).- Before the recitation of the Angelus on Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about his predecessor Paul VI. Recounting the Pontiff who concluded the Second Vatican Council, the Holy Father encouraged his audience to remain faithful to Pope Paul’s teaching and witness of holiness. Speaking in the square in front of the cathedral of Bressanone, Italy, Pope Benedict thanked those present for joining him to pray the Angelus. He thanked Bishop Wilhelm Egger of Bolzano-Bressanone and the local authorities for assuring him a “peaceful and safe stay in the city.”

The Holy Father extended a special blessing to children, the sick and those in difficult situations.

Pope Benedict then invited his audience in Bressanone to remember the Servant of God, Pope Paul VI, the 30th anniversary of whose death is commemorated in three days.

The Holy Father recalled that his predecessor, who died on the eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, had “guided the people of God to contemplate the face of Christ.” Christ, he continued, is “at the center of the Bible and Tradition, the heart of the church, the world and the whole universe.” The Holy Father recounted how Pope Paul, elected to the papacy during the Second Vatican Council, “presided over the Council to its closing and governed an eventful post-conciliar phase.” He added, “Thanking God for the gift of this great Pope, let us commit to treasuring his teachings.”

Pope Benedict concluded by reminding his audience of Paul VI’s proclamation, at the conclusion of the third session of the Second Vatican Council, of the Virgin Mary as “Mother of the Church”.

After the Angelus, the Holy Father directed these words towards the English-speaking pilgrims:

“I offer a warm welcome to the English-speaking visitors united with us here in Bressanone for this Angelus prayer.

Wednesday, the feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration, marks the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Pope Paul VI.

As we recall this great Pontiff who concluded the Second Vatican Council and guided the first phase of the post-conciliar renewal, let us give thanks for his wise teaching, his passionate love of the Church, and his desire to draw all people to the contemplation of Christ’s glory.

Dear friends, during these summer holidays, may you grow closer to the Lord in prayer, and may he shed the light of his face upon you and your families!”

Pope says Scripture must be read with humility

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0802973.htm

snip

Pope, at audience, says Scripture must be read with humility
By Carol Glatz

Catholic News Service
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Christians must read sacred Scripture with humility and the desire to gain spiritual nourishment, not "theoretical knowledge" of God's word, Pope Benedict XVI said.

"Intellectual humility is the most important rule for whoever seeks to penetrate supernatural reality starting with sacred writings," he said during his June 4 general audience in St. Peter's Square.

Delving into Scripture solely to "satisfy one's own desires for knowledge means to give in to the temptation of pride and to expose oneself to the risk of slipping into heresy," he said.

***
This is exactly what I was demonstrating in my previous blog post about the dangers of trying to "interpret" prophecy or manipulate the spiritual goodness of the scriptures to match real or imagined world events.

PB16 address to youth/seminarians must read

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/april/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080419_st-joseph-seminary_en.html

{{I'm including the full text here in case some people cannot access the Vatican site for some reason.}}

MEETING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE AND SEMINARIANS
ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
Saint Joseph Seminary, Yonkers, New York
Saturday, 19 April 2008

Your Eminence,Dear Brother Bishops,Dear Young Friends,

“Proclaim the Lord Christ … and always have your answer ready for people who ask the reason for the hope that is within you” (1 Pet 3:15). With these words from the First Letter of Peter I greet each of you with heartfelt affection. I thank Cardinal Egan for his kind words of welcome and I also thank the representatives chosen from among you for their gestures of welcome. To Bishop Walsh, Rector of Saint Joseph Seminary, staff and seminarians, I offer my special greetings and gratitude.

Young friends, I am very happy to have the opportunity to speak with you. Please pass on my warm greetings to your family members and relatives, and to the teachers and staff of the various schools, colleges and universities you attend. I know that many people have worked hard to ensure that our gathering could take place. I am most grateful to them all. Also, I wish to acknowledge your singing to me Happy Birthday! Thank you for this moving gesture; I give you all an “A plus” for your German pronunciation! This evening I wish to share with you some thoughts about being disciples of Jesus Christ ─ walking in the Lord’s footsteps, our own lives become a journey of hope.

