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On Ash Wednesday "The forty days of Lent recall Israels sojourn in the desert and the temptations of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry." Vatican City, February 13, 2013 (Zenit.org). Before delivering his catechesis today, the Holy Father said the following to the faithful present: "Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you know, I have decided [applause] Thank you for your sympathy, I have decided to give up the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to me on April 19, 2005. I did this in full freedom for the good of the Church, after having prayed at length and...

On God As Creator of Heaven and Earth "In the work of creation, God is seen as the almighty Father who by his eternal Word brings into existence a universe of goodness, harmony and beauty" Vatican City, February 06, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Creed, which begins by describing God as "Almighty Father," as we meditated on last week, then adds that He is the "Creator of heaven and earth," and thus takes up the Bible's opening line. In the first...

On Abraham's Faith "Saying 'I believe in God' means founding my life on Him" Vatican City, January 23, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Year of Faith, I would like to start today to reflect with you on the Creed, the solemn profession of faith which accompanies our lives as believers. The Creed begins, "I believe in God." It is a fundamental affirmation, deceptively simple in its essentiality, but one that opens onto the infinite world of the relationship...

On Christ As Mediator Between God and Man "Jesus is Truly God Among Us, 'The Mediator and the Fullness of All Revelation'" Vatican City, January 16, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Second Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, says that the intimate truth of the revelation of God shines for us "in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation"(no. 2). The Old Testament tells us how God, after the creation, despite...

On the Incarnation "God gives us the greatest gift possible, the gift of himself " Vatican City, January 09, 2013 (Zenit.org). Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Christmas season we focus once again on the great mystery of God who came down from Heaven to enter into our flesh. In Jesus, God became incarnate, He became man like us, and thus opened for us the door to His Heaven, to full communion with Him. In recent days, the term "incarnation" of God has resounded several times in our churches, to express the reality we celebrate on Christmas: the Son of...

On God the Almighty Father "Despite the Crisis of Fatherhood in Many Societies, the Scriptures Show us Clearly what it Means to Call God 'Father'" VATICAN CITY, January 30, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the General Audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In last Wednesday's catechesis we focused on the words of the Creed: "I believe in God." But the profession of faith specifies this statement: God is the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I should like to reflect with you now on the first, fundamental definition of...

On the Identity of Jesus "The Incarnation is the Beginning of the New Creation" VATICAN CITY, January 2, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is the translation of the Holy Father's weekly general audience address. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Nativity of the Lord once again illuminates the darkness that often surrounds our world and our hearts with His light, bringing hope and joy. Where does this light come from? From the stable in Bethlehem, where the shepherds found "Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger" (Lk 2:16). Before this Holy Family, another and deeper question arises: how can the...

On the Faith of Mary, the Virgin Mother of Christ "Marys Faith [] Combines Complete Trust in the Lords Promises with a Certain 'Unknowing'" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the journey of Advent, the Virgin Mary has a special place as the one who in a unique way waited for the fulfillment of the promises of God, accepting Jesus in faith and in the flesh, the Son of God, in full obedience to the divine will....

On The Unfolding of God's Self-Revelation "God Continues to Draw Near to Us" VATICAN CITY, DEC. 12, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In the last catechesis I spoke of God's revelation, as a communication He makes of Himself and of His plan of kindness and love. This revelation of God inserts itself in time and in the history of mankind: history that becomes "the arena where we see what God does for humanity. God comes to us in the things we...

On the Beauty of God's Plan of Salvation "Gods Self-Revelation in Christ Corresponds to Our Deepest Human Hopes and Aspirations" VATICAN CITY, DEC.5, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, At the beginning of his letter to the Christians of Ephesus (cf. 1:3-14), the apostle Paul raises a prayer of blessing to God, the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the prayer we just heard, that helps us enter into living the time of Advent, in the context of the Year of Faith....

On Bearing Witness to the Christian Faith "The God of Jesus Christ has Revealed our Grandeur as Persons Redeemed by Love" VATICAN CITY, NOV.28, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, The main question that we ask today is: how can we speak of God in our time? How can we communicate the Gospel, to open roads to his saving truth in the hearts, that are often closed, of our contemporaries and in...

On the Knowledge of God "God Inspires and Accompanies our Efforts to Know Him and to Find Our Happiness in Him" VATICAN CITY, Nov. 14, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father continued his series of catecheses on faith. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Last Wednesday we reflected on the desire for God that the human being carries within his very depths. Today I would like to continue and delve deeper into this aspect, meditating with you briefly about some ways to arrive at the...

On Pope Benedict XVI's Apostolic Journey to Lebanon "Concord and reconciliation must be stronger than the forces of death" VATICAN, SEPTEMBER 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in the Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father dedicated today’s audience to reflecting on his recent apostolic journey to Lebanon. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like briefly to return in mind and heart to the extraordinary days of my recent apostolic journey to Lebanon. It was a visit I greatly desired to make despite the difficult circumstances, seeing that a...

On Prayer in the 2nd Part of the Book of Revelation [Apocalypse] "There are no superfluous, useless prayers; not one of them is lost" VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 12, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall at the general audience. The Holy Father today continued his reflection on prayer in the book of Revelation [Apocalypse]. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Last Wednesday I spoke about prayer in the first part of Revelation[Apocalypse]. Today we move on to the second part of the book; and whereas in the first part,...

On Prayer in Part 1 of Revelation [Apocalypse] "The Church at prayer, in welcoming the Lord's Word, is transformed" VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 5, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Holy Father reflected on prayer in the first part of the Book of Revelation [Apocalypse]. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today, after a summer holiday break, we resume the audiences at the Vatican, and I would like to continue in that "school of prayer" that I am living together with you...

On the Queenship of Mary "She is queen precisely by loving us" CASTEL GANDOLFO, AUG. 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at Castel Gandolfo. The Holy Father focused his meditation on today's liturgical memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today marks the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invoked under the title: "Queen." It is a feast of recent institution, even though it is ancient in its origin and devotion: It was established by the...

On Prayer of Praise and Thanks "In prayer we must accustom ourselves to being with God" VATICAN CITY, JUNE 20, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in St. Peter’s Square. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Very often, our prayer is a request for help in time of need. And this is normal for man, for we need help, we need others, we need God. Thus, it is normal for us to ask something of God, to look to Him for help; and we must bear...

On the 40 Days of Lent "Time Spent in the Desert Can Be Transformed Into a Time of Grace" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 22, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in the Paul VI Hall. Today the Pope reflected on the liturgical season of Lent. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In this catechesis, I would like to reflect briefly upon the season of Lent, which begins today with the liturgy of Ash Wednesday. It is a journey of 40 days that will lead us to the...

On the 3 Last Words of Jesus Dying on the Cross "We Shall Never Fall Outside the Hands of God, Those Hands That Created Us" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 15, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope continued his reflection on the prayer of Jesus dying on the Cross, today focusing on the three last words of Jesus as recounted in the Gospel of St. Luke. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, In our school of prayer last Wednesday, I spoke about...

On the Prayer of Jesus Dying on the Cross "In Extreme Anguish, Prayer Becomes a Cry" VATICAN CITY, FEB. 8, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in Paul VI Hall. The Pope reflected today on the prayer of Jesus dying on the Cross. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to reflect with you on the prayer of Jesus as death was imminent, by considering what St. Mark and St. Matthew tell us. The two Evangelists give an account of the prayer of...