ZENIT, Daily dispatch
The World Seen From Rome
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VATICAN DOSSIER
* New Encyclical Due Out Next Week
* Cardinals' Rite: More Than a Red Hat
* Social Doctrine Seen as Aid to Ecumenism
WORLD FEATURES
* Caritas Leader Sees a Threat in Latin America
* Making Pilgrims Out of Tourists
NEWS BRIEFS
* Cardinal George: Pray for Mideast This Sunday
* Concert Aims to Defend Christmas
* AIDS Caregivers: Despite Lower Numbers, Action Needed
INTERVIEW
* Sunbelt Cardinal
SPIRITUALITY
* Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and of Hearts
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VATICAN DOSSIER
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New Encyclical Due Out Next Week
"Spe Salvi" to Be Released in 8 Languages
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI's second encyclical, "Spe Salvi," will be signed and released to the public Nov. 30, the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle.
The Pope's secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said Thursday that the Holy Father would sign the document next Friday. The Vatican further confirmed today that the encyclical will also be released that day in eight languages, including English.
The Holy See said "Saved In Hope" will be presented by Cardinal Georges Cottier, retired theologian of the Pontifical Household, and Cardinal Albert Vanhoye, retired professor of New Testament at the Pontifical Biblical Institute.
As the Church prepares for the Year of St. Paul, the title, "Spe Salvi," refers to Paul's Letter to the Romans, 8:24: "For in hope we were saved."
Hope has been an important theme in this pontificate. For example, in the homily the Pope delivered in Naples last Oct. 21 at the inauguration of the interreligious meeting for peace, he spoke of hope 11 times.
Benedict XVI's second encyclical continues with a reflection on the theological virtues: faith, hope and charity. His 2005 encyclical, "Deus Caritas Est," considered charity.
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Cardinals' Rite: More Than a Red Hat
Biretta Symbolizes Readiness to Die for Faith
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI will elevate 23 new cardinals Saturday, following a rite introduced in June 1991.
The ceremony will start with a liturgical greeting, followed by the Pope's reading of the formula of creation while solemnly proclaiming the names of the new cardinals.
The first of the new cardinals will then address the Holy Father on behalf of everyone. The Liturgy of the Word, the Pontiff's homily, and the profession of faith will follow.
The oath
Each cardinal will then take an oath where he will approach the Holy Father, kneel before him to receive the cardinal's biretta, and then be assigned a title or deaconry.
The Pope assigns the cardinals a Roman church as a sign of their participation with the Bishop of Rome in the pastoral care of the city.
As Benedict XVI places the biretta on the cardinal's head, he will say, in part: "(This is) red as a sign of the dignity of the office of a cardinal, signifying that you are ready to act with fortitude, even to the point of spilling your blood for the increase of the Christian faith, for peace and harmony among the people of God, for freedom and the spread of the Holy Roman Catholic Church."
The Holy Father will then hand over the cardinal's Bull of Creation and exchange a kiss of peace with the new members. The members of the College of Cardinals will also exchange such a sign among themselves.
The rite is concluded with the prayer of the faithful, the recitation of the Our Father and a final blessing.
Cardinal's ring
On Sunday, the solemnity of Christ the King, the Holy Father will preside at a concelebrated Mass with the new cardinals, where he will give them the cardinal's ring, representing the dignity, pastoral care and the most solid communion with the See of Peter.
As he places the ring on the new cardinal's finger, the Pope will say: "Take this ring from the hand of Peter and know that, with the love of the Prince of the Apostles, your love for the Church is strengthened."
After Saturday's ceremony, the College of Cardinals will have 201 members, of whom 120 are electors, that is, under the age of 80. Eighteen of the new 23 cardinals will be electors.
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Social Doctrine Seen as Aid to Ecumenism
Pre-consistory Meeting Focuses on Christ's Prayer for Unity
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Church's social doctrine has become one of the most promising areas for ecumenical progress, say the cardinals who met with Benedict XVI today.
The cardinals, in Rome in preparation for Saturday's consistory, gathered during a day of prayer and reflection to consider the current state of ecumenism and its possibilities. The Pope chose the theme.
The meeting, the second of this type in Benedict XVI's pontificate, began with a greeting from Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the College of Cardinals and former secretary of state. Cardinal Sodano's 80th birthday was today, so the Pope began his introductory discourse by congratulating him.