In front of you are the images of six ordinary men and women who grew up to lead extraordinary lives. The Church honors them as Venerable, Blessed, or Saint: each responded to the Lord’s call to a life of charity and each served him here, in the alleys, streets and suburbs of New York. I am struck by what a remarkably diverse group they are: poor and rich, lay men and women - one a wealthy wife and mother - priests and sisters, immigrants from afar, the daughter of a Mohawk warrior father and Algonquin mother, another a Haitian slave, and a Cuban intellectual.

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Venerable Pierre Toussaint, and Padre Felix Varela: any one of us could be among them, for there is no stereotype to this group, no single mold. Yet a closer look reveals that there are common elements. Inflamed with the love of Jesus, their lives became remarkable journeys of hope. For some, that meant leaving home and embarking on a pilgrim journey of thousands of miles. For each there was an act of abandonment to God, in the confidence that he is the final destination of every pilgrim. And all offered an outstretched hand of hope to those they encountered along the way, often awakening in them a life of faith. Through orphanages, schools and hospitals, by befriending the poor, the sick and the marginalized, and through the compelling witness that comes from walking humbly in the footsteps of Jesus, these six people laid open the way of faith, hope and charity to countless individuals, including perhaps your own ancestors.

And what of today? Who bears witness to the Good News of Jesus on the streets of New York, in the troubled neighborhoods of large cities, in the places where the young gather, seeking someone in whom they can trust? God is our origin and our destination, and Jesus the way. The path of that journey twists and turns ─ just as it did for our saints ─ through the joys and the trials of ordinary, everyday life: within your families, at school or college, during your recreation activities, and in your parish communities. All these places are marked by the culture in which you are growing up. As young Americans you are offered many opportunities for personal development, and you are brought up with a sense of generosity, service and fairness. Yet you do not need me to tell you that there are also difficulties: activities and mindsets which stifle hope, pathways which seem to lead to happiness and fulfillment but in fact end only in confusion and fear.

My own years as a teenager were marred by a sinister regime that thought it had all the answers; its influence grew – infiltrating schools and civic bodies, as well as politics and even religion – before it was fully recognized for the monster it was. It banished God and thus became impervious to anything true and good. Many of your grandparents and great-grandparents will have recounted the horror of the destruction that ensued. Indeed, some of them came to America precisely to escape such terror.

Let us thank God that today many people of your generation are able to enjoy the liberties which have arisen through the extension of democracy and respect for human rights. Let us thank God for all those who strive to ensure that you can grow up in an environment that nurtures what is beautiful, good, and true: your parents and grandparents, your teachers and priests, those civic leaders who seek what is right and just.

The power to destroy does, however, remain. To pretend otherwise would be to fool ourselves. Yet, it never triumphs; it is defeated. This is the essence of the hope that defines us as Christians; and the Church recalls this most dramatically during the Easter Triduum and celebrates it with great joy in the season of Easter! The One who shows us the way beyond death is the One who shows us how to overcome destruction and fear: thus it is Jesus who is the true teacher of life (cf. Spe Salvi, 6). His death and resurrection mean that we can say to the Father “you have restored us to life!” (Prayer after Communion, Good Friday). And so, just a few weeks ago, during the beautiful Easter Vigil liturgy, it was not from despair or fear that we cried out to God for our world, but with hope-filled confidence: dispel the darkness of our heart! dispel the darkness of our minds! (cf. Prayer at the Lighting of the Easter Candle).

