Published on April 19, 2011
in 2011.
On 17th March 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea, made this statement from the Vatican.
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We have seen the dramatic images of buildings shaking and collapsing for the most powerful earthquake followed by the devastating tsunami that hit the Northern Japan only a few days ago. It is still early to realize the magnitude of the tragedy, entire cities are destroyed, hundreds of people are dead and ten of thousands are displaced. I do not have words to express my solidarity to all the people affected by this tragedy and I assure them that they are in my thoughts and prayers.
The government emergency and rescue response has being immediate and it will continue for weeks and months. However, I understand that facing this immense catastrophe even a technological advanced and developed country like Japan needs assistance to rebuild the lives of broken families and communities.
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Published on April 19, 2011
in 2011.
Il-Liturġija tkellimna
Bdejna ġimgħa partikulari li għandi nifhem tqanqlilna diversi mistoqsijiet, uħud anqas important u oħrajn aktar serji. Hemm min jistaqsi jekk f’soċjetà sekularizzata bħal tagħna, għadux jagħmel sens li nagħmlu dawn iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet! X’sens hemm li din il-ġimgħa tibqa’ mgħobbija b’hafna pageants? Forsi aħjar jinqatgħu?
Hemm min iqanqal il-mistoqsija dwar x’inhi s-sustanza ta’ dawn il-jiem: it-teatrini u l-paegeants jew il-misteru li aħna sejrin nieqfu biex nirriflettu dwaru u niċċelebraw?
Imbagħad hemm domandi ferm aktar serji: Għaliex din it-tbatija? X’inhi r-risposta tagħna quddiem il-misteru tal-ħażen?
Fuq kollox imbagħad hemm mistoqsija fundamentali – dik il-mistoqsija li għamel il-poplu li kien jgħammar f’Ġerusalemm meta Kristu daħal fil-belt u kien milqugħ bil-palm u ż-żebbuġ: “Dan min hu?”. Naħseb li nkunu qed nitilfu l-okkażjoni jekk matul dawn il-jiem tal-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa, l-ewwel nett aħna ma nqanqlux dawk id-domandi, jekk dawk id-domandi nifgawhom ġewwa fina, u jekk aħna ma nagħmlux din id-domanda fundamentali: “Min hu l-imsallab?”.
Jeħtieġ insiru nafu aktar lil Ġesù!
Minkejja l-għarfien u l-konvinzjonijiet anke reliġjużi li għandna, għadna ’l bogħod mill-verità. Madwarna hemm ħafna x’jista’ jikkonfermali li aħna ma nafux min hu Ġesù Kristu. Il-konoxxenza li għandna ta’ Ġesù hija fqira ħafna. Nerġa’ ngħid, ikun żball kbir għall-komunità Nisranija u għas-soċjetà in ġenerali jekk f’dawn it-tmint ijiem, mil-lum sa bħal-lum ġimgħa, il-liturġija li niċċelebraw u l-manifestazzjonijiet reliġjużi li għandna madwarna ma jqanqlux f’kull wieħed u waħda minna, kbar u żgħar, il-mistqosija: “Min hu Ġesù Kristu?” Din hi d-domanda li għandha tqajjimna minn ċerta telqa u bruda spiritwali.
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On 17th March 2011, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, which is responsible for the overall direction of the Apostleship of the Sea, made this statement from the Vatican.
