Acta Benedicti Pp. XVI 217

holiness, charity and truth, and to draw inspiration from the riches of a great

religious and cultural tradition. In our increasingly secularized society, where

even we Christians often find it difficult to speak of the transcendent dimen-

sion of our existence, we need to find new ways to pass on to young people the

beauty and richness of friendship with Jesus Christ in the communion of his

Church. In confronting the present crisis, measures to deal justly with indi-

vidual crimes are essential, yet on their own they are not enough: a new

vision is needed, to inspire present and future generations to treasure the

gift of our common faith. By treading the path marked out by the Gospel, by

observing the commandments and by conforming your lives ever more clo-

sely to the figure of Jesus Christ, you will surely experience the profound

renewal that is so urgently needed at this time. I invite you all to persevere

along this path.

13. Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, it is out of deep concern for all of

you at this painful time in which the fragility of the human condition has

been so starkly revealed that I have wished to offer these words of encour-

agement and support. I hope that you will receive them as a sign of my

spiritual closeness and my confidence in your ability to respond to the chal-

lenges of the present hour by drawing renewed inspiration and strength from

Ireland's noble traditions of fidelity to the Gospel, perseverance in the faith

and steadfastness in the pursuit of holiness. In solidarity with all of you, I am

praying earnestly that, by God's grace, the wounds afflicting so many indi-

viduals and families may be healed and that the Church in Ireland may

experience a season of rebirth and spiritual renewal.

14. I now wish to propose to you some concrete initiatives to address

the situation.

At the conclusion of my meeting with the Irish bishops, I asked that Lent

this year be set aside as a time to pray for an outpouring of God's mercy and

the Holy Spirit's gifts of holiness and strength upon the Church in your

country. I now invite all of you to devote your Friday penances, for a period

of one year, between now and Easter 2011, to this intention. I ask you to

offer up your fasting, your prayer, your reading of Scripture and your works

of mercy in order to obtain the grace of healing and renewal for the Church in

Ireland. I encourage you to discover anew the sacrament of Reconciliation

and to avail yourselves more frequently of the transforming power of its

grace.