By Cindy Wooden
4/12/2006
Catholic News Service (www.catholicnews.com)

VATICAN CITY – The traditional practice of preparing for Easter by going to confession is good not only for individuals, but for the world, Pope Benedict XVI said. Acknowledging one's sins and being forgiven for them, he said, gives a person peace, which spreads from the heart to an individual's actions, bringing peace to the family, the community and eventually the world.


POPE WAVES AT GENERAL AUDIENCE – Pope Benedict XVI waves as he arrives to lead his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican April 12. The pope said that Jesus' resurrection "gives us the certainty that despite all the darkness in the world sin will not have the last word." (CNS/Reuters)
Explaining the church's Holy Week and Easter rituals during his April 12 general audience, the pope said the violence that exists in the world is a sign of too many people's inability "to reconcile themselves in order to begin again with sincere forgiveness."

Jesus' resurrection "gives us the certainty that despite all the darkness in the world sin will not have the last word," he said. "Strengthened by this certainty, with greater courage and enthusiasm we can commit ourselves to the birth of a more just world."

After discussing the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord's Supper, the pope spoke about the eucharistic adoration that follows the liturgy.

In the dark and silence before the blessed sacrament, he said, Jesus calls Catholics to "stay and watch" with him the night before his death, just as he asked his disciples to do.

But also like the disciples, he said, "too often we fall asleep."

On Good Friday, the pope said, Catholics contemplate Jesus on the cross, gazing "at his pierced heart" in order to recognize "the cosmic dimension" of God's love for all creation, "a love that goes beyond all understanding."

To prepare for the great joy of the Resurrection, he said, "the church asks its faithful to receive the sacrament of penance as a type of death and resurrection," a new beginning in the life of faith.

"Aware that we are sinners, but trusting in divine mercy, let us be reconciled with Christ in order to experience more fully the joy that he gives us with his resurrection," he said.

The grace given through forgiveness and absolution, Pope Benedict said, "is a source of interior and exterior peace and makes us apostles of peace in a world where, unfortunately, divisions, suffering and the dramas of injustice, hatred and violence continue."

At the end of the audience, a children's choir sang "Happy Birthday" to the pope in English. He will celebrate his 79th birthday April 16, Easter.

The following is the Vatican text of Pope Benedict XVI's remarks in English at his weekly general audience April 12:

Dear brothers and sisters,

Tomorrow evening, we begin the Easter triduum, the fulcrum of the entire liturgical year. Through the sacred rites we relive the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord, reawakening the desire to follow Jesus more closely. Holy Thursday commemorates Christ's total giving of himself to humanity in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Through "the washing of feet," it also recalls in a dramatic way the new commandment to love one another.

On Good Friday, we listen to the account of the passion and contemplate Christ on the cross. This is love in its most radical form: God gives his very self, in order to raise us up and save us.

During Holy Saturday the church is spiritually united with Mary, praying by the tomb of the Son of God who lies at rest after completing his work of redemption.

Then, at the solemn Easter Vigil, the joyful Gloria and Easter alleluia rise forth from the hearts of the whole Christian community, because Christ is risen and has defeated death!

Dear friends, to prepare for Easter the church asks us to approach the sacrament of penance. Trust in the mercy of God! The gift of Christ's pardon is the source of peace! Indeed, this sacrament makes us apostles of peace for our world, which longs to be healed of divisions, suffering, injustice and violence. Evil does not have the last word. Christ, crucified and risen, has triumphed. Encouraged by this truth, let us, with enthusiasm, build a society inspired by the gospel!

I warmly welcome all the English-speaking pilgrims present, including the pupils and staff from De Lisle Catholic College. May your Holy Week pilgrimage be a time of great spiritual encouragement and renewal. I invoke an abundance of God's blessings upon you and your families, and I wish everyone a happy and holy Easter!