Christ as the truth was highlighted at a Mass Bishop McManus celebrated for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI at St. Paul Cathedral.
The bishop celebrated the cathedral’s 12:10 p.m. Mass on Jan. 5, the day the retired pope’s funeral was held at the Vatican.
Participating in the Mass were Archbishop Michael W. Banach, a Worcester diocesan priest who is apostolic nuncio to Hungary; about a dozen other priests, and permanent deacons, servers, musicians and a congregation of about 60.
Prayers were offered for the late pope and all who have died; for the present pope, Pope Francis, to shepherd the Church in charity and truth; for vocations to the priesthood, that young men will be inspired by Pope Benedict’s example; and that the Church of Worcester be guided by truth.
In his homily, Bishop McManus said those present had gathered to fulfill spiritual responsibilities the Church calls for when any Catholic dies. Thursday’s Mass was offered for Pope Benedict, asking God to give him a merciful judgement and welcome him to heaven; to affirm our faith in Christ’s resurrection, and to comfort one another with the assurance of faith, lest we grieve like people who have no hope, the bishop said.
Journalists, scholars and others have attempted to offer an insight or evaluation of the life of this pope who resigned to retreat to a life of prayer out of love for the Church he loved and served, Bishop McManus said.
He said he thinks the pope’s episcopal motto - “Cooperatores Veritatis” (Cooperators of the Truth) - is key to understanding his service.
As prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and as pope, Benedict repeatedly turned to Pope Paul VI’s teaching that the Church exists to evangelize the nations, Bishop McManus said. The Church does that in a post-Christian culture by consistently presenting Christ as the truth who can change our lives and lead us to heaven. The Church evangelizes by proposing Christ, the splendor of truth, so we can fall in love with him and introduce him to others as the answer to the most fundamental human questions, the bishop said.
Written a year after his election as pope, in a spiritual testament, Benedict asked people to pray for him, that, despite his sins and shortcomings, God would welcome him to his eternal abode, Bishop McManus said. The pope said he also prayed for those entrusted to him.
Bishop McManus then addressed the late pope, saying people here prayed and offered Mass for the repose of his soul, and asking for his prayers, so our final words might echo his: “Jesus, I love you.”