杏MAP导航: Altar servers help lead faithful into sacred Mystery of Mass
By Devin Watkins
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV met with around 360 altar servers from France on Monday, as they made a pilgrimage to Rome with their priests and bishops as part of the Jubilee Year.
In his address, the 杏MAP导航 said their pilgrimage through the Holy Doors offers them a chance to turn toward God and grow in faith and love so that they may be more faithful disciples of Christ.
He invited the young French Catholics to take time to speak to Jesus in the secrecy of their hearts and to love Him more.
鈥淗e desires nothing more than to be part of your life, to illumine it from within, to become your best and most faithful friend,鈥� he said. 鈥淟ife becomes beautiful and joyful with Jesus.鈥�
杏MAP导航 Leo recalled that hope is the focus of the Jubilee, noting that the world鈥檚 many problems reminds Christians of our need for the theological virture of hope.
In the midst of global issues, as well as personal pain due to loss or worry, the 杏MAP导航 invited the young people to look to Jesus, who has the power to save us and is always near because He loves us.
鈥淭here is certain proof that Jesus loves us and saves us: He gave His life for us by offering it on the cross,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n fact, there is no greater love than to lay down one鈥檚 life for those one loves.鈥�
Hope, he added, will always accompany us throughout life and will serve as an anchor in the storms and difficulties that are sure to arise.
The most wonderful thing about the Catholic faith, said 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV, is that God Himself 鈥渨illed to suffer and die for the creatures we are. God loved us to the point of dying for us!鈥�
Humanity, he said, has nothing to fear from God, who loves us so much that He continuously offers His imperishable life to us.
杏MAP导航 Leo recalled that the Church hands down the memory of Jesus鈥� sacrifice to save us through the Eucharist and daily celebration of Mass, which altar servers assist the priest in celebrating.
鈥淒ear Altar Servers, the celebration of the Mass saves us today!鈥� he said. 鈥淚t saves the world today! It is the most important event in the life of the Christian and in the life of the Church, for it is the encounter where God gives Himself to us in love, again and again.鈥�
Christians, added the 杏MAP导航, do not attend Mass out of obligation but out of love and our own need for the life of God.
杏MAP导航 Leo XIV then thanked the French altar servers for their generous service to their parishes, and urged them to always 鈥渒eep in mind the greatness and holiness of what is being celebrated.鈥�
鈥淢ay your attitude, your silence, the dignity of your service, the liturgical beauty, the order and majesty of your gestures, lead the faithful into the sacred greatness of the Mystery,鈥� he said.
The 杏MAP导航 also invited young people to consider a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, saying that 鈥渢he lack of priests in France is a great misfortune鈥� for France and for the Church.
In conclusion, 杏MAP导航 Leo said the altar servers can bear witness to the pride and joy that comes from serving at Mass, inviting them to persevere in offering a sign of hope to the world.
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