First Sermon of Advent

On Friday morning, 2 December, in the Paul vi Hall, the Preacher of the Papal Household, Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, o.f.m . Cap., held the first Sermon of Advent on the theme: “Lift up your heads, O gates; be lifted up, you ancient portals” (Ps 24:7-8). Faith, Hope and Charity: the three doors to open to Christ who is coming.

In his sermon Cardinal Cantalamessa highlighted the importance of the theological virtue of faith in our Christian journey, and urges the faithful to go to meet Christ, who comes with an act of faith that is a promise of God and a prophecy.

Focusing on the door of faith, the Cardinal noted that God opens the door to us by sending those who preach the good news. Man, in turn, opens the door of faith by accepting this possibility. Thus, with the coming of Christ, there is “a leap in quality with regard to faith” — not in its nature, but in its content — as it is no longer a question of generic faith in God, but of faith in Christ, who was born, died and rose for us.