POPE BENEDICT XVI IN UK Pope Benedict's Homily at Bellahouston Park at Bellahouston
Park, Glasgow, Thursday, 16 September 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, “The Kingdom of God is very near
to you!” (Lk 10:9). With these words of the Gospel we have just heard, I greetall
of you with great affection in the Lord. Truly the Lord’s Kingdom is already in our
midst! At this Eucharistic celebration in which the Church in Scotland gathers around
the altar in union with the Successor of Peter, let us reaffirm our faith in Christ’s
word and our hope – a hope which never disappoints – in his promises! I warmly greet
Cardinal O’Brien and the Scottish Bishops; I thank in particular Archbishop Conti
for his kind words of welcome on your behalf; and I express my deep gratitude for
the work that the British and Scottish Governments and the Glasgow city fathers have
done to make this occasion possible. Today’s Gospel reminds us that Christ
continues to send his disciples into the world in order to proclaim the coming of
his Kingdom and to bring his peace into the world, beginning house by house, family
by family, town by town. I have come as a herald of that peace to you, the spiritual
children of Saint Andrew and to confirm you in the faith of Peter (cf.Lk 22:32). It
is with some emotion that I address you, not far from the spot where my beloved predecessor
Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass nearly thirty years ago with you and was welcomed
by the largest crowd ever gathered in Scottish history. Much has happened
in Scotland and in the Church in this country since that historic visit. I note with
great satisfaction how Pope John Paul’s call to you to walk hand in hand with your
fellow Christians has led to greater trust and friendship with the members of the
Church of Scotland, the Scottish Episcopal Church and others. Let me encourage you
to continue to pray and work with them in building a brighter future for Scotland
based upon our common Christian heritage. In today’s first reading we heard Saint
Paul appeal to the Romans to acknowledge that, as members of Christ’s body, we belong
to each other (cf. Rom 12:5) and to live in respect and mutual love. In that spirit
I greet the ecumenical representatives who honour us by their presence. This year
marks the 450th anniversary of the Reformation Parliament, but also the 100th anniversary
of the World Missionary Conference in Edinburgh, which is widely acknowledged to mark
the birth of the modern ecumenical movement. Let us give thanks to God for the promise
which ecumenical understanding and cooperation represents for a united witness to
the saving truth of God’s word in today’s rapidly changing society. Among
the differing gifts which Saint Paul lists for the building up of the Church is that
of teaching (cf. Rom 12:7). The preaching of the Gospel has always been accompanied
by concern for the word: the inspired word of God and the culture in which that word
takes root and flourishes. Here in Scotland, I think of the three medieval universities
founded here by the popes, including that of Saint Andrews’ which is beginning to
mark the 600th anniversary of its foundation. In the last 30 years and with the assistance
of civil authorities, Scottish Catholic schools have taken up the challenge of providing
an integral education to greater numbers of students, and this has helped young people
not only along the path of spiritual and human growth, but also in entering the professions
and public life. This is a sign of great hope for the Church, and I encourage the
Catholic professionals, politicians and teachers of Scotland never to lose sight of
their calling to use their talents and experience in the service of the faith, engaging
contemporary Scottish culture at every level. The evangelization of culture
is all the more important in our times, when a “dictatorship of relativism” threatens
to obscure the unchanging truth about man’s nature, his destiny and his ultimate good.
There are some who now seek to exclude religious belief from public discourse, to
privatize it or even to paint it as a threat to equality and liberty. Yet religion
is in fact a guarantee of authentic liberty and respect, leading us to look upon every
person as a brother or sister. For this reason I appeal in particular to you, the
lay faithful, in accordance with your baptismal calling and mission, not only to be
examples of faith in public, but also to put the case for the promotion of faith’s
wisdom and vision in the public forum. Society today needs clear voices which propose
our right to live, not in a jungle of self-destructive and arbitrary freedoms, but
in a society which works for the true welfare of its citizens and offers them guidance
and protection in the face of their weakness and fragility. Do not be afraid to take
up this service to your brothers and sisters, and to the future of your beloved nation. Saint
Ninian, whose feast we celebrate today, was himself unafraid to be a lone voice. In
the footsteps of the disciples whom our Lord sent forth before him, Ninian was one
of the very first Catholic missionaries to bring his fellow Britons the good news
of Jesus Christ. His mission church in Galloway became a centre for the first evangelization
of this country. That work was later taken up by Saint Mungo, Glasgow’s own patron,
and by other saints, the greatest of who must include Saint Columba and Saint Margaret.
Inspired by them, many men and women have laboured over many centuries to hand down
the faith to you. Strive to be worthy of this great tradition! Let the exhortation
of Saint Paul in the first reading be your constant inspiration: “Do not lag in zeal,
be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering and
persevere in prayer” (cf. Rom 12:11-12). I would now like to address a special
word to the bishops of Scotland. Dear brothers, let me encourage you in your pastoral
leadership of the Catholics of Scotland. As you know, one of your first pastoral duties
is to your priests (cf. Presbyterorum Ordinis, 7) and to their sanctification. As
they are alter Christ us to the Catholic community, so you are to them. Live to the
full the charity that flows from Christ, in your brotherly ministry towards your priests,
collaborating with them all, and in particular with those who have little contact
with their fellow priests. Pray with them for vocations, that the Lord of the harvest
will send labourers to his harvest (cf. Lk 10:2). Just as the Eucharist makes the
Church, so the priesthood is central to the life of the Church. Engage yourselves
personally in forming your priests as a body of men who inspire others to dedicate
themselves completely to the service of Almighty God. Have a care also for your deacons,
who seministry of service is associated in a particular way with that of the order
of bishops. Be a father and a guide in holiness for them, encouraging them to grow
in knowledge and wisdom in carrying out the mission of herald to which they have been
called. Dear priests of Scotland, you are called to holiness and to serve
God’s people by modeling your lives on the mystery of the Lord’s cross. Preach the
Gospel with a pure heart and a clear conscience. Dedicate yourselves to God alone
and you will become shining examples to young men of a holy, simple and joyful life:
they, in their turn, will surely wish to join you in your single-minded service of
God’s people. May the example of Saint John Ogilvie, dedicated, selfless and brave,
inspire all of you. Similarly, let me encourage you, the monks, nuns and religious
of Scotland to be a light on a hilltop, living an authentic Christian life of prayer
and action that witnesses in a luminous way to the power of the Gospel. Finally,
I would like to say a word to you, my dear young Catholics of Scotland. I urge you
to lead lives worthy of our Lord (cf. Eph 4:1) and of yourselves. There are many temptations
placed before you every day - drugs, money, sex, pornography, alcohol - which the
world tells you will bring you happiness, yet these things are destructive and divisive.
There is only one thing which lasts: the love of Jesus Christ personally for each
one of you. Search for him, know him and love him, and he will set you free from slavery
to the glittering but superficial existence frequently proposed by today’s society.
Put aside what is worthless and learn of your own dignity as children of God. In today’s
Gospel, Jesus asks us to pray for vocations: I pray that many of you will know and
love Jesus Christ and, through that encounter, will dedicate yourselves completely
to God, especially those of you who are called to the priesthood and religious life.
This is the challenge the Lord gives to you today: the Church now belongs to you! Dear
friends, I express once more my joy at celebrating this Mass with you. I am happy
to assure you of my prayer sin the ancient language of your country: Sìth agus beannachd
Dhe dhuibh uile; Dia bhi timcheall oirbh; agus gum beannaicheadh Dia Alba. God’s peace
and blessing to you all; God surround you; and may God bless the people of Scotland!