Against the Grain has a new post titled Thoughts on Pope Benedict XVI's Spe Salvi ("Saved in Hope"). As always, Christopher Blosser provides links and information about articles and blog posts on the encyclical, providing a one-stop resource to find commentaries on the new encyclical.
The only source I would like to mention that is not included in that post is Abbot Joseph, whose post titled Spe Salvi at Word Incarnate I found quite inspiring.
On today's Feast of the Holy Family, the Holy Father specifically addressed those attending today's Celebration for the Christian Family in Madrid, as his words at the midday Angelus were broadcast live to those attending the pro-family, pro-life demonstration. Photographs of today's events in Madrid, as well as articles and the homily by the Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid (in Spanish) can be found on the event website. Thousands of people attended, filling the surrounding streets.
The Pope spoke about the importance of the family in the documents of Vatican II and in the thinking of Pope John Paul II. About half of his address was delivered in Spanish. In an apparent reference to the Spanish government's recent recognition of homosexual unions and elimination of religious instruction from the public schools, he said (Asia News translation):
"Thus, parents have the right and the fundamental obligation to raise their children in the faith and values which give dignity to human life. It is worthwhile working for the family and marriage because it is worthwhile working for the human being, God's most precious creature."
Full translations are available from the Vatican and Papa Ratzinger Forum. An article is available from Asia News.
For today's Feast of St. Stephen the Martyr, the Holy Father offered a reflection on the saint before praying the noonday Angelus. There was no Wednesday General Audience today.
Translations are available from the Vatican and Papa Ratzinger Forum. Articles about the address can be found from Catholic News Service and Asia News.
The Holy Father mentioned that today celebrates the "birth in heaven" of the first Christian martyr. The link that united Christ to Stephen, he said, was divine charity. Here is an excerpt:
"It is always necessary to notice this distinctive feature of Christian martyrdom: it is exclusively an act of love for God and for man, including persecutors. At holy Mass today, we therefore pray to the Lord that he who 'died praying for those who killed him, [may] help us to imitate his goodness and to love our enemies' (cf. Opening Prayer)."
In his reflection before praying the Angelus today, the Holy Father mentioned the new document on evangelization from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, known as "Doctrinal Note on Some Aspects of Evangelization." Speaking of the right of each Christian to spread the "good news" of the Gospel, returning what we have freely received, he said, "This is the true meaning of Christmas that we must always rediscover and live intensely."
An article with quotations is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
The Vatican website also provides the texts of addresses by Cardinal William Joseph Levada and Cardinal Francis Arinze at a press conference for the presentation of the document.
This post will be the first in a planned series of posts related to Pope Benedict XVI's new encyclical, Spe Salvi. This first post outlines the encyclical's statements as they relate to prayer and contemplation. It is not a full summary of the encyclical. Future posts will consider the encyclical's statements on some other issues.
For simplicity and clarification, quotations from Spe Salvi are in a different color from quotations from other documents quoted in this post.
1. We seek the Blessed Life, but we do not know what we should pray for as we ought.
Mentioning St. Augustine's letter to Proba on prayer, Pope Benedict mentioned that St. Augustine wrote that ultimately, we only want one thing: the blessed life, and yet St. Augustine also wrote that we do not know what this is. In this, Benedict said, Augustine is describing man's essential situation. Discussing this, the Holy Father wrote (Section 11):
"But then Augustine also says: looking more closely, we have no idea what we ultimately desire, what we would really like. We do not know this reality at all; even in those moments when we think we can reach out and touch it, it eludes us. 'We do not know what we should pray for as we ought,' he says, quoting Saint Paul (Rom 8:26)."
Also, in Section 12, the Holy Father wrote that this unknown thing we yearn for "is the true 'hope' which drives us," the "known unknown" called "eternal life."
Here is a portion of that letter from St. Augustine to Proba:
"For in the house of the Lord “all the days of life” are not days distinguished by their successively coming and passing away: the beginning of one day is not the end of another; but they are all alike unending in that place where the life which is made up of them has itself no end. In order to our obtaining this true blessed life, He who is Himself the True Blessed Life has taught us to pray, not with much speaking, as if our being heard depended upon the fluency with which we express ourselves, seeing that we are praying to One who, as the Lord tells us, “knoweth what things we have need of before we ask Him. . . .
"But whoever desires from the Lord that “one thing,” and seeks after it, asks in certainty and in confidence, and has no fear lest when obtained it be injurious to him, seeing that, without it, anything else which he may have obtained by asking in a right way is of no advantage to him. The thing referred to is the one true and only happy life, in which, immortal and incorruptible in body and spirit, we may contemplate the joy of the Lord for ever. . . . At the same time, because this blessing is nothing else than the “peace which passeth all understanding,” even when we are asking it in our prayers, we know not what to pray for as we ought. For inasmuch as we cannot present it to our minds as it really is, we do not know it, but whatever image of it may be presented to our minds we reject, disown, and condemn; we know it is not what we are seeking, although we do not yet know enough to be able to define what we seek."
