Christ must be the center of our lives, Pope Benedict XVI told Rome garbage collectors and street sweepers as he visited an enormous, always-expanding Nativity scene they erected in a city office.
Continuing a tradition begun by Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict visited the sanitation workers’ Nativity scene Jan. 5, making the short trip across the street from the Vatican walls.
In the presence of Rome’s mayor, Walter Veltroni, the pope first thanked the workers for keeping the area around St. Peter’s Square clean and tidy, enhancing the worship experience of visitors.
He then praised the faith and dedication that went into building the Nativity scene that, since 1972, has grown to include 95 houses and some 200 figures in addition to Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men.
The building materials include olive wood from Bethlehem and little chips of marble given to the street sweepers when the facade of St. Peter’s Basilica was cleaned and restored in preparation for the Holy Year 2000.
Springs, rivers and aqueducts run through the scene meant to represent Bethlehem 2,000 years ago, though some of the streets are paved with tiny “sanpietrini,” the cobblestones used throughout the center of Rome and named for St. Peter.
The pope told the sanitation workers, “Visiting the Nativity scene, especially this evening on the vigil of the solemnity of Epiphany, is like going again on pilgrimage to Bethlehem, to the holy grotto where the Redeemer was born.”
Pope Benedict said he hoped people would look at the scene and meditate on the fact that God became human to save all humanity.
“We can welcome him into our hearts and experience the joy of his sanctifying presence,” the pope said.
“However, it is not enough to stop and look,” he said. “Jesus must become the center of our entire lives. Yes, it is important that he is the guide of our daily journey and the ultimate, definitive goal of our earthly pilgrimage.” [Source]
5 comments
Jeff, you crack me up. When you come up with titles like that, do you ever sit at your computer and giggle?
POPEZILLA: new film by Salve Regina Studios. See the Giant Pontiff crush liberation theologians and Joan Chittister lookalikes (no resemblance to any person, living or dead, intended) …
I think Benedict could take Godzilla!
Alternate caption, with all due respect to B16..
“Ok…now just where did they hide that cannoli”
I am impressed that the Holy Father paid a visit to the garbagemen of Rome but I am disappointed that he didnt use the occassion to discourse upon
the theology of work. The what? This is based on
Laborem exercens as well as Genesis I. God created
and the He rested and created man as co-creator, creatures who will complete his work themselves.
The least menial job thereby acquires a nobility not to say divine purpose.
The lowest garbageman is God’s co-creator.
not just Mozart Michelangelo and Aquinas, but a humble physical labourer who is doing repetitive menial task.
So are by the way say housewives or almost any occupation you care to name.
This is the theology of work.
I personally also think that it is the eight or ninth sacrament, work. The other being old age.
Filling the gap between marriage or holy orders and extreme unction. Note I didnt write sacrament of the sick which is new age hokum, you dont have to be sick to die.
This to me was a great revelation as I was always unhappy with the nonsense about by the sweat of you brows bla bla bla.
Ora et labora both are good for you.
Work as a sacrament or as blessed by God or as
the aim and purpose of life which we know anyway intuitively and not a curse or a punishment at all.