MESSAGE OF HIS
HOLINESS POPE BENEDICT XVI
“Veritas de terra orta est!”
“Truth has
sprung out of the earth” (Ps 85:12).
In
this Year
of Faith, I express my Christmas greetings and good wishes in these
words taken from one of the Psalms: “Truth has sprung out of the earth”.
Actually, in the text of the Psalm, these words are in the future: “Kindness
and truth shall meet; / justice and peace shall kiss. / Truth shall spring out
of the earth, /and justice shall look down from heaven. / The Lord himself will
give his benefits; / our land shall yield its increase. / Justice shall walk
before him, / and salvation, along the way of his steps” (Ps 85:11-14).
Today
these prophetic words have been fulfilled! In Jesus, born in Bethlehem of the
Virgin Mary, kindness and truth do indeed meet; justice and peace have kissed;
truth has sprung out of the earth and justice has looked down from heaven.
Saint Augustine explains with admirable brevity: “What is truth? The Son of
God. What is the earth? The flesh. Ask whence Christ has been born, and you
will see that truth has sprung out of the earth … truth has been born of the
Virgin Mary” (En. in Ps. 84:13). And in a Christmas sermon he says that
“in this yearly feast we celebrate that day when the prophecy was fulfilled:
‘truth shall spring out of the earth, and justice shall look down from heaven’.
The Truth, which is in the bosom of the Father has sprung out of the earth, to
be in the womb of a mother too. The Truth which rules the whole world has
sprung out of the earth, to be held in the arms of a woman ... The Truth which
heaven cannot contain has sprung out of the earth, to be laid in a manger. For
whose benefit did so lofty a God become so lowly? Certainly not for his own,
but for our great benefit, if we believe” (Sermons, 185, 1).
“If
we believe”. Here we see the power of faith! God has done everything; he has
done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished
something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a
child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my
heart unless I open the door to him. Porta fidei! The door of faith! We
could be frightened by this, our inverse omnipotence. This human ability to be
closed to God can make us fearful. But see the reality which chases away this
gloomy thought, the hope that conquers fear: truth has sprung up! God is
born! “The earth has yielded its fruits” (Ps 67:7). Yes, there is a
good earth, a healthy earth, an earth freed of all selfishness and all lack of
openness. In this world there is a good soil which God has prepared, that he
might come to dwell among us. A dwelling place for his presence in the world.
This good earth exists, and today too, in 2012, from this earth truth has
sprung up! Consequently, there is hope in the world, a hope in which we can trust,
even at the most difficult times and in the most difficult situations. Truth
has sprung up, bringing kindness, justice and peace.
Yes,
may peace spring up for the people of Syria, deeply wounded and divided by a
conflict which does not spare even the defenceless and reaps innocent victims.
Once again I appeal for an end to the bloodshed, easier access for the relief
of refugees and the displaced, and dialogue in the pursuit of a political
solution to the conflict.
May
peace spring up in the Land where the Redeemer was born, and may he grant
Israelis and Palestinians courage to end to long years of conflict and
division, and to embark resolutely on the path of negotiation.
In
the countries of North Africa, which are experiencing a major transition in pursuit
of a new future – and especially the beloved land of Egypt, blessed by the
childhood of Jesus – may citizens work together to build societies founded on
justice and respect for the freedom and dignity of every person.
May
peace spring up on the vast continent of Asia. May the Child Jesus look
graciously on the many peoples who dwell in those lands and, in a special way,
upon all those who believe in him. May the King of Peace turn his gaze to the
new leaders of the People’s Republic of China for the high task which awaits
them. I express my hope that, in fulfilling this task, they will esteem the
contribution of the religions, in respect for each, in such a way that they can
help to build a fraternal society for the benefit of that noble People and of the
whole world. May
the Birth of Christ favour the return of peace in Mali and that of concord in
Nigeria, where savage acts of terrorism continue to reap victims, particularly
among Christians. May the Redeemer bring help and comfort to the refugees from
the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, and grant peace to Kenya, where
brutal attacks have struck the civilian population and places of worship.
May the Child Jesus bless the great numbers of the faithful who celebrate him in Latin America. May he increase their human and Christian virtues, sustain all those forced to leave behind their families and their land, and confirm government leaders in their commitment to development and fighting crime.
Dear brothers and sisters! Kindness and truth, justice and peace have met; they have become incarnate in the child born of Mary in Bethlehem. That child is the Son of God; he is God appearing in history. His birth is a flowering of new life for all humanity. May every land become a good earth which receives and brings forth kindness and truth, justice and peace. Happy Christmas to all of you!
May the Child Jesus bless the great numbers of the faithful who celebrate him in Latin America. May he increase their human and Christian virtues, sustain all those forced to leave behind their families and their land, and confirm government leaders in their commitment to development and fighting crime.
Dear brothers and sisters! Kindness and truth, justice and peace have met; they have become incarnate in the child born of Mary in Bethlehem. That child is the Son of God; he is God appearing in history. His birth is a flowering of new life for all humanity. May every land become a good earth which receives and brings forth kindness and truth, justice and peace. Happy Christmas to all of you!
Apostolate of St Joseph
Prince of the Church
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