Pope’s Easter Monday ‘Regina Coeli’

(April 5, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI on Easter Monday invited Christians to be the announcers of the love of the Father, in imitation of Christ. The Pope’s exhortation came at the midday ‘Regina Coeli’ prayer when he addressed a large holiday crowd in the courtyard of the papal summer residence of Castelgandolfo, southeast of Rome. After a hectic Holy Week schedule that began on Palm Sunday, Pope Benedict left for Castelgandolfo soon after delivering Easter Sunday’s message and blessing ‘Urbi et Orbi’ to the city and to the world.
In Italy and the Vatican, Easter Monday is a holiday known as Pasquetta (little Easter). It is also called ‘Monday of the Angel’, recalling the meeting between the angel and the women at the tomb of Jesus. Pope Benedict reminded his listeners that the title ‘angel’ is one of the ancient attributes assigned to Jesus. According to the early Christian writer, Tertullian, Jesus is also called “The Angel of Counsel” , i.e. announcer, a term signifying an office rather than nature. Hence Jesus is also called the Angel of God the Father - He is the Messenger ‘par excellence’ of the Father’s love. Pope Benedict said that just as Jesus was the announcer of the Father’s love, so too we must become the love of Christ. “We are the messengers of his resurrection, of his victory over evil and death, the bearers of his divine love. Pope Benedict said that this mission of being ‘angels’, the messengers of Christ has been given to us in the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. “And in a special way priests, the ministers of Christ, receive it in the sacrament of Holy Orders,” the Pope said recalling the current Year for Priests.
He also greeted English-speaking pilgrims in the courtyard. Listen:

I am very pleased to greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present here today for the Regina Cæli prayer. In these first days of Easter, we celebrate intensely the mystery of the Resurrection of the Lord. Like the women in today’s Gospel passage, may all of us, especially those baptized this Easter, keep alive in our hearts our awe and great joy in the presence of the Risen Lord. God bless you all!