Pope Benedict XVI Asks for Prayers, Reflects on Gospel Healing of Paralytic

(22 Feb 09 - RV) Pope Benedict XVI asked the faithful to keep him in their prayers this Sunday, the final Sunday before the start of the great penitential Season of Lent, and the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

The Holy Father also reflected on this Sunday’s Gospel account of Christ’s healing a paralyzed man.

Pope Benedict said physical healing is the sign of a return to spiritual health, and recalled how Christ intended to use the healing to show the power of the Son of Man to forgive sins on Earth.

The Pope said sin is a sort of spiritual paralysis, from which the only power of God’s love can liberate us.

The Holy Father also recalled the feast of the Chair of St. Peter, which falls on this Sunday, as well as the Season of Lent into which we shall enter this week.

“Dear brothers and sisters,” said Pope Benedict, “this Feast of the Chair of Peter gives me the chance to ask you to accompany me with your prayers, that I might faithfully execute the high duties that the Divine Providence has entrusted to me as Successor to the Apostle Peter. Let us invoke the Virgin Mary, whom we celebrated yesterday here at Rome as ‘Our Lady of Trust’.

We ask her also to help us enter with the proper spiritual disposition, the Lenten Season that shall begin this coming Wednesday with the eloquent Rite of the Imposition of Ashes. May Mary open our heart to conversion and docile attention to the Word of God.”

Angelus

After the traditional prayer of Marian devotion, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in several different languages, including English…

In today’s liturgy, we witness Jesus healing the paralytic lowered to him through the roof because of a large crowd. This passage reminds us that the Lord has power to forgive sins, and that nothing stands in the way of his mercy when we seek him with pure and contrite hearts! Let us never hesitate to ask his pardon – especially through the Sacrament of Reconciliation – so that we may become better instruments of his love for others. God bless you all!