VATICAN CITY - 6 May 2008 - 250 words
Pope
praises the Rosary
On Saturday evening, Benedict XVI presided at the praying of
the Rosary in the Roman basilica of St Mary Major in which, as
the Holy Father recalled, the image of Mary "Salus Populi
Romani" is venerated.
"In the experience of my generation", he said, "May
evenings evoke pleasant memories of vespertine appointments to
pay homage to the Virgin Mary... Today we together confirm that
the holy Rosary is not some pious practice relegated to the past,
a prayer of distant times to be thought of nostalgically. Indeed,
the Rosary is experiencing what is almost a new springtime".
"In the modern world which is so dispersed, this prayer helps
us to place Christ at the centre, as did the Virgin who meditated
upon everything that was said about her Son and upon what He Himself
did and said. When we recite the Rosary we relive important monuments
of the history of salvation, we again go over the various stages
of Christ's mission. With Mary we turn our hearts to the mystery
of Jesus".
"May Mary help us to welcome within ourselves the grace that
emanates from these mysteries, so that through us this grace can
refresh society, starting with our everyday relationships, purifying
it from many negative forces and opening it to the novelty of
God.
"The Rosary, when it is prayed in an authentic manner - not
mechanically and superficially, but profoundly - brings peace
and reconciliation. It contains the healing power of the Most
Holy Name of Jesus, invoked with faith and love at the heart of
each Hail Mary".
Benedict XVI then called on those present to ensure they remained
united to Mary during these days leading up to Pentecost, "invoking
a renewed effusion of the Holy Spirit for the Church". He
also entrusted them with "the most urgent intentions"
of his ministry: "the needs of the Church, the great problems
of humanity, peace in the world, the unity of Christians, and
dialogue between cultures", as well as the pastoral objectives
of the diocese of Rome, and the "development of solidarity"
of Italy.
Source: VIS
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