2. The "Blessed Life" is community-oriented, and contemplatives perform a task for the whole Church and for the world.
Mentioning the same letter from St. Augustine to Proba, and also mentioning St. Bernard of Clairvaux's perspective on monasticism as including contemplation and agricultural work, Benedict wrote (Sections 14, 15):
"The real life, towards which we try to reach out again and again, is linked to a lived union with a 'people', and for each individual it can only be attained within this 'we.' It presupposes that we escape from the prison of our 'I', because only in the openness of this universal subject does our gaze open out to the source of joy, to love itself -- to God.
While this community-oriented vision of the 'blessed life' is certainly directed beyond the present world, as such it also has to do with the building up of this world . . . In his [Bernard of Clairvaux's] view, monks perform a task for the whole Church and hence also for the world. He uses many images to illustrate the responsibility that monks have towards the entire body of the Church, and indeed towards humanity; he applies to them the words of pseudo-Rufinus: 'The human race lives thanks to a few; were it not for them, the world would perish. . .'."
3. Reason and faith need each other.
Discussing two great themes of "reason" and "freedom" in secular thought, Pope Benedict stated, in section 23, that "reason is God's great gift to man, and the victory of reason over unreason is also a goal of the Christian life." Moreover, he says, reason is "urgently in need of integration through reason's openness to the saving forces of faith." This applies to prayer in that he adds that there is no doubt that "God truly enters into human affairs only when, rather than being present merely in our thinking, he himself comes towards us and speaks to us. Reason therefore needs faith if it is to be completely itself: reason and faith need one another in order to fulfil their true nature and their mission."
This point is not extensively applied to prayer in the encyclical. That application is made more clear through considering this aspect of the encyclical in the light of other writings. The need for faith and reason together is a common topic in Pope Benedict XVI's writings, which can also be found in other Church documents. Among these, Pope John Paul II spoke of the integration of faith and reason in his apostolic letter "Master in the Faith" about St. John of the Cross. There, among the sources cited were two documents from the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith ("CDF") which were, in turn, issued by then-Cardinal Ratzinger (Benedict XVI). In Master of the Faith, Pope John Paul II wrote:
"Rational man's superiority to the rest of mundane reality should not lead to pretensions of earthly dominion. Instead it ought to guide him toward his most proper end, union with God, to whom he is similar in dignity. For that reason, faith does not justify scorning human reason. Nor is human rationality to be regarded as opposed to the divine message. On the contrary, they work together in intimate collaboration: "A person can get sufficient guidance from natural reason, and the law and doctrine of the Gospel". Faith is not a disincarnate reality. Its proper subject is man a rational being, with his lights and limits. The theologian and the believer cannot renounce their rationality; instead, they must open it to the horizons of mystery."
Cited there by John Paul II is the CDF's document "Instructions on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian," section 6, which states:
"By its nature, faith appeals to reason because it reveals to man the truth of his destiny and the way to attain it. Revealed truth, to be sure, surpasses our telling. All our concepts fall short of its ultimately unfathomable grandeur (cf. Eph 3:19). Nonetheless, revealed truth beckons reason - God's gift fashioned for the assimilation of truth - to enter into its light and thereby come to understand in a certain measure what it has believed. Theological science responds to the invitation of truth as it seeks to understand the faith. It thereby aids the People of God in fulfilling the Apostle's command (cf. 1 Pet 3:15 ) to give an accounting for their hope to those who ask it."
4. Prayer is essential to Christian hope.
In the subsection "Prayer as a school of hope," the Holy Father stated, in section 32, "A first essential setting for learning hope is prayer. When no one listens to me any more, God still listens to me." He used the example of the late Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan, a prisoner in solitary confinement for 13 years, who found an "increasing power of hope" in the fact that he could listen and speak to God during his confinement. Later, he became a witness for people throughout the world "to that great hope which does not wane even in the nights of solitude."
5. Our hearts must be enlarged and cleansed.
Here, the Holy Father, in section 33, uses an image from St. Augustine's Homilies on the First Epistle of St. John (Homily IV), in which St. Augustine defined prayer as an exercise of desire. Man was created to be filled by God, but his heart is too small and must be stretched by delaying this gift. In St. Augustine's image, if God wants to fill us with honey (His goodness) but we are full of vinegar, our hearts must first be enlarged and cleansed. The Pope wrote, "This requires hard work and is painful, but in this way alone do we become suited to that for which we are destined."