The Holy Father then went on to propose to the cardinals a reflection on "ecumenical dialogue in the light of the Lord's prayer and command: 'Ut unum sint'" (that they may be one).
A Vatican press office communiqué summarized the conclusions of the first part of the day of reflection.
Panorama
Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, gave an introductory address, describing the features of "the current panorama of dialogue and ecumenical relations."
The cardinal analyzed three main areas: relations with Eastern and Orthodox Churches, with the communities born of the 16th-century Protestant Reformation, and relations with charismatic and Pentecostal movements that have developed mostly in the past century.
Cardinal Kasper presented "the results achieved in each of these areas, describing the path traveled until now and existing problems," the communiqué explained.
Then, the statement added, he asked for discussion among the cardinals, "during which there was an open exchange of experiences and opinions, which reflected an assortment of situations."
Progress
The communiqué continued: "Seventeen cardinals spoke, touching on different problems, among them the ecumenical commitment of Christians in the areas of social and charitable work, and in defending moral values in transforming modern societies.
"In particular, they presented the Church's social doctrine and its application as one of the most promising fields for ecumenism.
"They spoke of the commitment to continue the 'purification of memory' and using methods of communicating that consider the feelings of other Christians. They suggested going more in depth into the possibilities of ecumenical developments."
The cardinals also noted recent significant events in ecumenical dialogue, including the assembly in Sibiu, Romania, and Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II's visit to Paris.
The Holy See statement said the cardinals concluded the morning session of the meeting by speaking in general terms about the relationships with Judaism, and interreligious dialogue.
The meeting recommenced in the afternoon, with a free exchange of ideas about the life of the Church in general and a concluding discourse by the Holy Father.
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WORLD FEATURES
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Caritas Leader Sees a Threat in Latin America
Honduran Cardinal Sounds Warning About Underdevelopment
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Underdevelopment plaguing Latin America provokes tensions conspiring against peace, said the president of Caritas Internationalis.
Cardinal Oscar Rodríguez Maradiaga affirmed this Wednesday, the second day of work for the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, which focused on consideration of Paul VI's "Populorum Progressio."
The archbishop of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, said, "The objective of development is not just elevating all people to the level of the rich countries, but rather basing a more dignified life in the work of solidarity, a life in which the dignity and creativity of each person can effectively increase, as well as his capacity of responding to his own vocation, and therefore, to God's call."
The cardinal added, "The integral development of the human person is favored by the productivity and efficacy of work," although a business should not be considered only "a society of capital" but "a society of persons."
Given this, he explained, the Church's social doctrine emphasizes the concept of social responsibility of a business, and places emphasis on the priority of the human person and the common good.
The archbishop of Tegucigalpa said that "just as there exists a collective responsibility to avoid war, there should also exist a collective responsibility to promote development."
Echoing a theme of Paul VI, the cardinal said: "If development is a new name of peace, Latin American underdevelopment, with particular characteristics in each country, is a situation of injustice that promotes tensions conspiring against peace."
"In the work of evangelization," he concluded, "the practice of charity and the fight for justice should be considered a permanent model for the Church."
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Making Pilgrims Out of Tourists
Ministering to Millions at Mont-Saint-Michel
MONT-SAINT-MICHEL, France, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- A friar at the historic island abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel off the coast of Normandy says many who visit the site as tourists have been raised in the Christian tradition and the trip reminds them of their roots.
Father Francois De Froberville is a member of the Fraternity of Jerusalem, the community that oversees the spiritual needs of the 3 million tourists who visit Mont-Saint-Michel annually. Since 2001, this contemplative community has prayed with and for the crowd of tourists who visit the national architectural treasure of France.
Mont-Saint-Michel's old stone fortress and abbey church, which was part of the inspiration for the design of Minas Tirith in the 2003 film "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King," gives one the sense of walking back in time.
Island history
As legend has it, Bishop Aubert of Avranches built and consecrated a small church on Oct. 16, 709, at the request of the Archangel Michael. In 966, a community of Benedictines settled on the rock. The pre-Romanesque church was built before the year 1000.
In the 11th century, the Romanesque abbey church was founded over a set of crypts where the rock comes to an apex, and the first monastery buildings were built up against its north wall. Then, in the 12th century, the Romanesque monastery buildings were extended to the west and south.
