NEW YORK - 22 April 2008 - 320 word
60,000 attend Papal Mass in Yankee Stadium
Yesterday afternoon Benedict XVI celebrated
Mass in New York's Yankees Stadium, which since 1923 has been
the home ground of the New York Yankees baseball team.
Before the Eucharistic celebration, the Pope made a tour of the
stadium by popemobile, receiving a rapturous welcome from the
60,000 people gathered there. The Mass commemorated the bicentennial
of the dioceses of New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Louisville,
created 200 years ago with territory taken from the mother see
of Baltimore.
In his homily, Benedict XVI recalled that today's celebration
"is also a sign of the impressive growth which God has given
to the Church in your country in the past 200 years. ... In this
land of freedom and opportunity, the Church has united a widely
diverse flock in the profession of the faith and, through her
many educational, charitable and social works, has also contributed
significantly to the growth of American society as a whole".
Commenting on the readings, the Holy Father highlighted how they
show "the power of the word of God, authoritatively proclaimed
by the Apostles and received in faith, to create a unity which
transcends the divisions arising from human limitations and weakness.
"Here", he added, "we are reminded of a fundamental
truth: that the Church's unity has no other basis than the Word
of God, made flesh in Christ Jesus our Lord. All external signs
of identity, all structures, associations and programmes, valuable
or even essential as they may be, ultimately exist only to support
and foster the deeper unity which, in Christ, is God's indefectible
gift to His Church. .... The Church's unity is 'apostolic'. It
is a visible unity, grounded in the Apostles, ... and it is born
of what the Scriptures call 'the obedience of faith'".
The Pope then went on to explain how the words "authority"
and "obedience" represent "a 'stumbling stone'
for many of our contemporaries, especially in a society which
rightly places a high value on personal freedom. Yet, in the light
of our faith in Jesus Christ, ... we come to see the fullest meaning,
value, and indeed beauty, of those words. The Gospel teaches us
that true freedom ... is found only in the self-surrender which
is part of the mystery of love".
"And this freedom in truth brings in its wake a new and liberating
way of seeing reality. When we put on 'the mind of Christ', new
horizons open before us! In the light of faith, within the communion
of the Church, we also find the inspiration and strength to become
a leaven of the Gospel in the world".
"In these 200 years, the face of the Catholic community in
your country has changed greatly", Benedict XVI observed.
"We think of the successive waves of immigrants whose traditions
have so enriched the Church in America. We think of the strong
faith which built up the network of churches, educational, healthcare
and social institutions which have long been the hallmark of the
Church in this land"
"In this land of religious liberty, Catholics found freedom
not only to practice their faith, but also to participate fully
in civic life, bringing their deepest moral convictions to the
public square and co-operating with their neighbours in shaping
a vibrant, democratic society. Today's celebration is more than
an occasion of gratitude for graces received. It is also a summons
to move forward with firm resolve to use wisely the blessings
of freedom, in order to build a future of hope for coming generations".
The Holy Father invited all those present to pray for the coming
of the Kingdom of God. This, he said, "also means being constantly
alert for the signs of its presence, and working for its growth
in every sector of society. It means facing the challenges of
present and future with confidence in Christ's victory and a commitment
to extending His reign. It means not losing heart in the face
of resistance, adversity and scandal. It means overcoming every
separation between faith and life, and countering false gospels
of freedom and happiness. It also means rejecting a false dichotomy
between faith and political life, since, as Vatican Council II
put it, 'there is no human activity - even in secular affairs
- which can be withdrawn from God's dominion'".
"As 'a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation',
follow faithfully in the footsteps of those who have gone before
you!", exclaimed Pope Benedict at the end of his homily.
"Find the courage to proclaim Christ, ... and the unchanging
truths which have their foundation in Him. These are the truths
that set us free! They are the truths which alone can guarantee
respect for the inalienable dignity and rights of each man, woman
and child in our world - including the most defenceless of all
human beings, the unborn child in the mother's womb. In a world
where, as Pope John Paul II, speaking in this very place, reminded
us, Lazarus continues to stand at our door, let your faith and
love bear rich fruit in outreach to the poor, the needy and those
without a voice".
Source: VIS
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