"In the Eucharist you find the source of all your commitments in the following of Christ and in His adoration you purify your look on the life of the world. ...
A genuinely Eucharistic life is a missionary life.
In a world frequently disoriented and in search of new reasons to live,
the light of Christ must be taken to everyone. In the midst of the
men and women of today, be ardent missionaries of the Gospel,
supported by a life radically anchored in Christ!"
Pope Benedict XVI
Vatican City, 3 Feb 2011
Address to Emmanuel Community
Closing remarks: final General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI (2.27.13)
"I thank each and everyone for the respect and understanding with which you have accepted this important decision. I will continue to accompany the journey of the Church through prayer and reflection, with the dedication to the Lord and to His Spouse, with which I have tried to live every day until now and with which I want to live forever. I ask you to remember me before God, and above all to pray for the Cardinals, who are called to so important a task, and for the new Successor of Peter: may the Lord accompany him with the light and the power of his Spirit.
Let us invoke the maternal intercession of Mary, Mother of God and of the Church, that she accompany each of us and the whole ecclesial community; we entrust ourselves to Her, with deep confidence.
Dear friends! God guides His Church, he sustains her always, and especially in difficult times. Let us never lose this vision of faith, which is the only true vision of the Church and the world. In our heart, in the heart of each of you, may there always be the joyous certainty that the Lord is near us, He does not abandon us, He is near us and surrounds us with His love. Thank you!"
You have the pledge of our continued love and prayers!
"Love is never finished." ~ Pope Benedict XVI
Thank you so much for this. I hope it's fine with you that I linked to it on Breadbox Letters today... I've really felt a sense of family as we say so long TOGETHER to this blessed man who has led us so well.
ReplyDeleteYes, anchored in Christ!
ReplyDeleteNANCY - Yes, fine to link. I trust your holy endeavors! And, yes, much solidarity in emotion, prayer and hope.
ReplyDeleteCOLLEEN - my tears join yours - At the Cathedral of St Paul (Minnesota), my parish, our rector, Fr Ubel, led a group of the faithful in mid-day prayer at 12:50 PM. Then the Cathedral bell began to toll - for eight minutes in honor of the eight years of generous service from Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. At mid point during the tolling, Fr Ubel processed with another priest to the area where the Pope's photo was kept on display. He processed back down the lovely marble aisle holding the photo and proceeded up into the sanctuary and then disappeared behind the altar. Many, many tears as the faithful accepted this respectful and lovely gesture and solemnly stayed in a posture of prayer until the last bell had sounded.
AMY - Yes, anchored in Christ! - Last night I looked at seemingly hundreds of the Pope's Eucharistic reflections - and when I saw the word ANCHOR, it seemed the most fitting. The photo image I chose emphasized how he was a generous example of being anchored in prayer before our Eucharistic LORD - and still is and will be!!
The best treasure unearthed was his quote that said it all: "LOVE IS NEVER FINISHED!"
...Amen...Thank You...
ReplyDelete