Church/Society: Easter announcement of life “needs to resonate in this world where the signs of death are increasing”, says bishop of Vila Real

«The new life born at Christ’s Easter has come to us and it would be desirable for its consequences to become more manifest in the life of the world» – D. António Augusto Azevedo

Vila Real, March 23, 2024 (Ecclesia) – The bishop of Vila Real points out that Easter’s proclamation of life “needs to echo in this world where signs of death are increasing”, and warns of weapons, hunger, disease and climate change.

“The Easter announcement resonates today as a call for peace, a challenge to solidarity, a commitment to the defense of human life and dignity. Celebrating Easter is reaffirming the conviction that another path that promotes a fuller life for each and everyone is possible and urgent”, writes D. António Augusto Azevedo in the message for Easter.

In the document, sent to the ECCLESIA Agency, the bishop of Vila Real notes that the new life born at Christ’s Easter has reached the present day and “it would be desirable” for its consequences “to become more manifest in the life of the world”, because Easter means, first of all, passage from death to life, “beginning of a new time”.

“This proclamation of life needs to echo in this world where signs of death are increasing, caused by increasingly sophisticated and lethal weapons, by hunger and disease that affect entire populations, by diseases or by cataclysms, these as a result, in the in whole or in part, from climate change to which human action is not unrelated.”

D. António Augusto Azevedo states that faith is an act of freedom, “ratified in baptism”, therefore, the appreciation and promotion of freedom is at the root of being a Christian – “it constitutes a cause from which we are not exempted” – but , he adds, that modernity has made freedom “one of its great flags”.

“From freedom of conscience to civil liberties, there have been many advances despite, more recently, beginning to see some setbacks. We have noted, with concern, the growth of authoritarian regimes and little-scrutinized powers, the expansion of the web of bureaucracy and forms of control over citizens, without forgetting the violation of their basic rights”, he explains.

The bishop of Vila Real highlights that, faithful to the Easter spirit, “the Christian has an appreciation and commitment to freedom”, a freedom understood in its fullest sense, “that which is based on truth and dignifies the person”.

In the message entitled ‘Proclaim life, renew hope’, the bishop of Vila Real begins by explaining that Easter celebrates “the central event of Christianity, the one that had the greatest impact on history”, the resurrection of Jesus, the dead Nazarene on a cross on the outskirts of Jerusalem, “constitutes the cornerstone of the Christian faith”.

“The annual celebration of this feast focuses us on the essentials of the Christian faith. Every Easter we are invited to proclaim with renewed joy that Jesus has risen and is alive among us. The effects of this presence never cease to be manifested in the daily life of the Church and of each Christian”, he points out.

D. António Augusto Azevedo recalls that the news of the resurrection, on the third day, “proclaimed by some women and the group of disciples”, spread throughout the city and throughout Judea, later, this announcement spread to Asia Minor , to Greece, later to Europe and the world.

“I would like the good news of the resurrection of Jesus, proclaimed this Easter, to cause the same enthusiasm in all hearts and the same jolt of newness that the world needs.”

The Bishop of Vila Real, this Easter, invites “all diocesans to welcome the new life, joy and peace” that the Resurrected Jesus grants, and animated by the Spirit, they will walk together, “renewing the dream of building a more Easterly Church, fraternal and welcoming”: “And we will enthusiastically assume the commitment to communicate a message of authentic hope to the world.”

CB