At the conclusion of the Mass celebrated today in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father appeared at the window of his study in the Apostolic Palace to lead the recitation of the Angelus with the faithful and with pilgrims who were gathered in Saint Peter's Square.
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Lord. This solemnity is tied to the biblical account of the arrival of the Magi who had come from the Orient to Bethlehem in order to render homage to the King of the Jews: an episode which Pope Benedict commented on magnificently in his book on the infancy of Jesus. That was in fact the first manifestation of Christ to the world. Therefore the Epiphany highlights the universal character of salvation brought to us by Jesus. Today's liturgy acclaims: All the nations of the earth adore you, O Lord because Jesus came for all of us, for all people, for everyone!
In fact, this feast shows us a double movement: on one hand, the movement of God toward the world, toward humanity - the entire history of salvation - which culminated in Jesus; and on the other hand the movement of men toward God - we can think of religions, or the search for truth, or the journey of people toward peace, interior peace, justice, freedom. And this double movement is demonstrated in a mutual attraction. When we think about God, what could possibly attract him? It is his love for us: we are his sons and daughters, he loves us and wants to free us from evil, from harm, from death, and he wants to take us to his house, to his Kingdom. Out of pure grace, God draws us to himself in order to unite us to Himself (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 112). And also on our part there is a love, a desire: goodness always attracts us, the truth draws us, life, happiness and beauty are attractive to us ... and Jesus is the meeting point of these two mutual attractions, of this double movement. And God made himself human: in Jesus, God became human. But who makes the first move? God always does! God's love always supersedes our love. He always takes the initiative. He waits for us. He invites us, the initiative is always His. Jesus is God who was made man, who was made incarnate, who was born for us. The new star that appeared to the Magi was the sign of Christ's birth. If they had not seen the star, those men would never have set out on their journey. This light goes before us, the truth precedes us, beauty goes before us. God goes before us. The prophet Isaiah says that God is like the flower of the almond tree. Why? Because in that land, the almond tree is always the first to bear flowers, and God always precedes, he is always the first to seek us out, He always makes the first move. God always precedes us. His grace goes before us, and that grace appeared in Jesus. He is the epiphany. He - Jesus Christ - is the manifestation of God's love. He is with us.
The Church finds her reason for being in this movement of God toward the world: her joy is the Gospel; she is a reflection of the light of Christ. The Church is the people who have experienced this attraction and are able to interiorize it, to the heart of life. I would like - sincerely - I would like to be able to say to those who feel that they are far away from God and from the Church - to say to them respectfully - to say to those who are fearful or indifferent: the Lord is also calling you, he is calling you to be part of his people, and he does this with great respect and love (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 113). The Lord is calling you. The Lord is seeking you. The Lord is waiting for you. The Lord doesn't proselytize, He loves, and this love is looking for you, is waiting for you, you who even now don't believe that this is your time, or who feel far away. And this is the love of God.
Let us pray for the whole Church, and ask God for the joy of evangelizing because we have been sent by Christ to reveal and to communicate the love of God to all nations (Second Vatican Council Decree Ad gentes, 10). May the Virgin Mary help us all to be missionary disciples, little stars that reflect His light. And we pray that hearts will be opened to welcome the good news, so that all men may come to be partakers in the promise through the Gospel (Eph 3:6).
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Brothers and sisters,
I send cordial greetings to our brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches who will celebrate Christmas tomorrow. May the peace which God gave to humanity at the birth of Jesus, the incarnate Word, strengthen our faith, our hope and our love, and give comfort to Christian communities, to Churches which are being tested.
The Epiphany is the Missionary Day for children, proposed by the Pontifical Works for Holy Childhood. So many children, in our parishes are the source of gestures of solidarity with their peers; in so doing, they widen the horizons of fraternity. Dear children and young people, with your prayers and your commitment, you are already at work in the mission of the Church. I thank you for this, and I bless you!
I greet all of you who are present here: families, parish groups and associations. In particular, I greet the youth from the Movimento tra noi and those from the Oratorio San Vittore di Verbania; the scouts from Minori and from Castelforte; the choir from Sant'Antonio di Lamezia Terme; the Laudate Pueri Gozo chorus, who sang with the Sistine Chapel choir during today's liturgy; the Giacomo Sichirollo Catholic choir from Rovigo; and all those who participated in the historical and folkloric procession, which this year was inspired by the families from the town of Leonessa and from other places in the Province of Rieti.
I wish you all a good Feast of the Epiphany, and a good lunch. Good bye!
