VATICAN CITY (CNS): Contemplating Christ nailed to the cross should stimulate people to protect human dignity and “to fight every form of contempt for life”, Pope Benedict XVI says in his 2007 message for Lent.
“May Lent be for every Christian a renewed experience of God’s love given to us in Christ, a love that each day we, in turn, must ‘regive’ to our neighbour, especially to the one who suffers most and is in need,” the Pope says.
The theme of the message is “They shall look on him whom they have pierced”.
Using the Greek words “agape” and “eros”, the papal message says that love has two fundamental forms.
Agape “indicates the self-giving love of one who looks exclusively for the good of the other”.
Eros “denotes the love of one who desires to possess what he or she lacks and (eros) yearns for union with the beloved”, he says.
While agape better describes God’s love for humanity “God’s love is also eros”, the Pope says.
Christ on the cross shows “a love in which eros and agape, far from being opposed, enlighten each other”.
Lent is a time when Christians should welcome the love of Christ and “spread it around us with every word and deed”, the Pope says.
