Christ Has the Final Victory

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Pope John Paul II met with more than 8,000 pilgrims in St. Peter's Square on April 16 and urged them join with the Church around the world in prayer and meditation on the Lord's passion, death and resurrection during the days leading up to Easter.

He told the pilgrims the Easter Triduum is the very heart of the liturgical year. “By participating in the rites of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, we retrace the last hours of Jesus' life on Earth, and at the end of them the light of the Resurrection shines brightly,” the Holy Father pointed out.

He also told those present he would sign his new encyclical on the Eucharist during the Mass of the Lord's Supper on Holy Thursday. “Through this text, I wish to offer every believer an organic reflection on the Eu -charistic sacrifice, which en -compasses the Church's entire spiritual heritage,” he said.

The mystery of the cross and resurrection assures us Christ is victorious over violence and death, John Paul noted, and in him we can build a future of authentic peace, justice and solidarity.

But he told the pilgrims it also involves a commitment on our part in our daily life. “It means recognizing that the passion of Christ continues in the dramatic events that, unfortunately, also afflict so many men and women in every part of the world at this time,” he said.

Tomorrow evening the Easter Triduum, which is the heart of the entire liturgical year, begins with the Mass of the Lord's Supper. During the next few days, the Church silently reflects, prays and meditates on the mystery of the Lord's passion, death and resurrection.

By participating in the rites of Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil, we retrace the last hours of Jesus' life on Earth, and at the end of them the light of the Resurrection shines brightly.

In the canticle that was just proclaimed, we heard that Christ became “obedient to death, even death on a cross. Because of this, God greatly exalted him” (Philippians 2:8-9). These words sum up God's mysterious plan that we will relive in the coming days, a mystery that gives meaning and fulfillment to the history of mankind.

The Eucharist

While the Chrism Mass, which we generally celebrate Holy Thursday in the morning, particularly highlights the ministry of the priesthood, the Mass of the Lord's Supper is an urgent invitation to contemplate the Eucharist, which is the central mystery of our Christian faith and life. Indeed, in order to emphasize the importance of this sacrament, I have written an encyclical letter, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, which I will have the joy of signing during the Mass of the Lord's Supper. Through this text, I wish to offer every believer an organic reflection on the Eucharistic sacrifice, which encompasses the Church's entire spiritual heritage.

Along with the Eucharist, the Lord instituted the ministry of the priesthood in the Upper Room so that his sacrifice would continue throughout the centuries: “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). He then left us a new commandment of brotherly love. Through the washing of the feet, he taught his disciples that love must be translated in humble and unselfish service toward our neighbor.

The Cross

On Good Friday, a day of penance and fasting, we will recall the passion and death of Jesus as we remain absorbed in adoration of the cross. “Ecce lignum Crucis, in quo salus mundi pependit — This is the wood of the Cross, on which hung the Savior of the world.” On Calvary, the Son of God took on the burden of our sins, offering himself as the victim in atonement to the Father. Our new life as children of God flows from the cross, the source of our salvation.

The drama of Friday is followed by the silence of Holy Saturday, a day of hoping and waiting. Along with Mary, the Christian community keeps vigil in prayer next to the tomb, waiting for the glorious event of the Resurrection to be fulfilled.

The Resurrection

On the holy night of Easter, everything is renewed in the Risen Christ. From every corner of the earth the singing of the Gloria and the Alleluia will rise up to heaven and light will shatter the darkness of night. On Easter Sunday we will exult with the Risen One as we receive from him his greeting of peace.

Let us prepare ourselves, dear brothers and sisters, to celebrate these holy days in a worthy way and to contemplate the wonderful work that God accomplished by humbling and exalting Christ (see Philippians 2:6-11).

Remembering this central mystery of faith also involves a commitment to live it in the concrete reality of our life. It means recognizing that the passion of Christ continues in the dramatic events that, unfortunately, also afflict so many men and women in every part of the world at this time.

Christ Has the Victory

The mystery of the cross and Resurrection assures us, however, that hatred, violence, bloodshed and death do not have the last word in the life of mankind. The final victory belongs to Christ, and we must be rooted in him if we wish to build a future of authentic peace, justice and solidarity for all.

May the Virgin, who intimately shared in the plan of salvation, accompany us on the path from the passion and cross to the empty tomb to meet her divine Son, who has risen. Let us enter into the spiritual climate of the holy Triduum, allowing ourselves to be led by her.

With these sentiments, I express my heartfelt wishes to all for a peaceful and holy Easter.