Dear Pauline Family and Friends,
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has given us an inspiring message on transformation in Christ -- for Cuba and for the world.
According to VIS article, Pope Benedict XVI said:
"Cuba and the world need change, but this will occur
only if each one is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of
love, sowing reconciliation and fraternity".
Please read & reflect on the full text of VIS article below:
QUOTE
BENEDICT
XVI: "CUBA AND THE WORLD NEED CHANGE"
Vatican
City, 28 March 2012 (VIS) - At 9 a.m. today the Holy Father presided at Mass in
Havana's Plaza de la Revolucion Jose Marti, in the presence of thousands of
faithful who had come from all over Cuba. Extracts from Benedict XVI's homily
are given below:
"“If
you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the
truth, and the truth will make you free”. In this text from today’s Gospel,
Jesus reveals Himself as the Son of God the Father, the Saviour, the One Who
alone can show us the truth and give us genuine freedom. His teaching provokes
resistance and disquiet among His hearers. ... Even so, He exhorts them to
believe, to keep His word, so as to know the truth which redeems and justifies.
"The
truth is a desire of the human person, the search for which always supposes the
exercise of authentic freedom. Many, without a doubt, would prefer to take the
easy way out, trying to avoid this task. Some, like Pontius Pilate, ironically
question the possibility of even knowing what truth is, ... or deny that there
exists a truth valid for all. This attitude, as in the case of scepticism and
relativism, changes hearts, making them cold, wavering, distant from others and
closed. There are too many who, like the Roman governor, wash their hands and
let the water of history drain away without taking a stand.
"On
the other hand, there are those who wrongly interpret this search for the
truth, leading them to irrationality and fanaticism; they close themselves up
in “their truth”, and try to impose it on others. ... Anyone who acts
irrationally cannot become a disciple of Jesus. Faith and reason are necessary
and complementary in the pursuit of truth. God created man with an innate
vocation to the truth and He gave him reason for this purpose. Certainly, it is
not irrationality but rather the yearning for truth which the Christian faith
promotes".
"Furthermore,
the truth which stands above humanity is an unavoidable condition for attaining
freedom, since in it we discover the foundation of an ethics on which all can
converge and which contains clear and precise indications concerning life and
death, duties and rights, marriage, family and society, in short, regarding the
inviolable dignity of the human person. This ethical patrimony can bring
together different cultures, peoples and religions, authorities and citizens,
citizens among themselves, and believers in Christ and non-believers.
"Christianity,
in highlighting those values which sustain ethics, does not impose, but rather
proposes Christ’s invitation to know the truth which sets us free. ... In
Christ we find the truth about God and about mankind. He helps us to overcome
our selfishness, to rise above our vain struggles and to conquer all that
oppresses us. The one who does evil, who sins, becomes its slave and will never
attain freedom. Only by renouncing hatred and our hard and blind hearts will we
be free and a new life will well up in us".
"The
Church lives to make others sharers in the one thing she possesses, which is
none other than Christ, our hope of glory. To carry out this duty, she must
count on basic religious freedom, which consists in her being able to proclaim
and to celebrate her faith also in public, bringing to others the message of
love, reconciliation and peace which Jesus brought to the world. It must be
said with joy that in Cuba steps have been taken to enable the Church to carry
out her essential mission of expressing her faith openly and publicly.
Nonetheless, this must continue forwards, and I wish to encourage the country’s
government authorities to strengthen what has already been achieved and advance
along this path of genuine service to the true good of Cuban society as a
whole.
"The
right to freedom of religion, both in its private and in its public dimension,
manifests the unity of the human person, who is at once a citizen and a
believer. It also legitimises the fact that believers have a contribution to
make to the building up of society. Strengthening religious freedom
consolidates social bonds, nourishes the hope of a better world, creates
favourable conditions for peace and harmonious development. ... When the Church
upholds this human right, she is not claiming any special privileges for
herself. She wishes only to be faithful to the command of her divine founder,
conscious that, where Christ is present, we become more human and our humanity
becomes authentic. This is why the Church seeks to give witness by her
preaching and teaching, both in catechesis and in the schools and universities.
It is greatly to be hoped that the moment will soon arrive when, here too, the
Church can bring to the fields of knowledge the benefits of the mission which
the Lord entrusted to her and which she can never neglect.
"A shining example of
this commitment is found in the outstanding priest Felix Varela, teacher and
educator, an illustrious son of this city of Havana, who has taken his place in
Cuban history as the first one who taught his people how to think. Father
Varela offers us a path to a true transformation of society: to form virtuous
men and women in order to forge a worthy and free nation, for this
transformation depends on the spiritual, in as much as “there is no authentic
fatherland without virtue”. Cuba and the world need change, but this will occur
only if each one is in a position to seek the truth and chooses the way of
love, sowing reconciliation and fraternity".
UNQUOTE
May God bless you through Jesus Christ Our Lord, as we approach Holy Week 2012.
Respectfully,
Margie Skeels
Pauline Cooperator-NYC
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