(23 May 10 – RV) “The church is by its nature one and manifold, destined as it is
to live among all nations, all peoples, and in various social contexts. It responds
to its vocation, to be a sign and instrument of unity for the whole human race. Only
if it remains independent from all states and all particular cultures. Always and
everywhere the Church must be truly Catholic and Universal, the house that belongs
to all peoples where everyone can truly find themselves".
In Mass marking
the Feast of Pentecost, Pope Benedict XVI reaffirmed the nature of the Church, which
he said; “precedes “precedes the particular Churches, and they must always conform
themselves to it, according to a criterion of unity and universality. The Church never
remains a prisoner of political, racial or cultural confines, it is not to be confused
with the States and even with the Federation of States, because its unity is different
in kind and aims to move through all human boundaries".
Thousands of faithful
were gathered in St Peter’s Basilica to celebrate the Liturgy of Pentecost with the
Pope. Vested in vibrant red, a symbol of the fire of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Father
went out of his way to greet families as he processed up the centre aisle to the main
altar.
In his homily he said: “Christians and particular churches must always
compare themselves to and harmonise themselves with that of the one Catholic Church".
The church can only be united when it is infused by the fire of the Holy spirit”.
"The
Apostles, together with believers of different communities, have brought this divine
flame to the ends of the Earth, thus they opened a path for humanity… , and they collaborated
with God who with his fire wants to renew the face of the earth. How different this
fire is from that of war and bombs! How different the fire of Christ is, propagated
by the Church, than that of the dictators of every age, even those of the last century,
which left behind scorched earth. The fire of God, the fire of the Holy Spirit, is
the fire of the bush that rages without burning (cf. Ex 3:2). It is a flame that burns
but does not destroy, indeed, its flames bring out the best and truest in man, [..]it
reveals his inner form, his call to truth and love"
"And yet the fire of the
Holy Spirit transforms us , and so must consume something in man, the waste that corrupts
and hinders his relationship with God and neighbour. The effects of the divine fire,
frightens us, we are afraid of being 'burned', preferring to stay as we are. This
is because often our life is set according to the logic of having, of possession and
not giving. Many people believe in God and admire the figure of Jesus Christ, but
when they are asked to lose something of themselves, then they draw back, afraid of
the demands of faith".
“In losing something, indeed, losing ourselves for the
true God, the God of love and life, we actually gain something, we find ourselves
more fully. Those who entrust themselves to Jesus in this life experience a peace
and joy of heart, that the world can not give them or take away from them once it
has been gifted by God. It is therefore worthwhile to allow ourselves to be touched
by the fire of the Holy Spirit! The pain that it brings us is necessary for our transformation”. "Therefore,
enlightened and comforted by these words of life, we raise our plea: Come, Holy Spirit!
Kindle in us the fire of thy love! We know that this is a daring prayer, with which
we ask to be touched by the flame of God, but above all we know that this flame -
and it alone - has the power to save”.