Awali (Agenzia Fides) – “We celebrate Saint Arethas and Companions, we celebrate the conclusion of this jubilee year but above all we celebrate Jesus, the Risen One who opens the doors of Paradise revealing to us the love of God the Father and infuses us with the Holy Spirit to live now as children of God”. With these words Bishop Aldo Berardi, O.SS.T., Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia, addressed the thousands of faithful gathered today, October 25, for the closing of the jubilee year of Saint Arethas and Companions at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Arabia, Awali. After the emotional closing of the Holy Door, the long procession poured into the Cathedral of Awali for the mass celebrated by the Apostolic Vicar.
The conclusion of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Saint Arethas and Companions, inaugurated in October last year (see Fides, 24/10/2023), marks another significant milestone for the Church in the Arabian Peninsula. It was one of the most important celebrations of the Vicariate to commemorate the presence of the Christians in the 5th century in the Arabian Peninsula. This important occasion marked the conclusion of a year-long celebration dedicated to the life and legacy of Saint Arethas, venerated for his profound commitment to faith, celebrating his life, virtues and teachings.
“This Jubilee period was a blessing for the Vicariate, a true moment of grace that saw the succession of numerous pilgrimages, thousands of people passed through the two holy doors of the Vicariate, asking for graces, indulgences, blessings. They have made a true pilgrimage in the depths of their hearts with the desire to convert, to change, to follow Jesus more and more, who is Himself the Door,” said Berardi. “There is a veil of sadness for the closing of the Holy Door, but Jesus is the Door because He is life.”
The Church in the Arabian Peninsula expressed deep gratitude to the Holy Father for having designated this extraordinary Jubilee, which has reinvigorated the missionary spirit of the Church and provided an opportunity to reconnect with its ancient Christian roots.
“This Jubilee has been a blessing to understand that in our land, here in the Arabian Peninsula, we are part of the history of this community and we are walking in the footsteps of the first Christians, always respecting its traditions and beliefs,” said Bishop Berardi. “It has been an opportunity for us to discover our special vocation to bear witness to the truth of our faith. Often we cannot express ourselves but we can live, act according to our faith. It is essential for us to live our faith every day. Every day I must choose good, love, honesty. I am always a child of God and I must demonstrate daily that I am a believer.”
In conclusion, the Apostolic Vicar added: “we have discovered that being martyrs means being witnesses, just like the martyrs of Najran who did not deny Jesus, who is much more than a saint, a prophet, the son of God. We received this revelation from his Resurrection. The fact that we are gathered here today shows that we can do it with the love of God that changes our hearts. We are the people of God thanks to his sacrifice on the Cross and his resurrection.” Berardi urged the faithful to be witnesses of God and his beauty in their families, in their workplaces, in everyday life. He also remembered the many martyrs of today, the many populations who live in suffering.
*Original article posted on Fides: (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 25/10/2024)