But, to reawaken in the hearts "a will of prayer, conversion and penance", one must relive the experience of the apostle John, who, "along with Mary", on the Calvary, "was the eye witness of the spear stroke that pierced through Christ’s chest, making blood and water gush out of it". "That gesture, committed by a nameless Roman soldier, doomed to fall into oblivion said the Pope , made a lasting impression in the eyes and in the heart of the apostle, who spoke about it in his Gospel", and "through the centuries these conversions happened just because of the revealing message of love that is received by those who turn their eyes to Jesus Crucified". Finally, an invocation to the Virgin, "to obtain for us the gift of a firm faith. By guiding us through the Lenten journey, may She help us leave all that distracts us from listening to Christ and to His word of salvation". Also to Jesus’ Mother, the Pope entrusted the Week of Spiritual Exercises, that began yesterday afternoon in the Vatican, practised by Benedict XVI and his collaborators from the Roman Curia. "Dear brothers and sisters concluded the Holy Father , I ask you to see us through this journey with your prayers that I will gladly reciprocate in the meditation of my retreat, invoking God’s power onto all of you, on your families and on your communities". The Spiritual Exercises will end on Saturday 3rd March.
