At 5:00pm today, in the Vatican Basilica, the Holy Father, Pope Francis presided at the first Vespers for the Solemnity of Blessed Mary, the Mother of God, which was followed by the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, the chanting of the traditional Te Deum of thanksgiving at the conclusion of the calendar year, and the Eucharistic Blessing.
How meaningful it is that we are gathered here to give praise to the Lord at the end of this year!
On many occasions, the Church is joyful and is right to sing to God with these words of praise which, since the fourth century, have accompanied her prayer at every important moment of her earthly pilgrimage. It is the joy of thanksgiving that almost spontaneously springs from our prayer, in recognition of the loving presence of God in the various moments of our history. As often happens though, I feel that the use of our voices are not enough to offer our prayer. It needs to be reinforced with those of all the people of God, who in unison make their song of thanksgiving heard. This is the reason why, in the Te Deum, we ask for the help of the Angels, the Prophets and all of creation to give praise to the Lord. With this hymn, we re-live the history of salvation where, through the mysterious design of God, the various experiences of our lives during this past year also find a place.
During this Jubilee year, the final words of the Church's hymn take on a special resonance: May your loving mercy be always with us, O Lord: in you we find our hope. The accompanying presence of mercy is light to help us better understand that which we have lived, and it also accompanies us at the beginning of a new year.
Retracing the days of the year that has passed can be done either as a memory of facts and events that correspond to moments of joy and suffering, or in search of understanding whether we perceived the presence of God who makes all things new and supports us with his help. We are challenged to discern whether the events of this world take place according to the will of God, or whether we have listened primarily to the hopes of men, often weighed down with private interests, an insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence.
And yet, today our eyes need to focus especially on the signs that God has given us, to touch with our hands the strength of his merciful love. We cannot forget that many days were marked with violence, death, unspeakable suffering by many innocents, refugees forced to leave their country, men, women and children with no fixed address, food or sustenance. Yet, how many great acts of goodness, of love and of solidarity have filled the days of this year, even though they may never have been reported on the televised news. Good things never make the news. These signs of love cannot and should not be obscured by the arrogance of evil. Good always wins, even if at some times it can appear weak or hidden.
Our city of Rome is no stranger to this condition being experienced throughout the world. My wish is that a sincere invitation to go beyond the difficulties of the present moment may be extended to all her inhabitants. Efforts to recuperate the fundamental values of service, honesty and solidarity can overcome the grave uncertainties that have dominated during this past year, symptoms of a low sense of dedication to the common good. Never neglect any opportunity for the positive witness of Christianity to be seen in Rome, according to her ongoing history, and through the maternal intercession of Mary, Salus Populi Romani (Help of the Roman People), to be privileged examples of faith, welcome, fraternity and peace.
We praise you, O God ... You are our hope. We will not be confused forever.
At the conclusion of the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica, the Holy Father paid a brief visit to the crib which is set up near the obelisk in Saint Peter's Square.
Homily of the Holy Father, Pope Francis
during the celebration of Vespers
How meaningful it is that we are gathered here to give praise to the Lord at the end of this year!
On many occasions, the Church is joyful and is right to sing to God with these words of praise which, since the fourth century, have accompanied her prayer at every important moment of her earthly pilgrimage. It is the joy of thanksgiving that almost spontaneously springs from our prayer, in recognition of the loving presence of God in the various moments of our history. As often happens though, I feel that the use of our voices are not enough to offer our prayer. It needs to be reinforced with those of all the people of God, who in unison make their song of thanksgiving heard. This is the reason why, in the Te Deum, we ask for the help of the Angels, the Prophets and all of creation to give praise to the Lord. With this hymn, we re-live the history of salvation where, through the mysterious design of God, the various experiences of our lives during this past year also find a place.
During this Jubilee year, the final words of the Church's hymn take on a special resonance: May your loving mercy be always with us, O Lord: in you we find our hope. The accompanying presence of mercy is light to help us better understand that which we have lived, and it also accompanies us at the beginning of a new year.
Retracing the days of the year that has passed can be done either as a memory of facts and events that correspond to moments of joy and suffering, or in search of understanding whether we perceived the presence of God who makes all things new and supports us with his help. We are challenged to discern whether the events of this world take place according to the will of God, or whether we have listened primarily to the hopes of men, often weighed down with private interests, an insatiable thirst for power and gratuitous violence.
And yet, today our eyes need to focus especially on the signs that God has given us, to touch with our hands the strength of his merciful love. We cannot forget that many days were marked with violence, death, unspeakable suffering by many innocents, refugees forced to leave their country, men, women and children with no fixed address, food or sustenance. Yet, how many great acts of goodness, of love and of solidarity have filled the days of this year, even though they may never have been reported on the televised news. Good things never make the news. These signs of love cannot and should not be obscured by the arrogance of evil. Good always wins, even if at some times it can appear weak or hidden.
Our city of Rome is no stranger to this condition being experienced throughout the world. My wish is that a sincere invitation to go beyond the difficulties of the present moment may be extended to all her inhabitants. Efforts to recuperate the fundamental values of service, honesty and solidarity can overcome the grave uncertainties that have dominated during this past year, symptoms of a low sense of dedication to the common good. Never neglect any opportunity for the positive witness of Christianity to be seen in Rome, according to her ongoing history, and through the maternal intercession of Mary, Salus Populi Romani (Help of the Roman People), to be privileged examples of faith, welcome, fraternity and peace.
We praise you, O God ... You are our hope. We will not be confused forever.
At the conclusion of the celebration of Vespers in the Basilica, the Holy Father paid a brief visit to the crib which is set up near the obelisk in Saint Peter's Square.
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