What might that darkness be? What happens when people, especially the most vulnerable, encounter a clenched fist of repression or manipulation rather than a hand of hope? A first group of examples pertains to the heart. Here, the dreams and longings that young people pursue can so easily be shattered or destroyed. I am thinking of those affected by drug and substance abuse, homelessness and poverty, racism, violence, and degradation – especially of girls and women. While the causes of these problems are complex, all have in common a poisoned attitude of mind which results in people being treated as mere objects ─ a callousness of heart takes hold which first ignores, then ridicules, the God-given dignity of every human being. Such tragedies also point to what might have been and what could be, were there other hands – your hands – reaching out. I encourage you to invite others, especially the vulnerable and the innocent, to join you along the way of goodness and hope.

The second area of darkness – that which affects the mind – often goes unnoticed, and for this reason is particularly sinister. The manipulation of truth distorts our perception of reality, and tarnishes our imagination and aspirations. I have already mentioned the many liberties which you are fortunate enough to enjoy. The fundamental importance of freedom must be rigorously safeguarded. It is no surprise then that numerous individuals and groups vociferously claim their freedom in the public forum. Yet freedom is a delicate value. It can be misunderstood or misused so as to lead not to the happiness which we all expect it to yield, but to a dark arena of manipulation in which our understanding of self and the world becomes confused, or even distorted by those who have an ulterior agenda.

Have you noticed how often the call for freedom is made without ever referring to the truth of the human person? Some today argue that respect for freedom of the individual makes it wrong to seek truth, including the truth about what is good. In some circles to speak of truth is seen as controversial or divisive, and consequently best kept in the private sphere. And in truth’s place – or better said its absence – an idea has spread which, in giving value to everything indiscriminately, claims to assure freedom and to liberate conscience. This we call relativism. But what purpose has a “freedom” which, in disregarding truth, pursues what is false or wrong?

How many young people have been offered a hand which in the name of freedom or experience has led them to addiction, to moral or intellectual confusion, to hurt, to a loss of self-respect, even to despair and so tragically and sadly to the taking of their own life? Dear friends, truth is not an imposition. Nor is it simply a set of rules. It is a discovery of the One who never fails us; the One whom we can always trust. In seeking truth we come to live by belief because ultimately truth is a person: Jesus Christ. That is why authentic freedom is not an opting out. It is an opting in; nothing less than letting go of self and allowing oneself to be drawn into Christ’s very being for others (cf. Spe Salvi, 28).

How then can we as believers help others to walk the path of freedom which brings fulfillment and lasting happiness? Let us again turn to the saints. How did their witness truly free others from the darkness of heart and mind? The answer is found in the kernel of their faith; the kernel of our faith. The Incarnation, the birth of Jesus, tells us that God does indeed find a place among us. Though the inn is full, he enters through the stable, and there are people who see his light. They recognize Herod’s dark closed world for what it is, and instead follow the bright guiding star of the night sky. And what shines forth? Here you might recall the prayer uttered on the most holy night of Easter: “Father we share in the light of your glory through your Son the light of the world … inflame us with your hope!” (Blessing of the Fire). And so, in solemn procession with our lighted candles we pass the light of Christ among us. It is “the light which dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride” (Exsultet). This is Christ’s light at work. This is the way of the saints. It is a magnificent vision of hope – Christ’s light beckons you to be guiding stars for others, walking Christ’s way of forgiveness, reconciliation, humility, joy and peace.

At times, however, we are tempted to close in on ourselves, to doubt the strength of Christ’s radiance, to limit the horizon of hope. Take courage! Fix your gaze on our saints. The diversity of their experience of God’s presence prompts us to discover anew the breadth and depth of Christianity. Let your imaginations soar freely along the limitless expanse of the horizons of Christian discipleship. Sometimes we are looked upon as people who speak only of prohibitions. Nothing could be further from the truth! Authentic Christian discipleship is marked by a sense of wonder. We stand before the God we know and love as a friend, the vastness of his creation, and the beauty of our Christian faith.

