Entry 0334: Reflections on the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time
by Pope Benedict XVI during His Pontificate
On one
occasion during his pontificate, Pope Benedict XVI delivered a reflection on the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary
Time, on 5 June 2005. Here is the text of the brief reflection which
he delivered prior to the recitation of the Angelus.
The heart that
resembles that of Christ more than any other is without a doubt the Heart of
Mary, his Immaculate Mother, and for this very reason the liturgy holds them up
together for our veneration. Responding to the Virgin’s invitation at Fatima , let us entrust the whole world to her Immaculate
Heart, which we contemplated yesterday in a special way, so that it may
experience the merciful love of God and know true peace.
BENEDICT
XVI
ANGELUS
St
Peter’s Square, Sunday, 5 June 2005
Dear Brothers
and Sisters,
Last Friday we
celebrated the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, a devotion that is
deeply rooted in the Christian people. In biblical language, “heart” indicates
the centre of the person where his sentiments and intentions dwell. In the
Heart of the Redeemer we adore God’s love for humanity, his will for universal
salvation, his infinite mercy.
Practising
devotion to the Sacred Heart of Christ therefore means adoring that Heart
which, after having loved us to the end, was pierced by a spear and from high
on the Cross poured out blood and water, an inexhaustible source of new life.
The feast of the
Sacred Heart is also World Day for the Sanctification of Priests, a favourable
opportunity to pray that priests will put nothing before love of Christ. Bl.
Bishop Giovanni Battista Scalabrini, patron of migrants, was deeply devoted to
the Heart of Christ; we commemorated the centenary of his death on 1 June. He
founded the men and women Missionaries of St Charles Borromeo, known as the “Scalabrinians”,
to proclaim the Gospel among Italian emigrants.
In recalling
this great Bishop, I turn my thoughts to those who are far from their homeland
and also often from their family, and I hope that on their way they will always
meet friendly faces and welcoming hearts that can sustain them in the
difficulties of daily life.
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