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Dear Friends and Members of Opus Angelorum,

Having recently returned from the General Chapter of the Order in Austria, I wish to share with you some joyful news. First of all, a new Prior General of the Order, Fr. Joachim Welz, ORC, was elected. The Prior General is the competent authority over Opus Angelorum. Fr. Joachim is originally from Austria, holds a doctorate in canon law and has already served many years on the General Council of the Order. (Besides his other more significant, though perhaps less interesting qualifications, he was at one time the lightweight boxing champion of Austria!) We ask your prayers as he begins his so very important task and ministry.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI sent an encouraging message to the General Chapter meeting on January 8th through the mediation of his Secretary of State and the Apostolic Nuncio for Austria. We wish to share it with you also, as it contains a papal blessing for all the members of the Work of the Holy Angels:

...The Holy Father has charged me to assure the participants of the Chapter as well as the other members of the Order of his spiritual closeness and to convey to them all his greetings of best wishes. “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” Jesus teaches us to pray. He has made the angels messengers of his saving plan and “fellow servants” of those “who hold fast to the testimony of Jesus” and “keep the word of God” (cf. Apoc 19:10 and 22:9).

In the face of the challenges of our times and the tribulations which every individual experiences in his life, it is salutary to recall the powerful help and solicitous guidance of the holy angels who “work together for the benefit of us all” (cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 350). May they accompany the family of the Opus Angelorum, so that with prayer and apostolic zeal it may serve the unceasing sanctification of the entire People of God. At the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Queen of Angels,

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI cordially imparts the requested Apostolic Blessing to the Canons Regular of the Holy Cross, to the aggregated Community of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and to the members of the Work of the Holy Angels.

+ Tarcisio Cardinal Bertone
Secretary of State of His Holiness

The Cardinal reminds us that “in the face of the challenges of our times and the tribulations which every individual experiences in his life” we have always at our disposal “the powerful help and solicitous guidance of the holy angels”. This is for us both a confirmation of our Work and a commission to implore the holy angels even more fervently, “so that with prayer and apostolic zeal it may serve the unceasing sanctification of the entire People of God.”

May God bless you all and lead you during this Lenten Season through His holy angels along the paths of His holy will.

Fr. Wolfgang Seitz, ORC, Director