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Skriven 2007-04-05 07:53:02 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                               VIS-Press releases

CONFESSION: ENCOUNTER WITH GOD'S MERCY

VATICAN CITY, MAR 30, 2007 (VIS) - Yesterday evening in the Vatican Basilica,
the Pope presided at a penitential celebration with thousands of young people
from the diocese of Rome in preparation for the forthcoming World Youth Day.
The Day is due to be held on Palm Sunday, April 1, on the theme: "Just as I
have loved you, you also should love one another."

"The heart of all mankind ... thirsts for love," said the Holy Father in his
homily. "Christians, even more so, cannot live without love. Indeed, if they do
not find true love they cannot even call themselves fully Christian because,
... 'being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea,
but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a
decisive direction.'

"God's love for us," he added, "which began with the creation, became visible
in the mystery of the Cross. ... A crucified love that does not stop at the
outrage of Good Friday but culminates in the joy of the Resurrection ... and
the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of love by which, this evening too,
sins will be remitted and forgiveness and peace granted."

This divine love "may be described with the term 'agape,' in other words 'the
self-giving love of one who looks exclusively for the good of the other,' but
also with the term 'eros'" because "it is also a love in which the heart of the
Almighty awaits the 'yes' of His creatures." And "in the sacrifice of the
Cross, God continues to present His love ... coming 'to beg' the love of His
creatures."

"With Baptism you were born to new life by virtue of the grace of God. However,
since this new life has not suppressed the weakness of human nature, ... you
are given the opportunity to use the Sacrament of Confession. ... And thus you
experience the forgiveness of sins; reconciliation with the Church; the
recovery, if lost, of the state of grace; ... peace and serenity of conscience
and the consolation of the spirit; and an increase of spiritual strength for
the Christian struggle."

Christ "hopes we will allow ourselves to be attracted by His love and feel all
its greatness and beauty, but this is not enough. Christ attracts us to Him in
order to unite Himself to each one of us, so that, in our turn, we learn to
love our brothers and sisters with His same love."

"As you leave this celebration, with your hearts full of the experience of
God's love, be prepared 'to dare' to love in your families, in your dealings
with your friends and even with those who have offended you. Be prepared to
bear a truly Christian witness" in all environments.

Benedict XVI called upon newly-engaged couples to experience the period of
their engagement "in the true love which always involves mutual, chaste and
responsible respect. And should the Lord call some of you, dear young people of
Rome, to a life of special consecration, be ready to answer with a generous and
uncompromising 'yes'."

"Dear young people, the world awaits your contribution for the building of the
'civilization of love.' ... Do not become discouraged and always have faith in
Christ and in the Church."

Following the liturgy the Pope put on a purple stole and entered the
confessional to administer the Sacrament of Penance to six young people.
Fifty-five priests joined him in administering the Sacrament to others present
in the Vatican Basilica.
HML/PENANCE/...VIS 070330 (600)

SUMMARY

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