6. Proper prayer purifies us, opening us up to God and to others.
Also in section 33, the Holy Father continued:
"Even if Augustine speaks directly only of our capacity for God, it is nevertheless clear that through this effort by which we are freed from vinegar and the taste of vinegar, not only are we made free for God, but we also become open to others."
Thus, he said:
"To pray is not to step outside history and withdraw to our own private corner of happiness. When we pray properly we undergo a process of inner purification which opens us up to God and thus to our fellow human beings as well."
7. We must learn what is worthy of God.
Also in Section 33, the Holy Father said that we must "learn what we can truly ask of God -- what is worthy of God. We must learn that we cannot pray against others." Instead, he said, when we come before God, we are forced to recognize the "hidden lies with which we deceive ourselves" and recognize our own guilt, the "illusion of our innocence." Our encounter with God awakens our conscience, he said, so that it "no longer aims at self-justification" and is no longer a reflection of self and of our contemporaries, but rather "becomes a capacity for listening to the Good itself."
8. Praying must involve an intermingling of public and personal prayer.
In section 34, Pope Benedict wrote that, for prayer to develop such purification, it must be very personal and, at the same time, it must be "guided and enlightened by the great prayers of the Church and of the saints, by liturgical prayer, in which the Lord teaches us again and again how to pray properly. . . . Praying must always involve this intermingling of public and personal prayer." Christian hope, he said, is always hope for others and not merely for ourselves.
9. Our prayer for others can play a small part in their purification.
In section 48, after a discussion of the transforming fire of purgatory in previous sections, Pope Benedict wrote of how our lives are involved with each other, and how that affects our prayer for other people:
"No one sins alone. No one is saved alone. The lives of others continually spill over into mine: in what I think, say, do and achieve. And conversely, my life spills over into that of others: for better and for worse. So my prayer for another is not something extraneous to that person, something external, not even after death. In the interconnectedness of Being, my gratitude to the other -- my prayer for him -- can play a small part in his purification."
10. It is never too late to hope.
Continuing in section 48, the Holy Father wrote that there is no need to convert earthly time into God's time in our prayer for the purification of others, in our hope for them:
"It is never too late to touch the heart of another, nor is it ever in vain. In this way we further clarify an important element of the Christian concept of hope. Our hope is always essentially also hope for others; only thus is it hope for me too. As Christians we should never limit ourselves to asking: how can I save myself? We should also ask: what can I do in order that others may be saved and that for them too the star of hope may rise? Then I will have done my utmost for my own personal salvation as well."
In today's last Wednesday General Audience before Christmas, the Holy Father set aside his series of catecheses about the great figures of the Early Church to talk about Christmas. He spoke of Christmas as reminding us of the birth of Jesus, and also reminding us of the exhortation "to await, in vigilance and prayer" His coming again to render justice. He encouraged "committing ourselves to prepare the way" for the birth of the Saviour, "to prepare for him a dwelling worthy not only in the environment around us, but above all, in the spirit."
English translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum. Asia News has an article.
On this Gaudete Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about Christian joy. He distinguished it from cultures that make happiness itself an idol. He spoke of the joy in the Nativity and also the joy awaited in the Second Coming of Christ, saying:
"Christian joy thus springs from this certainty: God is close, he is with me, he is with us, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as a friend and faithful spouse. And this joy endures, even in trials, in suffering itself. It does not remain only on the surface; it dwells in the depths of the person who entrusts himself to God and trusts in him."
Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum. Asia News has an article.
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict spoke about St. Paulinus of Nola. A contemporary of St. Augustine, St. Paulinus was a native of Aquitaine, in Southern France, who was a monk, then a priest and bishop in Italy. He was married to a woman named Terasia, and both of them chose to live an ascetic life of chaste fraternity, following the death of their son soon after his birth. St. Paulinus wrote poetry and gave particular attention to the poor. His theology is found in his letters of spiritual friendship, written to other saints of his era. The Holy Father said that his poems and letters "are rich with a theology that was lived, interwoven with the Word of God that was constantly scrutinized as light for life." From them, he said, "there emerges a sense of the Church as a mystery of unity," of communion lived "through a distinctive practice of spiritual friendship."
Asia News has an article as usual. Full translations are available at the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
The Vatican today released Pope Benedict XVI's Message for the Celebration of the World Day of Peace 2008, titled "The Human Family, a Community of Peace."
In it, he spoke about the importance of the family as the foundation of society, as the place where children learn to savor the "taste" of speech. He said, "The language of the family is a language of peace; we must always draw from it, lest we lose the 'vocabulary' of peace. In the inflation of its speech, society cannot cease to refer to that 'grammar' which all children learn from the looks and the actions of their mothers and fathers, even before they learn from their words."
He spoke of the need to protect the rights of a family in society, and to provide for the basic needs of families within society.
