CASTEL GANDOLFO, JULY
23 (www.ZENIT.org).-
To enjoy a few days of holiday is more necessary than ever in "present
day society, which is so frenetic and competitive, in which the logic
of production and profit predominate, not infrequently to the detriment
of the person," John Paul II said at noon today, when he
met several thousand pilgrims and residents of Castel Gandolfo,
his summer residence, some 20 miles outside Rome, where he will reside
for the rest of the summer.
Children's joy and laughter accompanied the Pope as he left the Aosta
Valley yesterday, where he spent 12 days of rest, in the heart of the
Italian Alps. "Now I am here again among you,
Brothers and Sisters of Castel Gandolfo, whom I am always so happy to
see again," the suntanned and happy Holy Father said, before praying
the "Angelus" with all those present.
The Pope will now continue his ordinary activities in Castel Gandolfo.
However, because of the Jubilee and his numerous engagements, his stay
will be shorter than other years. Therefore, he said with a smile that
he had "greater reason to appreciate these weeks that the Lord
is granting me to spend among you."
Recovery of Interior Balance
The Bishop of Rome dedicated his meeting with pilgrims to talk, specifically,
about vacations, "adequate periods of rest, in which to recover
energy and, at the same time, rediscover the right internal balance."
Holidays must be used wisely, because "they are beneficial to the
individual and family, thanks to contact with nature, tranquility, the
greater opportunity to cultivate family harmony, good reading, and healthy
recreational activity; and, above all, thanks to the possibility to
dedicate yourself primarily to prayer, contemplation, and listening
to God."
Gospel Value
Although a papal encyclical has not been written on vacations, Christ
himself spoke about the importance of rest in the Gospel. The Holy Father
recalled that when the Apostles had returned from their first mission,
Jesus told them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and
rest a while." "Exhausted from their incessant activity in
the midst of the people, every so often, Jesus and the disciples felt
the need for a time of rest." Although the evangelist says
that the crowds interrupted that "need for a time of rest,"
the Pontiff said that, nevertheless, "the value of rest remains
and the need to use free time for healthy physical and especially spiritual
relaxation."
Therefore, before bidding farewell, the Pope wished "all those
on holiday a good and profitable vacation," and he prayed for those
"who, for various reasons, do not have the opportunity to leave
their usual occupations and ordinary routine."
Ready for a break?
Why not take a trip with the Envoy crew?
