The Sixth Station:Veronica Wipes the Face of Jesus
My Jesus, where were all the hundreds of peoples whose bodies and souls were healed by you? Where were they when You needed someone to give You the least sign of comfort? Ingratitude must have borne down upon Your heart and made the cross nearly impossible to carry. There are times I too feel all my efforts for Your Kingdom are futile and end in nothingness. Did your eyes roam through the crowd for the comfort of just one individual - one sign of pity - one sign of grief?My heart thrills with a sad joy when I think of one woman, breaking away from fear and human respect and offeringYou her thin veil to wipe Your bleeding Face. Your loving heart, ever watching for the least sign of love, imprinted the Image of your torn Face upon it! How can You forget Yourself so completely and reward such a small act of kindness?I must admit, I have been among those who were afraid to know You rather than like Veronica. She did not care if the whole world knew she loved You. Heartbroken Jesus, give me that quality of the soul so necessary to witness to spread Your Word - to tell all people of Your love for them. Send many into Your Vineyard so the people of all nations may receive the Good News. Imprint Your Divine Image upon my soul and let the thin veil of my human nature bear a perfect resemblance to your loving Spirit.Amen
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Final Day of Pope's visit to Angola
The Pope said the suffering of Angolans was shared by many across the continent.
"This experience is all too familiar to Africa as a whole - the destructive power of civil strife, the descent into a maelstrom of hatred and revenge, the squandering of the efforts of generations of good people," he said.
"When God's word... is neglected, and when God's law is ridiculed, despised, laughed at, the result can only be destruction and injustice."
Attack on corruption
Huge crowds have turned out at every opportunity to see Pope Benedict during his stay in Angola, where Catholics account for some 55% of the population.
On Saturday, the Pope urged Catholics in Angola to encourage people "living in fear of spirits" into the Church.
He said Catholics should reach out to those who believed in witchcraft and spirits.
Human rights groups say children in Angola have suffered abuse after being accused of possession by spirits.
Earlier on his trip, the Pope launched a powerful attack on corruption, which analysts say is rife in oil-rich Angola.
The Pope arrived in Angola from Cameroon on Friday.
************************************
vmalpan@gmail.com
.JPG)