He also spoke about the environment, calling the earth "our common home." He cautioned that emerging countries, hungry for energy, should not meet those needs by harming poor countries that may be forced to sell their resources for less than what they are worth due to a lack of infrastructure.
He spoke of the need for a "solid foundation of shared spiritual and ethical values" in the human family, which is increasingly unified by globalization. While he expressed that values grounded in the natural law are present
in a fragmentary way in
principles of humanitarian law
incorporated into national and international legal authority, he added that "there is an
urgent need to persevere in dialogue about these issues and to encourage the
legislation of individual States to converge towards a recognition of
fundamental human rights."
Concerning increasing international tension and the risk it poses for the future, he expressed concern about civil wars in Africa, the situation in the Middle East, and regret for the growing number of countries involved in the arms race.
Lastly, he mentioned that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the Holy See's adoption of the
Charter of the Rights of the Family (1983-2008) and the 40th
anniversary of the celebration of the
first World Day of Peace
(1968-2008). In light of those anniversaries, he invited everyone to live "a more
lively sense of belonging to the one human family, and to strive to make human
coexistence increasingly reflect this conviction, which is essential for the
establishment of true and lasting peace. I likewise invite believers to implore
tirelessly from God the great gift of peace."
The Pope spoke today at the statue of Our Lady near Rome's Spanish Steps, as he gave his reflection before the midday Angelus. He mentioned Mary and also mentioned St. John the Baptist, the subject of today's Gospel reading for Mass.
Asia News has an article. Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is an excerpt from Papa Ratzinger Forum:
"Through the Gospel, John the Baptist continues to speak down the centuries to every generation. His clear, harsh words are particularly salutary for us, men and women of our time, in which the way of living and perceiving Christmas unfortunately all too often suffers the effects of a materialistic mindset. The "voice" of the great prophet asks us to prepare the way of the Lord, who comes in the external and internal wildernesses of today, thirsting for the living water that is Christ."
Picture: St. John the Baptist (left) and St. John the Evangelist (right), by Mariotto di Nardo, 1408. Photo by me. Museum information.
The Vatican, Papa Ratzinger Forum and Zenit have translations of Pope Benedict XVI's reflections at the midday Angelus on yesterday's Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Asia News has an article. Here is an excerpt:
"Who can be a better star of hope for us than she, the dawn that announced the day of salvation? (cf. Spe Salvi, n. 49). For this reason, the liturgy has us celebrate today, as Christmas approaches, the Solemn Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary: the mystery of God's grace that enfolded her from the first instant of her existence as the creature destined to be Mother of the Redeemer, preserving her from the stain of original sin. Looking at her, we recognize the loftiness and beauty of God's plan for everyone: to become holy and immaculate in love (cf. Eph 1: 4), in the image of our Creator."
The Holy Father spoke particularly about today's youth, who may risk losing hope when drawn into consumerism. He also remembered the day's beginning of a Jubilee Year celebrating the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady.
Also on the subject of Lourdes, the official website of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes has a page about the yearlong Jubilee celebration, which will run from December 8, 2007 to December 8, 2008. There is also a page about the 18 apparitions.
Today's General Audience subject was St. Chromatius, the fourth century bishop of Aquileia, at the northern end of the Roman Empire, and friend of some other Fathers of the Church. His see included Switzerland, Bavaria, Austria and Slovenia, up to the borders of Hungary. He wrote about the Trinity, the humanity of Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the unity of the Church. He wrote about Advent as a time of prayer, and about praying for victory over evil through God's mercy.
Asia News has an article. Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is an excerpt from Zenit's translation, with a reference to the sea:
"As a zealous pastor, Chromatius knew how to speak to his people with fresh, colorful and sharp language. Even though he mastered Latin perfectly, he preferred to use the popular language, which was rich in easily understandable images.
"Hence, for instance, taking inspiration from the sea, he compared the act of fishing in which fish -- once pulled to shore -- died, to the preaching of the Gospel, thanks to which men are saved from the muddy waters of death and are introduced to true life (cf. Tract. XVI, 3: Writers of the Santambrosian area 3/2, p. 106)."
Before praying the midday Angelus today, Pope Benedict mentioned his new Encyclical, Spe Salvi, dedicated to the theme of Christian hope, saying that this Sunday, the first day of the liturgical year, is an appropriate time to offer the new encyclical. That is so, he explained, because on the first day of Advent, the Church resumes again its "journey to relive the mystery of Christ in history." While God remains always the same, history changes, and Jesus is history's fulfillment, its future.
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum. Here is an excerpt:
"Jesus, with his death on the Cross and his Resurrection, has revealed his Face to us, the face of a God so great in love as to communicate to us an uncrushable hope that not even death can break, because the life of the one who entrusts himself to this Father opens itself to the prospect of eternal beatitude."
