Pope’s ‘Angelus’ on commemoration of All Saints, Souls
(November 2, 2009) The Communion of Saints is a beautiful and consoling reality that assures us that “we are never alone." This is how Pope Benedict XVI regarded the November 1st liturgical feast of All Saints which was marked on Sunday. He was addressing the faithful gathered in St Peter's Square before reciting the weekly midday “Angelus” prayer. He said we are part of a spiritual 'company', where deep spiritual solidarity prevails: the good of each is to the benefit of all and, conversely, common happiness radiates in individuals. He said, “It is a mystery that, to some extent, we already experience in this world, in families, in friendship, especially in the spiritual community of the Church". During this current Year for Priests, the Pope particularly drew attention to "the saintly priests, both those that the Church has canonized ..., and those - many, many more - who are known to the Lord."
Pope Benedict used his ‘Angelus’ to reflect also on the November 2nd commemoration of the faithful departed. He wished that All Souls Day be lived in the light of the Paschal Mystery. He urged those visiting cemeteries to remember that in the tombs are only the mortal remains of our loved ones awaiting the final resurrection. Since the fate of their souls lie in the hands of God, the most proper and effective way to honour and pray for them, is by offering acts of faith, hope and charity. In union with the Eucharistic Sacrifice, we can intercede for their eternal salvation, and experience the deepest communion, the Pope said.
After the “Angelus” Marian prayer, Pope Benedict XVI recalled the 10 years since the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed in Augsburg, Germany, on October 31, 1999 between the Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church, which late John Paul II called "a milestone on the difficult road of reconstruction of the full unity among Christians.” Lutheranism, which began in the 16th century, differs from the Catholic Church on the key issue of justification. While Lutheranism advocates that redemption or salvation is a gift of God's grace, attainable only through faith in Jesus, the Catholic Church said it is achieved through faith and good works. Pope Benedict said that the anniversary is “an occasion to remember the truth about the justification of man, witnessed together, to unite us in ecumenical celebrations and to further investigate this issue and others that are the subject of ecumenical dialogue.”
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