Pope Says That Mature Faith Means Friendship With Christ
VATICAN CITY, MAY 24, 2007 (Zenit.org).- Meeting Christ, crucified and risen, and having an intimate friendship with him are the foundations of a mature faith, said Benedict XVI after a performance in Paul VI Hall.
The Wednesday afternoon concert of the sacred oratorio "Resurrexi" was hosted by the Italian bishops' conference, in the midst of their 57th General Assembly at the Vatican.
The event was in honor of the Pope's 80th birthday, on April 16, and the completion of the bishops' five-yearly visit with the Holy Father.
The concert consisted of a contemporary sacred oratorio for a symphonic orchestra, choral voices, actors and five soloists. The work was composed by Alberto Colla and Roberto Mussapi.
In his brief greeting before the concert, Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco, president of the episcopal conference, said to the Pope, "We are aware of your great love for music and other artistic expressions and the significance you give to 'beauty' in the faith of Christianity."
Citing passages from "On the Way to Jesus Christ," written by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2004, the archbishop read: "Beauty places us in a relationship with the truth. I have often said that the true explanation of Christianity, or the most persuasive proof of its truth, against any negation, are on one hand the saints, and on the other, the beauty that faith has been able to generate."
"So that faith today may be able to grow, we must bring ourselves and others into contact with the saints and beauty," Archbishop Bagnasco added.
At the end of the concert, the Holy Father said, "This evening of music has given us an opportunity to meditate on the central event of our faith: the resurrection of Christ."
He continued: "The title 'Resurrexi' comes from a Latin phrase of the entrance antiphon of the Easter Mass. It is Christ's self-presentation, who in the liturgy is identified and is recognized in his condition as the Risen One."
"The oratorio helps us relive the feelings of wonder and joy that the first witnesses of the Resurrection felt," said the Pope.
He explained: "Through five harmoniously linked movements of a melodic and poetic weave, the authors of this melodrama helped us to meditate on the dawn of the third day, rich with a blinding light that opened the hearts of the apostles and helped them understand the full meaning of the events of the death and resurrection of the Divine Teacher, as well as the preceding teachings and acts of his life.
"Easter is the heart of Christianity; it is important for every believer and ecclesial community to meet Jesus Christ, crucified and risen. Without this personal and communal experience, without an intimate friendship with Jesus faith remains superficial and sterile."
"I hope that this oratorio, which we have listened to with religious attention and participation, will help us to mature in our faith," the Pontiff added. "The new life of the risen world is visible in Christ's resurrection. If we firmly believe this, then our evangelical witness will be more convincing and we will have more apostolic zeal."
Code: ZE07052402
Date: 2007-05-24