On the day following Easter Sunday, Italians observe Lunedi del Angelo (literally Angel Monday), so today at noon local time, the Holy Father led the recitation of the Regina Coeli, the marian hymn proper for the Easter Season, after which he spoke to the faithful and to pilgrims gathered in the courtyard of the apostolic palace. Here is a translation of part of his greeting. May it help us to reflect on the miracle of the resurrection which we celebrate throughout the Easter season:
The Lord is Risen indeed! Alleluia! The Resurrection of the Lord signals the renewal of our human condition. Christ has overcome death, (a condition) imposed by our sin, and has been restored to immortal life. From this miracle the interior life of the Church and of all Christian existence proceeds. We read today in the first missionary discourse of the newborn Church: God raised this Jesus, proclaimed the apostle Peter, of this we are witnesses. Exalted at the right hand of God he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit that he received that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear (Acts 2:32-33).
One of the characteristic signs of faith in the Resurrection is the ancient greeting exchanged between Christians during the season of Easter, inspired by the ancient liturgical hymn: Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. This is a profession of faith and a lifelong commitment, as can be seen in the life of the woman spoken of in Matthew’s gospel: And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (28, 9-10). The entire Church, writes the Servant of God Paul VI, received the mission of evangelization, and the work of each individual member is important for the whole. It remains as an opaque and luminous sign of a new presence of Jesus, of his departure and his permanence.
How can we meet the Lord and become ever more his authentic witnesses? Saint Maximilian of Turin explains: Whoever wishes to reach the Savior must first place his faith at the right hand of God, and be wholeheartedly convinced of heaven, therefore, we must learn to constantly fix our minds and hearts on heaven, where Christ is risen. In prayer and worship, God meets man. The theologian Romano Guardini observes that "worship is not an incidental accessory ... it is of primary importance to the senses and to our being. Adoration permits man to recognize that which is in effect pure and simple and holy" (The Passover Meditations, Brescia 1995, 62). Only by turning to God in prayer can we discover the deepest meaning of our lives. Our daily journey is thus illuminated by the light of the Risen One.
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