Maria, ster van de evangelisatie

God’s “concern” for every human being, shown especially by the protection of guardian angels, was one of the focal points of Pope Benedict XVI’s remarks to the faithful gathered for the Sunday Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square. The Pope also discussed this Sunday's Gospel, noting that the reading from the 21^st chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew, “closes with a particularly severe warning from Jesus, addressed to the chief priests and elders of the people: Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit. (Matt. 21.43).”

The following are some questions from journalists who were present on the papal flight to Madrid. 

Q. - Holiness, welcome among us, thanks a lot - as usual - for giving us the opportunity for a brief meeting during the outbound flight. The "flying community" of journalists here, is composed of 56 people from many different countries, but the journalists who await you in Madrid number more than 4 000, in fact there are almost 5 000. This is a record for Spain and also for the coverage of a world event. We will make it our duty, of course, to give an adequate echo to your words during this wonderful event. As usual, I propose a few questions that I have been given in the past days by the journalists present here. 

Pope Benedict XVI arrives in Madrid, Spain, Thursday on his 20th Apostolic voyage outside Italy. It is his third trip to the country and it marks the culmination of World Youth Day events currently underway in the Spanish capital. He is due to touch down in Barajas International airport at midday, where he will be officially welcomed by the head of State King Juan Carlos. Later Thursday evening he will be welcomed again to the city, but this time by the estimated one million young people waiting eagerly for his arrival. Emer McCarthy is there and sends us this report:

“An extraordinary book of prayers, in which God himself teaches Christians how to turn to Him”: This is how Pope Benedict XVI described the Book of Psalms, the focus of his general audience catechesis Wednesday, as he continued his series of lessons on Christian prayer. 

The Holy Father told the thousands of pilgrims and visitors to St Peter’s Square : "In our catechesis on Christian prayer, we have looked to a number of Old Testament figures who represent models of prayer. We now turn to the great “prayerbook” of sacred Scripture: the Book of Psalms. These inspired songs teach us how to speak to God, expressing ourselves and the whole range of our human experience with words that God himself has given us. Despite the diversity of their literary forms, the Psalms are generally marked by the two interconnected dimensions of humble petition and of praise addressed to a loving God who understands our human frailty”. 

Only one Roman rite in two forms, ancient and modern. This is Benedict XVI's prescription to heal a liturgical disorder that has become "hard to bear." For those who don't believe it, a new document has been released with the instructions 

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