Climb the Mountain of Holiness
Saint Pope John Paul II
On July 16th, 2000, the Holy Father led the recitation of the Angelus. Joining him were the faithful at Les Combes in Italy’s Valle d ’Aosta region, where he has been staying. Taking his theme from the liturgical memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, the Pope urged his listeners to ask the Blessed Virgin to “help us tirelessly climb towards the summit of the mountain of holiness. May she help us love nothing more than Christ. who reveals to the world the mystery of divine love and true human dignity”. Here is a translation of his reflection, which was given in Italian.
. . . Holiness
I thank the Lord who this year has again offered me the opportunity to spend a period of rest in this stupendous mountain setting, which calls to mind the majestic presence of God.
I wish thank the Bishop of Aosta, the President of the Council and Board of Valle d’Aosta. My thanks to all the people of this region, which is dear to me. Thank you for their invitation and their welcome, as cordial as it is every year. I express my special gratitude to the Salesians, who always show me great hospitality, as well as to those who each day ensure that my collaborators and I will have a peaceful stay. Here, among the pleasant woods and valleys, the body is restored. And the Sprit can be more devoted to refection and contemplation.
As I look at these mountains, my thoughts turn today to Mount Carmel, praised in the Bible for its beauty. We are, in fact, celebrating the Feast of Our Lady Mount Carmel. On that mountain located in Israel near Haifa, the holy prophet Elijah strenuously defended the integrity and purity of the chosen people’s faith in the living God. On that same mountain some hermits gathered in the 12th century after Christ and dedicated themselves to contemplation and penance. The Carmelite Order arose from their spiritual experience.
Fulfilling Our Vocation
Walking with the Blessed Virgin, the model of complete fidelity to the Lord, we will fear no obstacles or difficulties. Supported by her motherly intercession, like Elijah we will be able to fulfill our vocation as authentic “prophets” of the Gospel in our time.
Today’s liturgy for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary time urges us to make this ascetic and apostolic effort. It invites us to follow the example of the prophet Amos and Apostles. They who were chosen by the Lord to cooperate in his work of salvation.
May Our Lady of Mount Carmel, whom we call upon today with special devotion, help us tirelessly climb towards the summit of the mountain of holiness; may she help us love nothing more than Christ, who reveals to the world the mystery of divine love and true human dignity.
O.R. 7/16/2000
John Paul II
