BEATIFICATION OF FR. JACQUES LAVAL, C.S.S.P.
AND  FR. FRANCIS COLL, O.P.

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

29 April 1979

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

1. Alleluia! Alleluia! On this third Sunday of Easter, our paschal joy is expressed as an echo of the overflowing joy of the Apostles who, from the first day, recognized the Risen Christ. On Easter evening, "Jesus himself stood among them". "See my hands and my feet". He invited them to touch him with their hands. And he ate before their eyes (cf. Lk 24:36, 39, 40). Amazed and slow to believe, the Apostles recognized him at last: "The disciples were glad when they saw the Lord" (Jn 20:20; Lk 24:41); and now no one could take their joy from them (cf. Jn 16:22), or silence their testimony (cf. Acts 4:20). A few moments earlier, the hearts of the disciples of Emmaus were also burning within them while Jesus spoke to them on the way and explained the Scriptures to them; and they too had recognized him at the breaking of bread (cf. Lk 24:32, 35).

VISIT TO THE ROMAN PARISH OF "SAN PANCRAZIO"

HOLY MASS

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Sunday, 22 April 1979

1. Today we are following in the footsteps of a very ancient tradition of the Church, that of the second Sunday of Easter, called "in Albis", which is bound up with the liturgy of Easter and particularly with the liturgy of the Easter Vigil. This Vigil, as its modern form also testifies, represented a great day for catechumens, who, during the night of Easter, by means of baptism, were buried together with Christ in death in order to be able to walk in a new life, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father (cf. Rom 6:4).

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION WITH A GROUP OF DEACONS

HOMILY OF JOHN PAUL II

Cappella Paolina
Saturday, 21 April 1979

Dearly beloved Deacons,

IN THE LONG HISTORY of the Church in Rome, it is not uncommon to see deacons associated with the Pope in his ministry, to see deacons at his side. And this morning it is a special joy for me to be surrounded by deacons, as our relationship – our ecclesial communion – reaches its highest expression in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

EASTER VIGIL

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Vatican Basilica
Holy Saturday, 14 April 1979

1. The word "death" sticks in one's throat. Although humanity has, during so many generations, become accustomed in a way to the reality of death and to its inevitability, it is, however, something overwhelming every time.

CHRISM MASS

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Basilica of St Peter
Holy Thursday, 12 April 1979

1. Today, on the threshold of his Holy Triduum, we wish in a particular way to profess our faith in Christ, in him whose passion we must renew in the spirit of the Church, so that all “shall look on him whom they have pierced" (Jn 19:37), and the present generation of the earth's inhabitants bewail and lament him (cf. Lk 23:27). This is the Christ: he in whom God comes to mankind as Lord of history: "I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is and who was and who is to come” (Rev. 1:8).

MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

Basilica of St. John Lateran
Holy Thursday, 12 April 1979

1. The "hour" of Jesus has come. The hour of his passage from this world to the Father. The beginning of the Holy Triduum. The Easter mystery is again clothed, as every year, by its liturgical aspect, beginning with this mass which—alone during the year—bears the name of "Coena Domini".

PALM SUNDAY

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

8 April 1979

1. During next week, the liturgy wishes to be strictly obedient to the succession of events. Precisely the events which took place in Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago decide that this is Holy Week, the Week of the Lord's Passion.

EASTER MASS FOR THE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS OF ROME

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

5 April 1979

1. "I have earnestly desired to eat this passover with you!" (Lk 22:15).

These words of Christ's come into my mind today, as we meet together round the altar of St Peter's Basilica to take part in the celebration of the Eucharist. Right from the beginning, since I have been granted the privilege of standing at this altar, I have greatly desired to meet you, young people studying at the University and colleges of this city. I missed you, University students of the Pope's diocese. I had the desire, let me tell you, to feel you near. I have been accustomed to such meetings for years. In the period of Lent—and also of Advent—I often had the privilege of finding myself in the midst of University students in Krakow, on the occasion of the closing of the spiritual exercises which gathered thousands of participants. On this day I meet you. I greet cordially all of you here present. And in you and through you I greet all your fellow students, your Professors, researchers, your faculties, organizations, and those in charge of your circles. I greet the whole of "academic" Rome.

PASTORAL VISIT TO THE ROMAN PARISH OF SAN BONAVENTURA

HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II

1 April 1979

"Sir, we wish to see Jesus" (Jn 12:21).

1. This is what the people who had come to Jerusalem from various parts said to Philip, who was from Bethsaida. When people from the various parts of Italy arrived here, in this place, bordering on great Rome, where until some time ago there was only the country, they seemed to say the same thing: We want to see Christ in our midst! We want him to live with us; we want his house to rise here. We hardly know one another. We want him to make us acquainted with one another, to make us approach one another, so that we will no longer be strangers, but become a community...