Acta Apostolicae Sedis - Commentarium Officiale618

continues, in the stark phrase of Pascal, to be in agony until the end of

the world.8

We see this aspect of the mystery of Christ's precious blood represented,

most eloquently, by the martyrs of every age, who drank from the cup which

Christ himself drank, and whose own blood, shed in union with his sacrifice,

gives new life to the Church. It is also reflected in our brothers and sisters

throughout the world who even now are suffering discrimination and perse-

cution for their Christian faith. Yet it is also present, often hidden in the

suffering of all those individual Christians who daily unite their sacrifices to

those of the Lord for the sanctification of the Church and the redemption of

the world. My thoughts go in a special way to all those who are spiritually

united with this Eucharistic celebration, and in particular the sick, the

elderly, the handicapped and those who suffer mentally and spiritually.

Here too I think of the immense suffering caused by the abuse of children,

especially within the Church and by her ministers. Above all, I express my

deep sorrow to the innocent victims of these unspeakable crimes, along with

my hope that the power of Christ's grace, his sacrifice of reconciliation, will

bring deep healing and peace to their lives. I also acknowledge, with you, the

shame and humiliation which all of us have suffered because of these sins; and

I invite you to offer it to the Lord with trust that this chastisement will

contribute to the healing of the victims, the purification of the Church and

the renewal of her age-old commitment to the education and care of young

people. I express my gratitude for the efforts being made to address this

problem responsibly, and I ask all of you to show your concern for the

victims and solidarity with your priests.

Dear friends, let us return to the contemplation of the great crucifix

which rises above us. Our Lord's hands, extended on the Cross, also invite

us to contemplate our participation in his eternal priesthood and thus our

responsibility, as members of his body, to bring the reconciling power of his

sacrifice to the world in which we live. The Second Vatican Council spoke

eloquently of the indispensable role of the laity in carrying forward the

Church's mission through their efforts to serve as a leaven of the Gospel in

society and to work for the advancement of God's Kingdom in the world.9

The Council's appeal to the lay faithful to take up their baptismal sharing in

Christ's mission echoed the insights and teachings of John Henry Newman.

8 Pensées, 553, éd. Brunschvicg. 9 Cfr. Lumen Gentium, 31; Apostolicam Actuositatem, 7.