Homily of Cardinal Bertone

(June 25.06.2011) Earlier Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone had celebrated Holy Mass at St Peter’s Basilica on the occasion of the Feast of the Sts Peter and Paul Association, before the group was met by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI.. He highlighted their veneration of the Virgin Mary as “Virgo Fidelis”. Quite appropriately the first reading spoke of the strong woman of the Old Testament, the widow Judith, who beheaded Holofernes, an Assyrian general who is about to destroy Judith's home, the city of Bethulia, because of his desire for her, thus saving her people. Cardinal Bertone recalled their triple commitment to the liturgy, to charity and to culture and their task of helping the poor and the sick and also assuring the orderly celebration of Pontifical liturgical services. He encouraged them in their resolution to continue their life of believing, loving and praying. In the course of the liturgical ceremony he accepted the pledge of fidelity of the new members of the Association.