Dear friends, the example of the saints invites us, then, to consider four essential aspects of the treasure of our faith: personal prayer and silence, liturgical prayer, charity in action, and vocations.

What matters most is that you develop your personal relationship with God. That relationship is expressed in prayer. God by his very nature speaks, hears, and replies. Indeed, Saint Paul reminds us: we can and should “pray constantly” (1 Thess 5:17). Far from turning in on ourselves or withdrawing from the ups and downs of life, by praying we turn towards God and through him to each other, including the marginalized and those following ways other than God’s path (cf. Spe Salvi, 33). As the saints teach us so vividly, prayer becomes hope in action. Christ was their constant companion, with whom they conversed at every step of their journey for others.

There is another aspect of prayer which we need to remember: silent contemplation. Saint John, for example, tells us that to embrace God’s revelation we must first listen, then respond by proclaiming what we have heard and seen (cf. 1 Jn 1:2-3; Dei Verbum, 1). Have we perhaps lost something of the art of listening? Do you leave space to hear God’s whisper, calling you forth into goodness? Friends, do not be afraid of silence or stillness, listen to God, adore him in the Eucharist. Let his word shape your journey as an unfolding of holiness.

In the liturgy we find the whole Church at prayer. The word liturgy means the participation of God’s people in “the work of Christ the Priest and of His Body which is the Church” (Sacrosanctum Concilium, 7). What is that work? First of all it refers to Christ’s Passion, his Death and Resurrection, and his Ascension – what we call the Paschal Mystery. It also refers to the celebration of the liturgy itself. The two meanings are in fact inseparably linked because this “work of Jesus” is the real content of the liturgy. Through the liturgy, the “work of Jesus” is continually brought into contact with history; with our lives in order to shape them. Here we catch another glimpse of the grandeur of our Christian faith. Whenever you gather for Mass, when you go to Confession, whenever you celebrate any of the sacraments, Jesus is at work. Through the Holy Spirit, he draws you to himself, into his sacrificial love of the Father which becomes love for all. We see then that the Church’s liturgy is a ministry of hope for humanity. Your faithful participation, is an active hope which helps to keep the world – saints and sinners alike – open to God; this is the truly human hope we offer everyone (cf. Spe Salvi, 34).

Your personal prayer, your times of silent contemplation, and your participation in the Church’s liturgy, bring you closer to God and also prepare you to serve others. The saints accompanying us this evening show us that the life of faith and hope is also a life of charity. Contemplating Jesus on the Cross we see love in its most radical form. We can begin to imagine the path of love along which we must move (cf. Deus Caritas Est, 12). The opportunities to make this journey are abundant. Look about you with Christ’s eyes, listen with his ears, feel and think with his heart and mind. Are you ready to give all as he did for truth and justice? Many of the examples of the suffering which our saints responded to with compassion are still found here in this city and beyond. And new injustices have arisen: some are complex and stem from the exploitation of the heart and manipulation of the mind; even our common habitat, the earth itself, groans under the weight of consumerist greed and irresponsible exploitation. We must listen deeply. We must respond with a renewed social action that stems from the universal love that knows no bounds. In this way, we ensure that our works of mercy and justice become hope in action for others.

Dear young people, finally I wish to share a word about vocations. First of all my thoughts go to your parents, grandparents and godparents. They have been your primary educators in the faith. By presenting you for baptism, they made it possible for you to receive the greatest gift of your life. On that day you entered into the holiness of God himself. You became adoptive sons and daughters of the Father. You were incorporated into Christ. You were made a dwelling place of his Spirit. Let us pray for mothers and fathers throughout the world, particularly those who may be struggling in any way – socially, materially, spiritually. Let us honor the vocation of matrimony and the dignity of family life. Let us always appreciate that it is in families that vocations are given life.

