| I thank God for ineffable gift of
Jesus Christ
Holy Father recalls Moses and
the New Covenant sealed with the blood of Christ
After arrival ceremonies in Amman on Monday, 20 March,
the Holy Father went to the Memorial of Moses on Mount Nebo, 25
km. south-west of the Jordanian capital. According to tradition,
it was from here that Moses saw the Promised Land after leading
the Israelites through the desert for 40 years. Excavations,
under the direction of the studium Biblicum Franciscanum, have
brought to light many early Christian churches with splendid
mosaic floors. The Holy Father led a brief prayer service and
then greeted those present in English. Here is the text of his
remarks.
Fr Minister General,
Dear Friends,
Here on the heights of Mount Nebo I begin this stage of my
Jubilee Pilgrimage. I think of the great figure of Moses and the
Covenant which God made with him on Mount Sinai. I give
thanks to God for the ineffable gift of Jesus Christ, who sealed
the New Covenant with his blood and brought the Law to fulfilment.
To him who is "the Alpha and Omega, the first and the last,
the beginning and the end" (Rv 22:13), to him I dedicate
every step of this journey which I make through the Land which
was his.
On this first day, I am especially happy to greet you, Father
Minister General, and to pay tribute to the magnificent witness
given in this Land by the sons of St Francis through the
Custody’s faithful service in the holy places down the
centuries.
I am also pleased to greet the Governor of Madaba and the
Mayor of the city. May the blessings of the Almighty be upon the
people of the area! And may the peace of heaven fill the hearts
of all who join me on my pilgrim path!
Taken from:
L'Osservatore Romano
Weekly Edition in English
22 March 2000, page 1
L'Osservatore Romano
is the newspaper of the Holy See.
The Weekly Edition in English is published for the US by:
The Cathedral
Foundation
L'Osservatore Romano English Edition
320 Cathedral St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Subscriptions: (410) 547-5315
Fax: (410) 332-1069
lormail@catholicreview.org
|
