Benedict XVI's Address after "The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc"

Here is an English translation of Pope Benedict XVI's address at the conclusion of the performance of Charles Péguy's "The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc" Saturday evening at Castel Gandolfo.  The Holy Father spoke in French, and the Vatican website provides the text of his address in French and  translated into Italian.  There is more information in my post from Saturday, and at Amy Welborn's Open Book.  Other translations are available online from Teresa Benedetta, at the Papa Ratzinger Forum and at the Vatican website, and Zenit has an adaptation of the Vatican translation.  Here is my translation (done before I had the others):

Performance of Charles Péguy’s work, “The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc.

Address by Pope Benedict XVI

Apostlolic palace of Castel Gandolfo
Saturday, August 19, 2006.

Dear friends,

As we conclude this remarkable performance of “The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc” that you have given me this evening, I warmly thank Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco, as well as the Archdiocese of Monaco, who are the source of this successful venture, for which I am appreciative.  I also cordially greet the ambassador of the Principality of Monaco to the Holy See, and the other dignitaries in attendance.

Charles Péguy’s work, which was just performed for us by three very talented actresses, led us to the discovery of Joan of Arc’s soul, and to the roots of her vocation.  Through a profound reflection on themes that are present today in the thought of our contemporaries, we were let into the heart of the Christian Mystery.  In this text of great richness, Péguy powerfully conveys the cry that Joan passionately sent up to God, entreating Him to put an end to the misery and suffering that she saw around her, thus expressing the anxiety of man and his search for happiness.  The remarkable interpretation of “The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc” that we were given, also showed us that the pathetic cry of Joan, that expresses her grief and her distress, shows most of all her ardent and lucid faith, marked by hope and by courage.  Taking us still deeper into the meditation, Péguy lets us see within the “Mystery”, the Passion of Christ, which finally gives direction to the prayer of the young women whose strength of soul can only move us.

The performance of this work before us this evening seems to me to be an exceptional opportunity.  Indeed, in the international context that we know today, facing the dramatic events of the Middle East, before situations of suffering caused by violence in numerous regions of the world, Charles Péguy’s message conveyed in “The Mystery of the Charity of Joan of Arc”, remains a source of very profitable reflection.  May God hear the prayer of the saint of Domrémy, and ours, and give to our world the peace for which we long!

I would like to express my gratitude to the director, who was able to develop the essential elements of Charles Péguy’s masterpiece with great discretion.  I heartily congratulate the artists who gave us a high quality interpretation, bringing to the text not only their talent, their “trade” of acting, but their true interiority, drawing us into the feelings of the characters they brought to life before us.

My recognition also goes to the technicians and to everyone who took part in the production of this performance, which we will keep as a pleasant memory.

At the end of this beautiful evening, may Saint Joan of Arc help us to enter ever more profoundly into the mystery of Christ, there to discover the path to life and happiness!  For all of you, I heartily implore an abundance of the Lord’s Blessings.