Along with Rome and Santiago de Compostela, Mont-Saint-Michel was a great spiritual and intellectual center for the medieval world. For nearly 1,000 years, men, women and children made a pilgrimage there by roads called "paths to paradise," hoping for the assurance of eternity given by the archangel of judgment.
During the French Revolution, the abbey was turned into a prison and all the monks were expelled from the island.
With the celebration of 1,000 years of monasticism at the abbey, in 1966, a religious community returned to the abbey for one year, bringing back prayer and welcoming pilgrims once again. At year's end, they were asked by the French government to remain.
Friars and sisters
In 2001, the Fraternity of Jerusalem replaced the Benedictines, moving two communities into the abbey, one for men and another for women.
The Fraternity of Jerusalem, founded in 1975 by Father Pierre-Marie Delfieux in the heart of Paris at Saint-Gervais, now has monastic communities in Burgundy, Strasbourg, Florence, Brussels, Rome and Montreal. New communities are being planned for Cologne and Warsaw.
Father De Froberville told ZENIT: "Our mission is contemplative, looking for God in the desert of the city, finding solitude in the city."
And here at Mont-Saint-Michel, though not a bustling city, "people are reminded they are Christian when they visit the abbey," he explained.
The young community of men and women, all between the ages of 30 and 56, holds Eucharistic adoration every afternoon in the abbey church and one day a week at the small Church of St. Peter in the village below the abbey.
Tourists are welcome to attend morning and evening prayer, while the abbey has a small retreat house available for pilgrims who want to pray for extended periods.
To live at the abbey, despite the natural and architectural beauty, is a difficult life, Father De Froberville reported. "The abbey is not well-lit, as there are few windows. A person must be very mature to live the contemplative life here."
Beauty
The community believes beautiful liturgy is the best way to evangelize. Tourists' children are asked to participate, gathered together to carry candles to the altar when the gifts are offered during Mass. Father De Froberville said, "When we ask the children if Mass was too long, they smile and say 'no,' while the parents look on with surprise. It is the richness of our liturgy that keeps them interested."
As for the tourists who visit, Father De Froberville explained that "the age of anti-clericalism seems to be over. The young people are curious about us as compared to the older generations who still remember the anti-clerical attitude prevalent in France from the 1960s. But those younger than 60 are open to Christianity in a way not seen for a long time. They think it's cool."
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NEWS BRIEFS
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Cardinal George: Pray for Mideast This Sunday
Meeting Next Week to Pursue Israeli-Palestinian Resolution
WASHINGTON, D.C., NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The newly elected president of the U.S. episcopal conference is urging Catholics to pray for peace in the Holy Land this Sunday.
Cardinal Francis George, archbishop of Chicago, made the request for prayer in advance of an international conference to pursue a just and lasting peace among Israelis and Palestinians. The conference will be held next Tuesday in Annapolis, Maryland.
Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department announced the Annapolis meeting, which will gather representatives from approximately 50 nations, along with Israelis and Palestinians.
"In accordance with our discussion last week during the bishops' meeting in Baltimore, I urge you to encourage local parish communities and individual Catholics to pray for peace, especially this coming Sunday, Nov. 25," wrote the 70-year-old prelate to his brother prelates.
"For decades," Cardinal George continued, "our conference of bishops has worked and prayed for peace in the Holy Land. In more recent years, we have joined with Jewish, Christian and Muslim religious leaders in the National Interreligious Leadership Initiative for Peace in the Middle East to support a two-state solution to the conflict."
"This call to prayer has a special timeliness this week, but the path to a just peace will be long and will stretch beyond the peace conference itself," Cardinal George concluded. "In the weeks and months ahead, may we persevere in prayer for a just peace for Israelis, Palestinians and the whole region."
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Concert Aims to Defend Christmas
"Birth of Christ" Unites Protestants and Catholics
DUBLIN, Ireland, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- As Christmas celebrations seem more and more secularized, a concert premiering today attempts to focus on that "earth-shattering, awesome, tender moment" when God became man, said its executive producer.
