Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – On the occasion of the General Audience on Wednesday 8 April, the Holy Father centred his meditation on the Holy Triduum, central moment when Christians “ relive the Paschal Mystery, the great Mystery of faith” with solemn liturgical rites which, “ help us to meditate more vividly on the Passion, death and Resurrection of the Lord ”.
Dwelling on the Letter to the Philippians (cfr 2,6-11), in which St Paul traces the history of salvation, the Pope underlined the difference between the arrogance of Adam, “which we all tend to feel in our being”, and the humility of Jesus who, “in becoming man does not hesitate to take upon himself all human weaknesses, save sin, and going even as far as the depths of death”. Benedict XVI then reflected on what St Paul calls “kénosis” to indicate “the descent of Jesus”, who “in spite of being God, Jesus does not want to make his divine prerogative an exclusive possession; he does not want to use his being as God, his glorious dignity and his power, as an instrument of triumph and a sign of remoteness from us. On the contrary, "he empties himself", taking on the wretched and weak human condition.[…] beneath our reality marked by suffering, by poverty, by our human limitations and by death. His radical, true sharing in our nature, a sharing in all things save sin, led him to that boundary which is the sign of our finiteness, death. However, all this was not the fruit of an obscure mechanism or blind fatality: rather, it was his own free choice, through generous adherence to the Father's saving plan.”.
Speaking of the rites of Holy Week, Benedict XVI reflected on the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday, with the renewal of priestly vows, “a gesture of great value, an especially favourable opportunity in which priests reaffirm their personal fidelity to Christ who has chosen them as his ministers” and the blessing of the three different Holy Oils: "during the Chrism Mass the oil of the sick and that of the catechumens will be blessed and the Chrism consecrated". The Holy Father went on to explain that the same afternoon, during the Mass in Coena Domini – “the Church commemorates the institution of the Eucharist, the ministerial priesthood and the new Commandment of love that Jesus entrusted to his disciples.”. The Pope recalled how Paul describes what took place in the Upper Room: “under the species of the Bread and the Wine, he makes himself present with his body given and his Blood poured out. This is the sacrifice of the new and everlasting covenant offered to all, without distinction of race or culture”. “It is from this sacramental rite, which he presents to the Church as the supreme evidence of his love, - the Pope continued - that Jesus makes ministers of his disciples and all those who will continue the ministry through the centuries. Thus, Holy Thursday constitutes a renewed invitation to give thanks to God for the supreme gift of the Eucharist, to receive with devotion and to adore with living faith.”.
Reflecting on Good Friday the Pope said: “Every year, standing in silence before Jesus hanging on the wood of the Cross, we feel how full of love the words were that he spoke on the previous evening during the Last Supper. "This is my blood, of the covenant, which is poured out for many" (Mk 14: 24). ”. “As before the Eucharist, as well as before the Passion and death of Jesus on the Cross, the mystery eludes reason. We are placed before something which, humanly, may appear senseless: a God who is not only made Man, with all the needs of man, who not only suffers to save man, taking upon himself the whole tragedy of humanity, but also dies for man.. Christ's death recalls the accumulated sorrow and evils that weigh upon humanity of every age: the crushing weight of our death, the hatred and violence that still today stain the earth with blood. The Passion of the Lord continues in the suffering of human beings”. However, the Pope said, this “day full of sorrow” is also an opportunity “to consolidate our hope and courage so that each one of us may carry our cross with humility, trust and abandonment in God, certain of his support and his victory. The liturgy of this day sings: O Crux, ave, spes unica Hail, O Cross, our only hope! ”.
With regard to Holy Saturday, when, in “great silence” the Church “keeps vigil in prayer like Mary and with Mary, sharing her same sentiments of sorrow and of trust in God. It is rightly recommended that a prayerful atmosphere be preserved throughout the day, favourable for meditation and reconciliation; the faithful are encouraged to receive the sacrament of Penance, to be able to take part in the Easter festivities truly renewed.”.
The Holy Father concluded expressing Easter wishes to all present, indicating the closeness of Mary on this itinerary: “Together with her we shall enter the Upper Room, we shall remain at the foot of the Cross, we shall watch in spirit beside the dead Christ, waiting with hope for the dawn of the radiant day of the Resurrection. In view of this, I express to you all from this moment my most cordial good wishes for a happy and holy Easter, together with your families, parishes and communities.”. (Agenzia Fides 8/4/2009, righe 46, parole 766)