Greetings of His Holiness, Pope Francis
prior to the recitation of the Angelus
Dear brothers and sisters, good morning!
Today, we celebrate the Epiphany, the manifestation of the Lord. This solemnity is tied to the biblical account of the arrival of the Magi who had come from the Orient to Bethlehem in order to render homage to the King of the Jews: an episode which Pope Benedict commented on magnificently in his book on the infancy of Jesus. That was in fact the first manifestation of Christ to the world. Therefore the Epiphany highlights the universal character of salvation brought to us by Jesus. Today's liturgy acclaims: All the nations of the earth adore you, O Lord because Jesus came for all of us, for all people, for everyone!
In fact, this feast shows us a double movement: on one hand, the movement of God toward the world, toward humanity - the entire history of salvation - which culminated in Jesus; and on the other hand the movement of men toward God - we can think of religions, or the search for truth, or the journey of people toward peace, interior peace, justice, freedom. And this double movement is demonstrated in a mutual attraction. When we think about God, what could possibly attract him? It is his love for us: we are his sons and daughters, he loves us and wants to free us from evil, from harm, from death, and he wants to take us to his house, to his Kingdom. Out of pure grace, God draws us to himself in order to unite us to Himself (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 112). And also on our part there is a love, a desire: goodness always attracts us, the truth draws us, life, happiness and beauty are attractive to us ... and Jesus is the meeting point of these two mutual attractions, of this double movement. And God made himself human: in Jesus, God became human. But who makes the first move? God always does! God's love always supersedes our love. He always takes the initiative. He waits for us. He invites us, the initiative is always His. Jesus is God who was made man, who was made incarnate, who was born for us. The new star that appeared to the Magi was the sign of Christ's birth. If they had not seen the star, those men would never have set out on their journey. This light goes before us, the truth precedes us, beauty goes before us. God goes before us. The prophet Isaiah says that God is like the flower of the almond tree. Why? Because in that land, the almond tree is always the first to bear flowers, and God always precedes, he is always the first to seek us out, He always makes the first move. God always precedes us. His grace goes before us, and that grace appeared in Jesus. He is the epiphany. He - Jesus Christ - is the manifestation of God's love. He is with us.
The Church finds her reason for being in this movement of God toward the world: her joy is the Gospel; she is a reflection of the light of Christ. The Church is the people who have experienced this attraction and are able to interiorize it, to the heart of life. I would like - sincerely - I would like to be able to say to those who feel that they are far away from God and from the Church - to say to them respectfully - to say to those who are fearful or indifferent: the Lord is also calling you, he is calling you to be part of his people, and he does this with great respect and love (Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, 113). The Lord is calling you. The Lord is seeking you. The Lord is waiting for you. The Lord doesn't proselytize, He loves, and this love is looking for you, is waiting for you, you who even now don't believe that this is your time, or who feel far away. And this is the love of God.
Let us pray for the whole Church, and ask God for the joy of evangelizing because we have been sent by Christ to reveal and to communicate the love of God to all nations (Second Vatican Council Decree Ad gentes, 10). May the Virgin Mary help us all to be missionary disciples, little stars that reflect His light. And we pray that hearts will be opened to welcome the good news, so that all men may come to be partakers in the promise through the Gospel (Eph 3:6).
Following the recitation of the Angelus, the Holy Father continued:
Brothers and sisters,
I send cordial greetings to our brothers and sisters of the Oriental Churches who will celebrate Christmas tomorrow. May the peace which God gave to humanity at the birth of Jesus, the incarnate Word, strengthen our faith, our hope and our love, and give comfort to Christian communities, to Churches which are being tested.
The Epiphany is the Missionary Day for children, proposed by the Pontifical Works for Holy Childhood. So many children, in our parishes are the source of gestures of solidarity with their peers; in so doing, they widen the horizons of fraternity. Dear children and young people, with your prayers and your commitment, you are already at work in the mission of the Church. I thank you for this, and I bless you!
I greet all of you who are present here: families, parish groups and associations. In particular, I greet the youth from the Movimento tra noi and those from the Oratorio San Vittore di Verbania; the scouts from Minori and from Castelforte; the choir from Sant'Antonio di Lamezia Terme; the Laudate Pueri Gozo chorus, who sang with the Sistine Chapel choir during today's liturgy; the Giacomo Sichirollo Catholic choir from Rovigo; and all those who participated in the historical and folkloric procession, which this year was inspired by the families from the town of Leonessa and from other places in the Province of Rieti.
I wish you all a good Feast of the Epiphany, and a good lunch. Good bye!
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