Raymond Arroyo, director of EWTNews and host of "The World Over," was speaking of the world premiere of "The Birth of Christ," a concert hosted and narrated by actor Liam Neeson. It is scheduled to air on EWTN tonight and on public television throughout the United States during the Christmas season.
Speaking with ZENIT, Arroyo said he and the composer, Andrew T. Miller, wanted to "create a piece that was beautiful, inspiring, and a constant reminder of what Christmas is truly about."
"These days Christmas itself is under attack," Arroyo explained. "There is a cultural move, certainly in the United States, to secularize the holiday, turning it into some nebulous celebration of reindeer, snowmen and overeating.
"With Liam Neeson narrating Luke's Nativity and these splendid soloists truly singing their hearts out, 'The Birth of Christ' rescues the Nativity story from mythology and in a powerful way gives us all a new reverence and respect for the faith of the Virgin and Joseph and Elizabeth and those grubby shepherds."
Sign of peace
After decades of sectarian conflict and bloodshed, the concert reunited the same Protestant choirs of Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral that Handel used to unveil his "Messiah" in 1742, along with St. Mary's Pro-Cathedral Choir, a Catholic ensemble.
"I was determined to premiere this work abroad to underscore the universality of the Christmas story, and the power of music to overcome strife and conflict," said Miller, a Seattle native.
Accompanied by a full orchestra in the historic Christ Church Cathedral, "the Catholic and Protestant singers involved in this project put aside their differences for 'One Blessed Night' and raised their voices in unison around the central mystery of their faith," said Neeson.
Contemporary classic
"This is a very accessible piece of contemporary classical music," Arroyo explained. "Those who love the 'Phantom of the Opera' and Andrea Bocelli will adore this piece.
"The form is certainly classical, but the music does not easily fit into an existing genre. There is a drama, and urgency in the work that is so modern, but a melodious, sacred quality and deference to tradition that is rooted in the past. It is like the source material, timeless: relevant to our times, universal, and I think transcendent. Handel would be pleased."
"It is Andy Miller's and my dream to perform the piece at the Vatican for the Holy Father," Arroyo concluded. "I think he would love this piece."
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AIDS Caregivers: Despite Lower Numbers, Action Needed
Groups Say Statistics a Sign of Hope -- and a Challenge
ROME, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Although statistics revised this week by the United Nations indicate there are fewer people living with HIV/AIDS than previously thought, care agencies say the numbers call for renewed action, not complacency.
Figures released by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization have lowered the estimated of the number of people living with HIV to 33.2 million, down from 39 million. These numbers were welcomed by Church workers who respond to HIV/AIDS around the world as a sign of hope and a challenge to keep promises.
The reduced figures are primarily due to improved data-gathering methodology and better information from many countries, particularly India. There are, however, some indications that better access to treatment and more intensive efforts at prevention have stabilized the spread of the disease in some countries.
"We welcome any indication that fewer people are living with HIV, whether it is through more accurate statistics or because a strong response in some areas is making a positive impact," said Linda Hartke, coordinator of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
"But in no way can we relax our efforts. HIV remains a devastating disease not just for individuals, but for families, communities and nations," she added.
Monsignor Robert Vitillo, special adviser on HIV and AIDS at Caritas Internationalis, pointed out that the impact of AIDS far exceeds the statistics.
"The direct work of our Caritas member organizations and other Catholic organizations in care, counseling and support have always indicated that the impact of AIDS is far greater than the official figures have ever shown," he explained.
"The response to AIDS is not just about treating a disease," Monsignor Vitillo continued, "but treating all the factors in our society that continue to fuel the spread of the disease and inhibit our response, such as stigma and discrimination, violence and injustice against women, poverty, isolation, abuse. We see this in the faces all around us, and these numbers cannot be quantified."
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INTERVIEW
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Sunbelt Cardinal
Interview With Galveston-Houston's Archbishop, Daniel DiNardo
HOUSTON, Texas, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- In what the archbishop of Galveston-Houston says is a historic moment for the Church in the American South, Benedict XVI will be the first Pontiff to bestow a red hat on a Sunbelt prelate.
Cardinal-designate Daniel DiNardo, archbishop of Galveston-Houston, will be elevated to cardinal Saturday in a consistory in the Vatican. He says the event is a recognition of the region's growing importance in the life of the Church in the United States.