"With a hymn composed in the eighth or ninth century, thus for over a thousand years, the Church has greeted Mary, the Mother of God, as “Star of the Sea”: Ave maris stella. Human life is a journey. Towards what destination? How do we find the way? Life is like a voyage on the sea of history, often dark and stormy, a voyage in which we watch for the stars that indicate the route. The true stars of our life are the people who have lived good lives. They are lights of hope. Certainly, Jesus Christ is the true light, the sun that has risen above all the shadows of history. But to reach him we also need lights close by—people who shine with his light and so guide us along our way. Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her “yes” she opened the door of our world to God himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, and pitched his tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)."
- Pope Benedict XVI, Encyclical Spe Salvi (On Christian Hope), signed today.
There are a few things that Benedict XVI recently wrote that I want to include in a post before his new encyclical is released tomorrow. If I don't do it now, I may not get back to them later, and they are too important to overlook.
About the Encyclical on Christian Hope
For the encyclical to be released tomorrow, I will plan to post something after I am able to read through the whole thing, which I understand will be more than 60 pages. After I have read it, I will probably do one or more posts about it during Advent. Meanwhile, there are round-ups of news articles and commentaries at Against the Grain and The American Papist.
The Letter on the 16th Centenary of St. John Chrysostom: The Unity of the Church in the Fourth Century
Pope Benedict XVI's Letter on the 16th Centenary of the Death of St. John Chrysostom is now available in an official English translation on the Vatican's website.
Dated August 10, 2007, the letter was released by the Vatican in Italian on November 8. Fr. Zuhlsdorf had a post about it on November 13, calling it one of the best written letters that he had seen in a while. He also provided a down-loadable unofficial translation. However, the official translation was only recently added to the Vatican website.
The letter begins with a summary of the fourth century saint's life, teaching and works for the poor and sick. It continues with a discussion of how he was venerated from the fifth century on, so that he was soon recognized as a Father and Doctor of the Church. The Pope made special mention of the saint's contribution toward ending a schism that had developed between the See of Antioch and the western churches under the See of Rome. He mentioned that St. Chrysostom "spoke passionately about the
unity of the Church scattered across the world," founded on Christ, the Incarnate Word. St. Chrysostom once said that "The faithful in Rome consider those in India as members of
their own body." He saw that the Eucharist attested to this ecclesial unity in Christ. The Pope mentions the saint's deep reflections on Holy Communion and the Divine Liturgy, and the moral consequences of that Mystery including the need to help the poor and the hungry.
Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees
The Pope's Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees was released on Wednesday, November 28. While his letter on St. John Chrysostom speaks of the importance of unity within the Church, among people of different cultures across the world, his Message for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees speaks of the importance of cultural diversity within one location where people have immigrated from elsewhere in the world.
Reflecting specifically on young migrants who may have difficulty becoming inserted into their new culture although they may be among the brightest from their places of origin: "on the one hand, they feel a strong need to not lose their culture of origin, while on the other, the understandable desire emerges in them to be inserted organically into the society that receives them, but without this implying a complete assimilation and the resulting loss of their ancestral traditions." Moreover, he mentioned that girls may be especially subject to exploitation.
The Holy Father mentioned schools and education as a particularly important means of responding to the needs of young migrants. The education system, he said, should consider their specific needs and "create a climate of mutual respect and dialogue among all the students in the classrooms based on the universal principles and values that are common to all cultures." He wrote of the importance of the Church's role in helping young immigrants and others who are being educated in a country that is culturally different from their place of origin.
Lastly, he addressed the young migrants, encouraging them to build a better society by fulfilling their duties to family and the State. "Be respectful of the laws and never let yourselves be carried away by hatred and violence." He encouraged them to cultivate a close relationship with Jesus "in prayer and docile listening to his Word" and to be His witnesses:
"Coming from different cultures, but all united by belonging to the one Church of Christ, you can show that the Gospel is alive and suited to every situation; it is an old and ever new message. It is a word of hope and salvation for the people of all races and cultures, of all ages and eras."
Christian Cultural Diversity Mentioned in the General Audience
On the same day when the Vatican released that Message, Pope Benedict also touched on Church diversity during his General Audience. Speaking about St. Ephrem the Syrian, he said that he had wanted to show the Church's cultural diversity by speaking about the saint born in Nisbis as, the previous week, he spoke about Aphraates, who was from Persia. Regarding that diversity, he said:
"According to general opinion, Christianity is a European religion that has exported the culture of this Continent to other countries. The reality, though, is a lot more complex, as the root of the Christian religion is found in the Old Testament, and therefore in Jerusalem and the Semitic world. Christianity has always nourished itself from its roots in the Old Testament.
"Also, its expansion during the first centuries was both westward -- toward the Greek-Latin world, where it then inspired the European culture -- and eastward to Persia and India, thus contributing to stimulate a specific culture, in Semitic languages, with its own identity."
