Guest guest Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 Religions must work together to overcome hatred, Vatican says in message to Hindus 10/17/2006 UCANews (www.ucanews.com) VATICAN CITY (UCAN) – The Vatican has called on religions to work together toward "overcoming hatred with love," the theme of its message to Hindus on the occasion of their religious festival of Diwali. Advertisement Most of the world's 800 million Hindus celebrate the feast of Diwali on Oct. 21 this year. Diwali, or Deepavali, the Hindu festival of light, dates back to the ancient Vedic period, some 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. Hindus observe this festival, which celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, by lighting oil lamps. The annual message the Vatican issues for the occasion, released Oct. 16, was sent to Hindus worldwide by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue and signed by its president, Cardinal Paul Poupard. Msgr. Felix Machado, the Indian-born undersecretary of the pontifical council, explained the background to this year's message when he spoke with UCA News in Rome on Oct. 17. "We have taken the theme for this year's message from Pope Benedict's encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), because this seemed most appropriate in light of the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay (Mumbai), which brought death and destruction and shook up the national ethos," Msgr. Machado said. On July 11 in that Indian city, bombs ripped apart train carriages at several spots along a commuter line during the evening rush hour. In light of that tragedy and others like it around the world, Msgr. Machado said, "the question is how to overcome this hatred by love," because "at the root of the terrorist attacks is hatred, at the root of all violence is hatred, in other words the lack of love." The world is suffering because there is "so much poverty and hatred, but much of this can be overcome if religious people, like Hindus and Catholics, join forces together in love," he continued. Msgr. Machado said this year's 12th annual Diwali message recalls how the pope focused on the theme "God is love" in his encyclical because in today's world, "the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence." The pontifical council sent the message to bishops' conferences in India and countries where there are large Hindu populations – Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Indonesia, Mauritius, Singapore, the United States – as well as to Indian embassies in those countries and Hindu organizations. Following is the complete text of the English-language message: Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to the Hindus on the feast of Diwali 2006 Dear Hindu friends, 1. As people seeking for the Absolute you will pause for a short while on your spiritual journey and celebrate joyfully Deepavali, your ancient religious feast, which for you signifies the victory of truth over untruth, light over darkness, good over evil and life over death. On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue I wish Hindus all over the world a happy feast of Diwali. 2. The reality of love is closely connected to truth, light, goodness and life. I would like to reflect on this theme of love, through which believers of different religions are invited to overcome the evil of hatred and distrust in contemporary society. The recent terrorist bomb attacks in Mumbai, India, are yet another example of these phenomena which so often end in brutal violence. I am sure that, enriched in the light of our particular religious traditions, our resolve to invite all believers to overcome hatred by love will benefit society at large. My own reflection is inspired by the first Encyclical letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est (God is Love). The Pope wrote this letter, convinced that his message is both timely and significant "in a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence " (n. 1). 3. The importance and demands of love can be best learned from God who, the Christian faith professes, is Himself Love, and whose eternal Son, for love of us, became incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ. God is the source and fullness of all love. Our love for one another becomes worthy of its name only when it has its source in God and is nourished by our union with the same God. Blessed (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta, for example, constantly renewed her love of neighbour and her selfless service to the poor in her encounter with God in incessant daily prayer. 4. God loves us all without exception and his love is unconditional. Our human response to God's love must be spelt out in concrete stewardship of God's creatures, especially to human beings. It is urgent and necessary that believers of different religions manifest jointly to the world that hatred can be overcome by love. In today's complex societies, is it not possible for us to join hands and collaborate in seeking justice for all, working together on common projects, for the development of the downtrodden, the marginalised, the destitute, the orphan and the weak? "Despite the great advances made in science and technology, each day we see how much suffering there is in the world on account of different kinds of poverty, both material and spiritual" (Deus caritas est, n. 30). Moral and spiritual poverty, which are caused by breeding hatred in one's heart, can be eradicated by believers who are filled with love and compassion. Love creates trust, which in turn, promotes genuine relationships among believers of different religions. 5. His holiness Pope Benedict XVI ends his letter, Deus caritas est, with the following words: "Love is the light – and in the end, the only light – that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working" (n. 39). The pope's words obviously refer to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. However, these words can also draw your attention since for you the meaning of your feast, Diwali, is symbolized by light. May our love finally overcome the darkness of hatred in the world! Happy Diwali to you, my dear Hindu friends! Paul Cardinal Poupard, President - - - Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), the world's largest Asian church news agency (www.ucanews.com). http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php? id=21641 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 18, 2006 Report Share Posted October 18, 2006 With Love of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, I suppose. I remember Srila Prabhupada and Cardinal Danielou' encounter speaking about love and meat eating. This is not a message very