Pope Benedict XVI, CHRIST OUR HOPE,
Apostolic
Journey to the United States, 2008
This first visit of Benedict 16th
to North America can be described as being a triumphant grace-filled
experience exceeding all expectations. As Fr.
Rosica mentioned recently: “Though elected and
installed as Pope three years ago, I think his Papacy really began
in the minds and hearts of North Americans last week when "Peter
was among us…… Benedict did more than connect. He bonded.”
Raymond Arroyo at EWTN offered
the following analysis:
“I think we have all found
ourselves fascinated and drawn to this Pontiff – not due to his
dazzling oratory or ability to entertain, but for his willingness
to challenge and risk for the sake of the Gospel message……"From
a purely external perspective (the media perspective if you will),
the trip has been a triumph,” Arroyo continued. “Pope Benedict's
‘theatre of substantive acts’: his meeting with victims of clerical
sexual abuse; the visit with religious leaders at the John Paul
II Cultural Center; his warm, ‘impromptu’ stop at the Park East
Synagogue in New York, and the solemn prayer service at Ground
Zero all brilliantly revealed a man of faith willing to engage
the world with hope and love. ..…“I have been struck by the number
of non-Catholics who have stopped me in the streets of New York
or written to share how touched they have been by the events of
this week. Many say they are strangely drawn to this ‘new pope.’
”
A thorough analysis is provided
by the talented editorial staff at the National Catholic Register
(click HERE).
The witty Pope 2008 site includes
some short “Youtube” videos which allow one to relive and feel
the electricity in the air that prevailed during those historic
five days. An excellent summary of the Papal homilies is offered
by Tom Hoopes - see A Retreat for America’s
Church. The purpose of a retreat is to lead to renewal.
In his Yankee Stadium homily the Pope said: “Thy Kingdom come…..This
prayer needs to shape the mind and heart of every Christian in
this nation. It needs to bear fruit in the way you lead your lives
and in the way you build up your families and your communities.
It needs to create new ‘settings of hope’ where God’s Kingdom
becomes present in all its saving power.”
In order for this renewal
to take place, the Pope’s words have to be meditated on and internalized,
a process which may take 5 to 10 years as mentioned by a prominent
U.S. prelate.
Texts
Homilies and other addresses of Pope Benedict during his historic
U.S. Visit
The
texts of the homilies and other addresses by Pope Benedict during
visit to the United States from April 15 to 20, 2008 are available
at the Vatican website at the following link. Please see
further below for two brief excerpts from his address
to young people and seminarians.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2008/index_stati-uniti_en.htm
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Excerpts from Pope Benedict's address at his meeting with young
persons and seminarians in New York on April 19, 2008:
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).
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.
Full
text:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2008/april/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20080419_st-joseph-seminary_en.html
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To
see Videos on Events of Papal Visit click: http://www.uspapalvisit.org/video_audio.htm |
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