The Global Diversity of 23 New Cardinals: Homily for the Consistory
In mentioning together, in one post, these several references to the cultural diversity within the Church, it should also be remembered that Pope Benedict specifically acknowledged such diversity in his selection of 23 new cardinals who received their red hats last Saturday. In his homily for the consistory, the Pope said of that diversity, "Times have changed and today the great family of Christ's disciples has spread on every continent to the furthest corners of the earth." The diversity of the College of Cardinals, he said, "due both to their geographical provenance and their cultural background, enhance this providential growth and at the same time highlight the different pastoral requirements to which the Pope must respond."
Areas of diversity within the Church might be seen to encompass the diversity of liturgical forms, such as that allowing for various rites (including the rite used by the Anglican Use churches in the U.S.) and the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum allowing expanded use of the Latin Roman liturgy from before the 1970 reform, as well as the use of an eastern rite in parishes formed by eastern immigrants to western countries.
Moreover, in viewing these various discussions of global cultural diversity together, it seems clear that Pope Benedict XVI has a great interest in adapting to diversity within the Church and seeking unity that allows for the diversity of cultures throughout the world.
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about St. Ephrem the Syrian, a fourth century Middle Eastern poet, theologian and musician.
An article is available from Asia News. Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is a portion of the Pope's summary given in English at the end of the audience:
"Saint Ephrem’s theology, deeply grounded in the Scriptures and profoundly orthodox in content, was expressed in poetic language marked by striking paradoxes and vivid imagery.
"Through his mastery of poetic symbolism, Ephrem sought to communicate, especially in his Hymns, the mystery of the trinitarian God, the incarnation of the eternal Son born of the Virgin Mary, and the spiritual treasures contained in the Eucharist.
"His poetry and hymns not only enriched the liturgy; they also proved an important means of catechesis for the Christian community in the fourth century.
"Particularly significant is Ephrem’s teaching on our redemption by Christ: his poetic descriptions of the interplay of the divine and human aspects of this great mystery foreshadowed the theology and, to some extent, even the language of the great christological definitions of the Councils of the next century.
"In his life-long service to the Church as a deacon, Saint Ephrem was an example of fidelity to the liturgy, meditation on the mystery of Christ and charitable service to his brothers and sisters."
St. Ephrem the Syrian's works available in English can be found online at Anastasis (scroll down to the link to the website's Table of Contents) and in print in the Classics of Western Spirituality volume of the hymns of St. Ephrem the Syrian.
Overview
There is a Vatican web page about the consistory with links to other pages with more information about the consistory and about the College of Cardinals.
EWTN will have two re-broadcasts of today's Eucharistic Celebration with the New Cardinals and Presentation of Cardinalitial Rings, at noon and midnight Eastern (9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Sunday and 6:00 a.m. Monday in Rome). You can watch EWTN online with either Spanish or English commentary.
The Holy Father announced the consistory and named the new cardinals at the end of the October 17 General Audience. They include 18 cardinal electors, and 5 cardinals who are beyond the maximum age for voting. Among the familiar names (with links to articles about them) are two Americans: Archbishop Daniel DiNardo of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston (the first cardinal ever named from Texas) and Archbishop John-Patrick Foley, a former journalist originally from Philadelphia. Other names of particular interest are Abp. Emmanuel Delly of Baghdad (patriarch of Babylon for the Chaldeans) and Abp. André Vingt-Trois of Paris. Abp. Vingt-Trois was elected president of the French Bishops Conference this past Monday (La-Croix article in French). His name was occasionally mentioned in the news this past year in connection with his historic ecumenical meeting with the Orthodox Church patriarch of Moscow, his involvement in liturgical issues including the Motu Proprio to extend the use of the Latin mass, and the funeral of his mentor Cardinal Lustiger (at which he presided).
Amy Welborn has posts titled Consistory 102 and Consistory 103 at Charlotte Was Both.
Photos of all 23 new cardinals are posted on La-Croix. Click on the photo for the cardinal's name and for a short biographical sketch in French.
Friday's Meeting Considers Ecumenical and Inter-Faith Issues
John L. Allen, Jr. has an article about Friday morning's meeting titled Day 1: Sights and Sounds of the Consistory, mentioning the ecumenical issues to be discussed. Catholic News Agency reported that the Pope met with Cardinals to discuss how to deal with the increasing number of Episcopalians and Anglicans seeking to enter the Catholic Church, as Benedict XVI has made reunification of the Church a key issue of his pontificate. The Catholic News Agency article cited an earlier Times Online article as its source.
