catholicsphere

Lent on Ash Wednesday, March 1st, 2006.

The text of the Pope’s message has been released, on the theme, “Jesus, at the sight of the crowds, was moved with pity.”

In it, the Holy Father continues his message of Christian charity as a means toward justice, given recently in his first encyclical of his pontificate, Deus Caritas Est (God is Love). It is interesting, I believe, that Pope Benedict brought this as a reflection on this verse. Just as in the world of Jesus’ day, people today are searching to be delivered from evil and suffering in their life. But, today, people are seeking it in themselves and in the things around them. The Pope offers ways that the faithful, and assuredly all people, can help to alleviate this suffering and bring the Truth of the Gospel to all people.