Basilica of Saint Peter
«Cristo è risorto, apriamoci alla speranza»
«Christ is Risen, let us open ourselves to hope»
Translation / Corriere.it
Gian Guido Vecchi
ROME, MARCH 27 – Papa Francis repeated the ritual on the most important night for Christians. The Basilica remained in the dark hour of the Passion prior to returning to the Light of the Resurrection of Christ. The Holy Father administered the sacraments to twelve novices from Italy, Albania, Cameroon, Korea, India and China.
There is “great need today” for Hope. Christians are called “to bring forth the Easter Proclamation”: That is, “to arouse and revive hope” to “hearts heavy with sadness” of “those who struggle to find the Light of Life.”
This is the message that Pope Francis launches to the whole Church during the Easter Vigil of Holy Night , the mother of all vigils, celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica. In his homily for the occasion, the Holy Father returned to Gospel story of Luke: Peter, who is absorbed in “remorse”, “fear” and “continuous talking,” which does not give in “to the sadness and darkness’, but runs to the tomb from where he returns” full of wonder “.
The women who left for the “work of mercy” (bringing spices to the Tomb) are “astonished” by the angel’s words: “Why do you search among the dead for the One who is alive?”.
For humanity today, Papa Francis said, like Peter and the women it cannot but “find life remaining sad and hopeless.” And he urged all to allow “the Lord to open our graves” in order that “Jesus comes in and brings life”. For it is he who “wants to come and join hands ‘to’ us wash away anguish.”
The “first stone” to roll is “the lack of hope that locks us into ourselves.” Hence the prayer to the Lord to “free us” from the “terrible trap” of “being a Christian without hope”. That is, Christians who live “as if the Lord had not risen and the center of life were our problems.”
Do not give in to the darkness
Having hope does not mean ignoring the evil of the world. “We see and we will see problems constantly near us and within us. There these will always be. ” But “this night be it necessary to illuminate these problems with the light of the Risen One – in a sense evangelize them,” says the Papa Francis. “The Christian hope is a gift that God gives us, if we get out of ourselves and open ourselves to Him. This hope does not disappoint us because the Holy Spirit has been poured out in our hearts.”
The Comforter does not look all nice, does not eliminate the evil with a magic wand. Rather, the Comforter infuses the true force of life, – which is not the absence of problems – but the certainty of being loved and always forgiven by Christ – which for us has conquered sin, death and fear. ” Reflection of Bergoglio leaves from the Gospel account of the Resurrection. Women entered the empty Tomb and to made the announcement, but the disciples did not believe their testimony.
Peter also doubts yet ‘run to the tomb. ” Peter “stood up” and therein lies the essential, considering Francis: “I sat there thinking, did not remain quietly at home like the others. Do not let himself trapped by the atmosphere of those dark days, or overwhelmed by his doubts; He did not absorb by remorse, by fear and by the constant chatter that lead nowhere. He tried Jesus, not himself. Without giving in to sadness and darkness, he has given space to the voice of hope: he let the light of God entered him in the heart, not stifle it “
The hope, said Pope Francis, is not “easy optimism” and even “a psychological attitude.” In fact, “Christian hope” is a “gift” of God that does not disappoint because the Holy Spirit “has been poured into our hearts.” And “the Comforter” does not “eliminate evil with a magic wand” but infuses “the true force of life, “which is” the absence of problems, “but” the certainty of being loved and always forgiven by Christ.
The Open Church
It is the same attitude that the pope encourages the faithful: “Let’s open to the Lord our sealed tombs, for Jesus to come in and give life; we bring to Him the stones and boulders of grudges of the past, heavy boulders weakness and falls. “Above all, “we do not forget his Word and his works, otherwise we will lose hope.”
The theme of the open Church is fundamental, in Bergoglio magisterium, each one must “come out” by itself and “revive hope in the hearts heavy with sadness for those who struggle to find the light of life”, to proclaim the Gospel: “It is much needed today. Forget about ourselves, as servants of joyful hope, we are called to proclaim the Risen Christ by our life and by our love: Otherwise we would have an international structure with a large number of followers and good rules -but unable to give hope to the thirsty world.”
With the same attitude Papa Francis encourages the faithful: “Let us open to the Lord our sealed tombs to allow Jesus to come in and to give life; we bring to Him the stones and boulders of grudges of the past, heavy boulders weakness and falls.
“Above all, “we do not forget his Word and his works, otherwise we will lose hope.” The theme of the open Church is fundamental, in Bergoglio magisterium, each one must “come out” by itself and “revive hope in hearts heavy with sadness for those who struggle to find the light of life”, to proclaim the Gospel: “It is much needed today. Forget about ourselves, as servants of joyful hope, we are called to proclaim the Risen Christ by their life and by love; otherwise we would have an international structure with a large number of followers and good rules, but unable to give hope to the world is thirsty. “
SOURCE: Il Papa alla Veglia di Pasqua: «La Chiesa porti speranza al mondo, ne è assetato»