Emotional tribute to Pope Benedict at final public Mass
CWN - February 13, 2013
The Eucharistic liturgy for Ash Wednesday, originally scheduled to take place in the basilica of Santa Sabina, had been moved to the Vatican basilica to accommodate the large crowd that was anticipated after the Pope's surprise resignation announcement. The nave of St. Peter's was indeed packed with worshippers as the Pope arrived.
Several of the bishops concelebrating the Mass doffed their miters to the Pope in a rare display of affection, and some were clearly on the verge of tears. Obviously moved by the warm welcome, Pope Benedict eventually persuaded the congregation to stop the applause. "Thank you," he said simply. "Now let's turn to prayer."
In his homily the Pope said that the prayer and penance of the Lenten season should be not only personal but communal. He said that "each person must be aware that the penitential journey cannot be faced alone, but together with many brothers and sisters in the Church."
The Pope called particular attention to the words of Jesus recorded in St. Matthew's Gospel, that when we pray and do penance without calling attention to ourselves, "your Father who sees everything in secret will reward you." The Pope said: "Our witness will always be more effective the less we seek our own glory and the more we are aware that the reward of the righteous is God Himself."
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