"Christian conversion is.
...above all a source of joy, hope and love" and supports the missionary
proclamation, which is "to give account of Christian hope for modern
man, often overwhelmed by vast and disturbing problems
that places in crisis the very foundations of his being and his
acting".
This is what Benedict XVI proposed in his homily to the
churches of North-east Italy, gathered in San Giuliano Park in Mestre, a
few kilometers from Venice.
In front of tens of thousands of faithful
from the Tre Venezie, from Croatia, Slovenia, Hungary (all churches born
of the Mother Church of Aquileia), the pope explained the meaning and
value of the Sunday Gospel story, which tells of the Risen Jesus’
encounter with the disciples of Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-35).
"This episode - said the pope - shows the consequences
that the Risen Jesus operates on the two disciples: conversion from
despair to hope; conversion from sadness to joy, and even conversion to
community life. Sometimes, when we speak of conversion, we only think of
it in terms of fatigue, detachment and renunciation. Instead, Christian
conversion is above all a source of joy, hope and love. It is always
the work of the Risen Christ, Lord of life, who obtained this grace for
us through his passion and who communicates it to us through the power
of his resurrection. "
Benedict XVI recalled "the energy of missionary
proclamation" that has always characterized the churches born of
Aquileia, and added: "As in the past, when those churches were known for
apostolic zeal and pastoral dynamism, so today we need to promote and
defend the truth with courage and unity of the faith. We must give an
account of Christian hope for modern man, often overwhelmed by vast and
disturbing problems that put in crisis the very foundations of his being
and his actions. "
The Pope underscored a risk present in the Church today:
"This being of Christ risks being emptied of its truth and its most
profound contents, it risks becoming a horizon that only superficially -
and in its more social and cultural aspects - embraces life; it risks
being reduced to a Christianity in which the experience of faith in the
Crucified and Risen Jesus does not illuminate the path of our
existence".
And again: "The problem of evil, pain and suffering, the
problem of injustice and oppression, fear of others, the foreigners and
those from afar who come into our land and seem to attack what we are,
lead Christians today to say with sadness: we were hoping that the Lord would deliver us from evil, pain, suffering, fear, injustice. "
The present situation of these churches is therefore
similar to that of the disciples of Emmaus who were "returning home,
immersed in doubt, sadness and disappointment."
From the episode of Emmaus, the pope draws
some indications for a conversion to being saints: we must "allow
ourselves be taught by Jesus. ... Listening to and loving the Word of
God," we must "sit at the table with the Lord in the Eucharist;" staying
with Jesus, who was with us, to assimilate his style of life gifted for
us, he choose the logic of communion between us, of solidarity and
sharing ".
"There is a great effort to be made - said the pope – so
that all Christians, here in the Northeast, just as in any other part of
the world, become witnesses, ready to proclaim with vigour and joy the
event of the death and the resurrection of Christ ... .. I encourage you
to never give in to the constant temptations to which the hedonistic
culture of consumerism and materialism call".
And then recalling the tradition of the sanctity of these
lands, Benedict XVI urged the faithful: "Be holy! Put Christ at the
center of your life! Build your lives upon Him. In Jesus you will find
the strength to open up to others to make yourself, following his
example, a gift to all humanity. " In particular, the pope urged "the
Churches generated from Aquileia" to unite "people of different
languages and cultures" - in front of the contemporary phenomenon of
immigration - supported "by faith in Christ and the civilization
inspired by the teaching of the Gospel, the civilization of 'Love. "
At the conclusion of the Mass, which was attended by over
150 thousand people, Benedict XVI addressed a few words after the
singing of the Regina Caeli. Recalling the many churches and chapels
dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Venice and the territory, the pope said:
"In her face we see reflected the light of Christ. If we follow her
with docility, the Virgin brings us to Him in these days of Eastertide,
let us be conquered by the risen Christ. In Him begins a new world of
love and peace which is the deep desire of every human heart. "
"We pray - he added - to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who
supported the first witnesses of Her Son in preaching the Good News, to
sustain the apostolic labors of the priests, made fruitful by the
testimony of men and women religious, to animate the daily work of
parents in the first transmission of faith to their children, to
enlighten the way of young people so they may walk confidently on the
path traced by the faith of their fathers, to fill with hope once more
the hearts of the elderly; to comfort with her closeness all the sick
and suffering, and enhance the efforts of the numerous lay people who
work actively in the new evangelization. "
"I encourage everyone - he concluded - to work in communion with the
true spirit of this great vineyard in which the Lord has called us to
operate. Mary, Mother of the Risen Christ and the Church, pray for us. "