Christmas in the Holy Land, a call to reconciliation
Dec 25, 2007 Dec 25 2007
The reflection of the Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches.
CITIES 'Hong Kong, Monday, December 24, 2007 (ZENIT.org) .- The peoples of the Holy Land "at Christmas are involved in the irresistible call to reconciliation that builds the essential hope of humanity," said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri.
In an interview with "L'Osservatore Romano" (24-25 December 2007) the new prelate, Prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, has appealed to the Catholic community worldwide to "undertake to cultivate creativity in Christian charity because always echo the proclamation of Christmas that departed from the Holy Land. "
"The Catholic Church - stressed - is heir to a special responsibility towards those who today live in the Holy Land, because since the beginning of the Redemption has lived with the great family of all Christians in the footsteps of the historic step of his Lord."
The Holy Land "is the priority for the Catholic Church and for Christians, as is ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue", because "the place of convening the same footsteps of God" and why play "a central role for the entire Middle East region" he added.
Indeed, he continued, "all humanity looks to the Earth, warning of having deep ties with it."
The real problem in this region is that "the lack of a stable peace generates immense social and political issues, making the serious shortage of jobs, housing, education and assistance."
The resulting wound is precisely emigration, especially Christians, who "has taken on a momentum worrying": "we run the risk of seeing disappear from the holy places of redemption the 'living stones', pastors and the faithful who celebrate the mysteries Christ, "he warned Cardinal Sandri.
. In this regard, he indicated, "realistically we must affirm that the future of the Holy Land is inseparable from religious institutions operating in the territory and the bonds of solidarity that they can establish with the entire world".
In addition, you can sweep away "the darkness of this [...] if fulfill all the 'duty' to support them in every way, physically and spiritually."
"As the Pope in recent encyclical dedicated to hope, we can live, in spite of everything, otherwise, because the new life has been inaugurated by Christ forever, and he can change the course of human history", he concluded.
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church
“Christ has no body but yours, no hands but
yours, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which Christ’s
compassion must look upon the world.
Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.
Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us
now.”
St. Theresa of Avila
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Posted - Dec 28 2007 : 5:25:54 PM
