The Basilica of Saint Anthony in Padua will join in celebrating Sunday of the Word of God on 25 January. This initiative was spearheaded by Pope Francis in his effort to place the Holy Scriptures at the centre of life along with the Eucharist.
The celebration in the Basilica at 11.00am will include a special ritual: the enthronement and the incensing of the Gospel. Moreover, during the whole celebration in the presbytery, the Gospel will remain exposed.
The biblical expression chosen for the celebration of the seventh edition of the Sunday of the Word of God is taken from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians: “The word of Christ dwells among you” (3:16). What we have received from the Apostle is not a simple moral exhortation, but the indication of a new way of living. Paul does not ask that the Word be merely listened to or studied; he wants it to dwell, that is, to take up stable residence, to shape our thoughts, guide our desires, and make credible the witness of the disciples. The Word of Christ remains a sure criterion that unifies and renders fruitful the life of the Christian community.
After the Holy Year, this motto remains for us a precious inheritance: an invitation addressed to the whole Church to place the Gospel once more at the centre, since every true renewal is born from docile listening to the Word. To welcome it means allowing ourselves to be accompanied by the One who does not deceive, because He gives life and hope. To be inhabited by the Word ultimately means permitting Christ to speak even today through our lives, so that every person may recognize His presence, which continues to illuminate the journey of history.
(H.E. archbishop Rino Fisichella, Pro-Prefect of the Dicastery for Evangelization, Section for Fundamental Questions regarding Evangelization in the World)
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