Following the meeting, Allen reported in a post titled Practical cooperation, not doctrine, the new ecumenical frontier. During the meeting, Cardinal Walter Kasper outlined the way forward in ecumenical discussions with the Eastern churches and the Orthodox, the denominations born of the Reformation, and the pentecostal movements that began in the 20th century. Allen's article does not mention any discussion particularly considering Anglicans. In a separate article, Allen discusses French Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran's discussion at that meeting of a planned Vatican response to a letter from 138 Muslims.
Insight Scoop has an article about the Anglican situation written by Carl Olson, which mentions that meeting as well as the decision by Episcopalian Bishop John B. Lipscomb to seek to enter the Catholic Church, announced this past Wednesday. He will be the fourth Episcopalian bishop this year seeking to become Catholic, following two previous retired bishops and one active sitting bishop. [For more on Bishop Lipscomb, see Catholic Online and The Living Church].
Saturday's Consistory
Zenit provides an overview of the Cardinals' Rite for this ceremony and for Sunday's presentation of the Cardinals' rings.
English translations of the Pope's homily is available from the Vatican (official translation) and from Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
The Holy Father spoke of how changing times have made the College of Cardinals truly universal, particularly mentioning Iraq's Christian communities. He reminded the new cardinals of their call to the service of love. Here is an excerpt from Teresa Benedetta's translation:
"The evangelist Mark reminds us, dear and venerated brothers, that every true disciple of Christ can aspire to one thing only: to share his passion without expecting any reward. The Christian is called to assume the condition of 'servant' following the footsteps of Christ, thus living his life for others freely and in disinterested manner.
"It is not the search for power and success, but the humble gift of oneself for the good of the Church, that should characterize every act and word of ours. True Christian greatness, in fact, is not in domination but in service."
Reuters and Asia News have news articles about the consistory. John L. Allen, Jr. has several posts about the consistory in his All Things Catholic - Daily News and Updates. Those posts include The Consistory of the Long-Suffering and The Most Democratic Day on the Vatican's Calendar.
Catholic News Service has several articles including one titled Pope creates 23 cardinals from 14 countries.
Sunday's Mass Concelebrated by the Pope and New Cardinals
In his homily at the "Ring Mass," Pope Benedict spoke of today's three Mass readings for the Solemnity of Christ the King as a triptych of "three great scenes: in the center is the Crucifixion, according to the account of the evangelist Luke; on the one hand, the kingly anointing of David by the ancients of Israel; and on the other, the christologic hymn with which St. Paul introduces the Letter to the Colossians [Col. 1:12-20]." The cardinalitial rings, he said, represent the Crucifixion. "May this, dear brothers and sisters, always be for you an invitation to remember which King you serve, the throne on which he was raised, and how he was faithful to the very end in order to defeat sin and death with the power of divine mercy." Considering the hymn from Colossians and the cardinals who have dedicated their lives to the service to the Church, he said, "The Church is that part of humanity in which the kingliness of Christ is already manifest and whose preferential manifestation is peace. It is the new Jerusalem, still imperfect while it is a pilgrim through history, but able to anticipate in some way the heavenly Jerusalem."
The quotations above were taken from Teresa Benedetta's translation at Papa Ratzinger Forum. Since this post was written, the Vatican's official translation has become available. Asia News has an article.
In his address after Mass and before praying the midday Angelus, the Holy Father spoke of the cardinals' primary mission as one of prayer for peace and Christian unity. He drew attention to the request from the USCCB for prayer today for peace among Israelis and Palestinians, in advance of an international peace conference to be held November 27 in Annapolis, Maryland.
English translations of the Holy Father's address before the midday Angelus are available from the Vatican, Zenit and Papa Ratzinger Forum.
John L.Allen, Jr.'s posts include Ecumenism the 'scarlet thread' of the consistory and an Interview with Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewisz of Minsk-Mohilev, Belarus.
Names and Links for Information about the New Cardinal Electors
(with links to the page about each at the Catholic Hierarchy website and more links following some of the names)
1. Archbishop Leonardo Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches
Zenit had an article November 15 from an interview that Cardinal Sandri granted to l'Osservatore Romano earlier that week. In it, Cardinal Sandri lamented Christians' emigration from the Holy Land.
2. Archbishop John Patrick Foley, Pro-Grand Master of the Knights of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
John L. Allen, Jr. has a transcript of a press conference with new Cardinals Foley and DiNardo. Last month, Francis X. Rocca profiled Cardinal Foley for Religion News Service, and the Immaculate Heart of Mary's Hermitage Report announced "Philadelphia Rejoices for Native Son." Vatican Radio has an audio interview with him.
3. Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, President of the Pontifical Commission and of the Governorate of Vatican City State.
4. Archbishop Paul Joseph Cordes, President of the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum".
5. Archbishop Angelo Comastri, Archpriest of the Vatican Basilica, Vicar General for Vatican City State and President of the Fabric of St Peter.