Gathered here at Saint Joseph Seminary, I greet the seminarians present and indeed encourage all seminarians throughout America. I am glad to know that your numbers are increasing! The People of God look to you to be holy priests, on a daily journey of conversion, inspiring in others the desire to enter more deeply into the ecclesial life of believers. I urge you to deepen your friendship with Jesus the Good Shepherd. Talk heart to heart with him. Reject any temptation to ostentation, careerism, or conceit. Strive for a pattern of life truly marked by charity, chastity and humility, in imitation of Christ, the Eternal High Priest, of whom you are to become living icons (cf. Pastores Dabo Vobis, 33). Dear seminarians, I pray for you daily. Remember that what counts before the Lord is to dwell in his love and to make his love shine forth for others.

Religious Sisters, Brothers and Priests contribute greatly to the mission of the Church. Their prophetic witness is marked by a profound conviction of the primacy with which the Gospel shapes Christian life and transforms society. Today, I wish to draw your attention to the positive spiritual renewal which Congregations are undertaking in relation to their charism. The word charism means a gift freely and graciously given. Charisms are bestowed by the Holy Spirit, who inspires founders and foundresses, and shapes Congregations with a subsequent spiritual heritage. The wondrous array of charisms proper to each Religious Institute is an extraordinary spiritual treasury. Indeed, the history of the Church is perhaps most beautifully portrayed through the history of her schools of spirituality, most of which stem from the saintly lives of founders and foundresses. Through the discovery of charisms, which yield such a breadth of spiritual wisdom, I am sure that some of you young people will be drawn to a life of apostolic or contemplative service. Do not be shy to speak with Religious Brothers, Sisters or Priests about the charism and spirituality of their Congregation. No perfect community exists, but it is fidelity to a founding charism, not to particular individuals, that the Lord calls you to discern. Have courage! You too can make your life a gift of self for the love of the Lord Jesus and, in him, of every member of the human family (cf. Vita Consecrata, 3).

Friends, again I ask you, what about today? What are you seeking? What is God whispering to you? The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ. The saints show us the selfless love of his way. As disciples of Christ, their extraordinary journeys unfolded within the community of hope, which is the Church. It is from within the Church that you too will find the courage and support to walk the way of the Lord. Nourished by personal prayer, prompted in silence, shaped by the Church’s liturgy you will discover the particular vocation God has for you. Embrace it with joy. You are Christ’s disciples today. Shine his light upon this great city and beyond. Show the world the reason for the hope that resonates within you. Tell others about the truth that sets you free. With these sentiments of great hope in you I bid you farewell, until we meet again in Sydney this July for World Youth Day! And as a pledge of my love for you and your families, I gladly impart my Apostolic Blessing.

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Queridos Seminaristas, queridos jóvenes:
Es para mí una gran alegría poder encontrarme con todos ustedes en este día de mi cumpleaños. Gracias por su acogida y por el cariño que me han demostrado.
Les animo a abrirle al Señor su corazón para que Él lo llene por completo y con el fuego de su amor lleven su Evangelio a todos los barrios de Nueva York.
La luz de la fe les impulsará a responder al mal con el bien y la santidad de vida, como lo hicieron los grandes testigos del Evangelio a lo largo de los siglos. Ustedes están llamados a continuar esa cadena de amigos de Jesús, que encontraron en su amor el gran tesoro de sus vidas. Cultiven esta amistad a través de la oración, tanto personal como litúrgica, y por medio de las obras de caridad y del compromiso por ayudar a los más necesitados. Si no lo han hecho, plantéense seriamente si el Señor les pide seguirlo de un modo radical en el ministerio sacerdotal o en la vida consagrada. No basta una relación esporádica con Cristo. Una amistad así no es tal. Cristo les quiere amigos suyos íntimos, fieles y perseverantes.
A la vez que les renuevo mi invitación a participar en la Jornada Mundial de la Juventud en Sidney, les aseguro mi recuerdo en la oración, en la que suplico a Dios que los haga auténticos discípulos de Cristo Resucitado. Muchas gracias.