A native of Steubenville, Ohio, Cardinal-designate DiNardo, 58, currently serves on the Ad Hoc Committee to Oversee the Use of the Catechism for the U.S. episcopal conference, and is on the board of directors of Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He also serves as an adviser representing the bishops' conference to the National Association of Pastoral Musicians.
He spoke with ZENIT about his appointment to the College of Cardinals and what it means for Galveston-Houston and the American South.
Q: What is significant about the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston that would make Benedict XVI raise its stature by bestowing the red hat upon its archbishop?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: The southern part of the United States has experienced a lot of population growth in recent years, particularly the Catholic population. The appointment is a symbol of that growth.
The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is the largest diocese in Texas. A lot of the growth in our community is from Hispanic immigrants, but we have also seen large numbers of Nigerians and Filipinos move into our diocese. Additionally, many people are relocating to the South because of the availability of jobs.
In short, this is a historic appointment for the American South and recognizes the region's growing importance in the life of the Church in the United States.
Q: What are you doing to foster vocations in the archdiocese to keep up with the growing need for more priests?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: We have a program called Project Andrew that helps young men encounter the possibility of a priestly vocation. Priests, teachers or parents bring a young man to an evening of reflection and prayer where they can explore a vocation in a supportive, faith-filled environment.
I attend those evenings regularly because of the importance I place on fostering new vocations to serve the needs of God's people.
The biggest challenge in fostering vocations is ministering to young men, all of whom are unique individuals, and at the same time reaching out to young men of various cultures. Our new director of vocations is actually Vietnamese.
We currently have 39 seminarians and growth has been pretty consistent.
Q: Your archdiocese has a broad diversity of Catholic liturgical rites, including an Anglican Use parish, a former Anglican congregation that has joined the Catholic Church. How has this diversity of rites enriched the archdiocese?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: I think the plurality of rites can be perplexing for some, but overall they present different avenues for encountering the rich liturgical tradition of the Church.
This diocese was established in 1847, and so it has a long history involving people from all over.
We have many people of East-Indian heritage who worship in the Syro-Malabar Rite, we have Maronites, Byzantine and Ruthenian Catholics, as well as the Anglican Use parish you mentioned.
That particular parish just built a beautiful new church and its members are growing.
Q: As a patristic scholar, you have a deep appreciation for the Church's sacred Tradition. Benedict XVI has in his pontificate underlined the importance of not rupturing with the Church's past, and to provide continuity with its rich liturgical and theological traditions. In what ways can bishops implement the Holy Father's program in their dioceses?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: When I arrived in the archdiocese, I really didn't find a lot of instances of discontinuity or rupture. There are always complaints with the way Mass is celebrated in some places, but my predecessor bishops were great moderating forces. Thus, the diocese avoided some of the problems found elsewhere associated with a rupture from the past.
With regard to the liturgy, I think we can take a cue from the liturgical piety of the Church Fathers. In the Fathers, you see an emphasis not only on the words said at Mass, but also the importance of the gestures of the liturgy. In other words, say the black, do the red.
I also always emphasize unity in faith, meaning unity in the Creed. The Creed allows the Church to unite around a common set of beliefs. And knowing the Creed and what it means helps root the faithful in the great Tradition of the Church.
As I tell my seminarians, it is not enough to have the right sentiments about God; you actually have to know something. You have to know what the Church teaches and what theologians such as St. Augustine or St. Thomas said about particular doctrines.
The great challenge in handing on the faith is training the volunteer catechists who serve in our churches. Although we have revamped the catechetical programs as well as the guidelines for confirmation in our archdiocese, we need to find ways to encourage these volunteers to receive the necessary formation to be effective in their work, as well as deal with the problem of catechizing people from different cultures.
Here, the Catechism of the Catholic Church can serve as a great resource. As far as "Summorum Pontificum," we have four parishes in the diocese where the extraordinary form of the Roman rite is said regularly, including one downtown parish where it is said daily.
I don't see much of an increase in the number of parishes using the extraordinary form because there hasn't been much of a demand thus far.
On the other hand, we have had discussions with a particular religious community about the possibility of establishing a personal parish that would allow for the full presence of the liturgical and devotional life associated with the Missal of Blessed John XXIII.
But due to the explosive growth in the archdiocese, I have no parish to give them. This group would have to raise the funds to establish such a parish. But those discussions are at a very preliminary stage at this point.