relevant. - Vrndavan Parker vediculture Wednesday, October 18, 2006 5:59 AM [Courrier indésirable] [world-vedic] Vatican message to Hindus Religions must work together to overcome hatred, Vatican says in message to Hindus 10/17/2006 UCANews (www.ucanews.com) VATICAN CITY (UCAN) - The Vatican has called on religions to work together toward "overcoming hatred with love," the theme of its message to Hindus on the occasion of their religious festival of Diwali. Advertisement Most of the world's 800 million Hindus celebrate the feast of Diwali on Oct. 21 this year. Diwali, or Deepavali, the Hindu festival of light, dates back to the ancient Vedic period, some 2,000 years before the birth of Christ. Hindus observe this festival, which celebrates the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, by lighting oil lamps. The annual message the Vatican issues for the occasion, released Oct. 16, was sent to Hindus worldwide by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue and signed by its president, Cardinal Paul Poupard. Msgr. Felix Machado, the Indian-born undersecretary of the pontifical council, explained the background to this year's message when he spoke with UCA News in Rome on Oct. 17. "We have taken the theme for this year's message from Pope Benedict's encyclical Deus Caritas Est (God is Love), because this seemed most appropriate in light of the recent terrorist attacks in Bombay (Mumbai), which brought death and destruction and shook up the national ethos," Msgr. Machado said. On July 11 in that Indian city, bombs ripped apart train carriages at several spots along a commuter line during the evening rush hour. In light of that tragedy and others like it around the world, Msgr. Machado said, "the question is how to overcome this hatred by love," because "at the root of the terrorist attacks is hatred, at the root of all violence is hatred, in other words the lack of love." The world is suffering because there is "so much poverty and hatred, but much of this can be overcome if religious people, like Hindus and Catholics, join forces together in love," he continued. Msgr. Machado said this year's 12th annual Diwali message recalls how the pope focused on the theme "God is love" in his encyclical because in today's world, "the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence." The pontifical council sent the message to bishops' conferences in India and countries where there are large Hindu populations - Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Indonesia, Mauritius, Singapore, the United States - as well as to Indian embassies in those countries and Hindu organizations. Following is the complete text of the English-language message: Message of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue to the Hindus on the feast of Diwali 2006 Dear Hindu friends, 1. As people seeking for the Absolute you will pause for a short while on your spiritual journey and celebrate joyfully Deepavali, your ancient religious feast, which for you signifies the victory of truth over untruth, light over darkness, good over evil and life over death. On behalf of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue I wish Hindus all over the world a happy feast of Diwali. 2. The reality of love is closely connected to truth, light, goodness and life. I would like to reflect on this theme of love, through which believers of different religions are invited to overcome the evil of hatred and distrust in contemporary society. The recent terrorist bomb attacks in Mumbai, India, are yet another example of these phenomena which so often end in brutal violence. I am sure that, enriched in the light of our particular religious traditions, our resolve to invite all believers to overcome hatred by love will benefit society at large. My own reflection is inspired by the first Encyclical letter of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, Deus caritas est (God is Love). The Pope wrote this letter, convinced that his message is both timely and significant "in a world where the name of God is sometimes associated with vengeance or even a duty of hatred and violence " (n. 1). 3. The importance and demands of love can be best learned from God who, the Christian faith professes, is Himself Love, and whose eternal Son, for love of us, became incarnate in the Person of Jesus Christ. God is the source and fullness of all love. Our love for one another becomes worthy of its name only when it has its source in God and is nourished by our union with the same God. Blessed (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta, for example, constantly renewed her love of neighbour and her selfless service to the poor in her encounter with God in incessant daily prayer. 4. God loves us all without exception and his love is unconditional. Our human response to God's love must be spelt out in concrete stewardship of God's creatures, especially to human beings. It is urgent and necessary that believers of different religions manifest jointly to the world that hatred can be overcome by love. In today's complex societies, is it not possible for us to join hands and collaborate in seeking justice for all, working together on common projects, for the development of the downtrodden, the marginalised, the destitute, the orphan and the weak? "Despite the great advances made in science and technology, each day we see how much suffering there is in the world on account of different kinds of poverty, both material and spiritual" (Deus caritas est, n. 30). Moral and spiritual poverty, which are caused by breeding hatred in one's heart, can be eradicated by believers who are filled with love and compassion. Love creates trust, which in turn, promotes genuine relationships among believers of different religions. 5. His holiness Pope Benedict XVI ends his letter, Deus caritas est, with the following words: "Love is the light - and in the end, the only light - that can always illuminate a world grown dim and give us the courage needed to keep living and working" (n. 39). The pope's words obviously refer to Jesus Christ who is the light of the world. However, these words can also draw your attention since for you the meaning of your feast, Diwali, is symbolized by light. May our love finally overcome the darkness of hatred in the world! Happy Diwali to you, my dear Hindu friends! Paul Cardinal Poupard, President - - - Republished by Catholic Online with permission of the Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News), the world's largest Asian church news agency (www.ucanews.com). http://www.catholic.org/international/international_story.php? id=21641 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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