RESURRECTION: BRIDGE BETWEEN THE WORLD AND ETERNAL LIFE
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Posted by Marilynn Hughes Apr 15, 2009 |
VATICAN CITY, 13 APR 2009 (VIS) - At midday today, Easter Monday, the Pope prayed the Regina Coeli with pilgrims at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo and, through television linkup, with faithful gathered in St. Peter's Square.
"The Christian community rejoices" said the Holy Father, "because the Lord's Resurrection assures us that the divine plan of salvation will certainly be fulfilled. This is why His Easter truly is our hope. And we, risen with Christ through Baptism, must now follow Him faithfully in holiness of life, ceaselessly advancing towards the eternal Easter, sustained by an awareness that the difficulties, the struggles, the trials and the suffering of human existence - including death - can no longer separate us from Him and His love. His Resurrection has created a bridge between the world and eternal life, which all men and women can cross to reach the true goal of our earthly pilgrimage.
"Jesus' assurance - 'I have risen and I am with you always' - is fulfilled above all in the Eucharist", the Pope added. "In each Eucharistic celebration the Church, and each of her members, experiences His living presence and benefits from all the richness of His love. In the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the risen Lord purifies us of our sins, He nourishes us spiritually and He gives us strength to sustain the harsh trials of existence and to combat sin and evil".