Q: There are a number of ecclesial movements active in your archdiocese. In what ways do these new movements serve the mission of the Church in Galveston-Houston?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: In a historical moment where there are parishes with thousands of families, the ecclesial communities really help foster a common Christian life and a sense of belonging. Here in the archdiocese we seem to have just about every movement imaginable.
The challenge is helping the movements foster an ecclesial sensibility -- which some already have -- without being controlling.
There are, of course, well-known movements such as Opus Dei, Communion and Liberation, and Regnum Christi, but we are regularly learning about new movements from places like South America appearing in our diocese.
It is helpful for these groups make to themselves known to their local bishop so the bishop and movement can each assist the other's particular charism and ecclesial vocation.
Q: Practically speaking, how does this change your relationship to your archdiocese and the universal Church? What responsibilities does your appointment entail?
Cardinal-designate DiNardo: Well, I've noticed a big decrease in the open slots on my schedule.
As far as particular responsibilities within the Roman Curia, the Holy See does not give those out prior to the consistory, so it's anybody's guess as to what congregations I'll be appointed.
I do think my role will allow me to be a greater ambassador for needs and concerns of the local churches in the southern part of the United States.
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SPIRITUALITY
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Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and of Hearts
Gospel Commentary for This Sunday
By Father Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
ROME, NOV. 23, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The solemnity of Christ the King was instituted only recently. It was instituted by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in response to the atheist and totalitarian political regimes that denied the rights of God and the Church. The climate in which the feast was born was, for example, that of the Mexican revolution, when many Christians went to their deaths crying out to their last breath, "Long live Christ the King!"
But if the feast is recent, its content and its central idea are not; they are quite ancient and we can say that they were born with Christianity. The phrase "Christ reigns" has its equivalent in the profession of faith: "Jesus is Lord," which occupies a central place in the preaching of the apostles.
Sunday's Gospel passage narrates the death of Christ, because it is at that moment that Christ begins to rule over the world. The cross is Christ's throne. "Above him there was an inscription that read, 'This is the King of the Jews.'" That which in the intention of his enemies was the justification of his condemnation, was, in the eyes of the heavenly Father, the proclamation of his universal sovereignty.
To see what this feast has to do with us, we need only recall to our minds a very simple distinction. There are two universes, two worlds or cosmoses: the "macrocosm," which is the whole universe external to us, and the "microcosm," or the little universe, which is each individual man. The liturgy itself, in the reform that followed Vatican II, felt the need to accent the human and spiritual aspect of the feast over the, so to speak, political aspect of the feast. The prayer of the feast no longer asks, as it once did, "that all the families of nations, now kept apart by the wound of sin, may be brought under the sweet yoke of [Christ's] rule" but that "every creature, freed from the slavery of sin, serve and praise [Christ] forever." Let us consider again the inscription placed above Christ: "This is the King of the Jews." The onlookers challenged him to manifest his royalty openly and many, even among his friends, expected a spectacular demonstration of his kingship. But he chose
only to show his kingship in his solicitousness for one man, who was, in fact, a criminal: "'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.' He replied to him, 'Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.'"
From this point of view, the most important question to ask on the feast of Christ the King is not whether he reigns in the world but whether he reigns in me; it is not whether his kingship is recognized by states and governments, but whether it is recognized and lived in me.
Is Christ the King and Lord of my life? Who rules in me, who determines the goals and establishes priorities: Christ or someone else? According to St. Paul, there are two ways to live: either for ourselves or for the Lord (Romans 14:7-9). Living "for ourselves" means living like someone who takes himself to be the beginning and the end; it is a life closed in on itself, drawn only by its own satisfaction and glory, without any perspective of eternity. Living "for the Lord," on the contrary, means living for the Lord, that is, with a view to him, for his glory, for his kingdom.
What we have here is truly a new existence, in the face of which, death itself has lost its definitiveness. The greatest contradiction that man has always experienced -- that between life and death -- has been overcome. The contradiction is no longer between "living" and "dying" but between living "for ourselves" and living "for the Lord."
[Translation by ZENIT]
* * *
Father Raniero Cantalamessa is the Pontifical Household preacher. The readings for this Sunday are 2 Samuel 5:1-3; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43.
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