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| Statue of Christ Roof of Saint Peter's Basilica |
His Holiness Pope Francis delivered the homily at Mass celebrated
in Saint Peter’s Square on Sunday, 24 November 2013, to mark the Solemnity of
Christ the King and close the Year of Faith.
“Today’s solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the
Universe, the crowning of the liturgical year, also marks the conclusion of the
Year of Faith opened by Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our thoughts now turn with
affection and gratitude. By this providential initiative, he gave us an
opportunity to rediscover the beauty of the journey of faith begun on the day of
our Baptism, which made us children of God and brothers and sisters in the
Church. A journey which has as its ultimate end our full encounter with God,
and throughout which the Holy Spirit purifies us, lifts us up and sanctifies
us, so that we may enter into the happiness for which our hearts long….
Christ is the center of the history of the human race and of every man and woman. To him we can bring the joys and the hopes, the sorrows and troubles which are part of our lives. When Jesus is the center, light shines even amid the darkest times of our lives; he gives us hope, as he does to the good thief in today’s Gospel.
While all the others treat Jesus with disdain – “If you are the Christ, the Messiah King, save yourself by coming down from the cross!” – the thief who went astray in his life but now repents, clinging to the crucified Jesus, begs him: “Remember me, when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42). And Jesus promises him: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). Jesus speaks only a word of forgiveness, not of condemnation; whenever anyone finds the courage to ask for this forgiveness, the Lord does not let such a petition go unheard. Jesus’ promise to the good thief gives us great hope: it tells us that God’s grace is always greater than the prayer which sought it. The Lord always grants more than what he has been asked: you ask him to remember you, and he brings you into his Kingdom!
Let us ask the Lord to remember us, in the certainty that by his mercy we will be able to share his glory in paradise. Amen!”
For more
information, please visit:
http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-homily-at-year-of-faith-closing-mass |
| Dome of Saint Peter's Basilica |
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While we have
now arrived at the Closing of the Year of Faith, our own journey of faith will
continue until, by the grace of God, we enter into Jesus’ Kingdom.
In some ways
this year seems to have been long—realistically it has been more than 13
months! Please pause with me and reflect
on what we have done with the opportunities we have received to rediscover the
beauty of our faith.
Where have we
journeyed and what have we learned along the way?
How have we
encountered the Lord? How have we been
inspired by the Holy Spirit?
Has our
observance of this Year brought us blessings of grace, peace and spiritual growth? How have we shared those blessings with others?
“God’s grace is
always greater than the prayer which sought it. The Lord always
grants more than what he has been asked.”
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The Profession of Faith
I believe in one God, the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
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| Dome of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem |
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