6. Archbishop Stanislaw Rylko, President of the Pontifical Council for the Laity.
7. Archbishop Rafaele Farrina, S.D.B., Archivist and Librarian of Holy Roman Church.
8. Archbishop Agustín Garcia-Gasco y Vicente of Valencia, Spain.
9. Archbishop Seán Baptist Brady of Armagh, Ireland.
The BBC has an article about Cardinal Brady's background and his elevation to cardinal. The Belfast Telegraph also has an article about him. Rocco Palma has a post about Cardinal Brady at Whispers in the Loggia, calling his post-consistory reflections among the day's "standout remarks." Rocco posted a good bit of that address, and has the entire text available for download from that post. Vatican Radio has an audio interview with him broadcast yesterday, and another audio broadcast with his thoughts from Friday. Zenit has a November 26 article.
10. Archbishop Lluís Martínez Sistach of Barcelona, Spain.
11. Archbishop André Vingt-Trois of Paris, France.
La-Croix also has articles related to the consistory in French, including an interview with Archbishop Vingt-Trois of the archdiocese of Paris. Here are two segments from that interview in my translation:
Archbishop, as president of the Conference of Bishops and cardinal, how does a Christian see these and this power? I live and receive these events as a special grace. As I think about the election to presidency of the bishops, which was fast, what motivates someone to vote may vary, but the result is a spiritual sign: The Holy Spirit requires it. It was the same thing when the pope asked me to be a cardinal. It is a grace that I receive as a gift from God.
And power? I am not fascinated by the power associated with my responsibility. My way of living ecclesial authority is not by means of exercising an authoritative power, but rather by means of an authority of conviction and assent. . . .
Are you passionate about your mission? Yes, but to be passionate does not mean to be excited! I was very happy in Tours and am truly so in Paris where I have inherited a diocese which functions very well. I was lucky, as they say, but on a Christian level, my spiritual objective is always to better understand the will of God, to better apply it to myself. I do not see myself living it from the dramatic perspective of the anguish of Gethsemane (that is not my situation), but rather from the more peaceful perspective of the Annunciation and Mary's statement: "Be it unto to me according to your word."
Are you a mystic? I am not a mystic. I try to be a believer. I pray! I am not just a man who performs the scheduled exercises. I also have a personal encounter with Christ, particularly by meditation on Scripture, the rosary, adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. . . . Once a month, I have a Monday of silent prayer with priests. Not to forget periods of retreat four or five times a year. . . .
12. Archbishop Angelo Bagnasco of Genoa, Italy.
13. Archbishop Théodore-Adrien Sarr of Dakar, Senegal.
14. Archbishop Oswald Gracias of Bombay, India.
Vatican Radio's article about the events of the consistory mentions Cardinal Gracias in its title and gives special attention in the body of the article to Cardinal Gracias and Cardinal Delly. Vatican Radio also has an outline of Cardinal Gracias' biographical information on a page with links to listen online to radio broadcasts related to the consistory.
15. Archbishop Francisco Robles Ortega of Monterrey, Mexico.
16. Archbishop Daniel DiNardo of Galveston-Houston, U.S.A.
The Houston Chronicle
published questions and answers last week with Cardinal
DiNardo. Catholic News Agency had an article about him earlier this week. Catholic News Service has an article titled Amid celebrations, Texas prelate makes time for prayer, family. Houston's KTRK TV News website has an article announcing Saturday that Houston now has its first cardinal. Allen has a transcript of the press conference. Zenit published an interview with him on Friday. Vatican Radio has an audio interview broadcast November 14.
17. Archbishop Odilo Pedro Scherer of São Paulo, Brazil.
18. Archbishop John Njue of Nairobi, Kenya.
Other Cardinals
1. H.B. Emmanuel III Delly, Patriarch of Babylon for Chaldeans
Catholic News Service has an article about Cardinal Delly titled Elevation of Chaldean patriarch highlights plight of Iraqi Christians. John L. Allen, Jr. reports about the Pope's explanation of his reason for making Cardinal Delly a cardinal, in Pope says new Iraqi cardinal a sign of 'spiritual closeness'. Zenit has an article from November 25 and a second Zenit article November 26.
2. Archbishop Giovanni Coppa, Apostolic Nuncio;
3. Archbishop emeritus Estanislao Esteban Karlic of Paraná, Argentina;
4. Fr Urbano Navarrete Cortés, S.J., former Rector of the Pontifical Gregorian University; and
5. Fr Umberto Betti, O.F.M., former Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University.
A photo of Cardinal Betti, who cried at the consistory, is offered at Shrine of the Holy Whapping, with comments.
Pope Benedict XVI's second encyclical will be released November 30, according to the Vatican Press Office. Its name will be "Spe Salvi" (Saved by Hope), and its topic will be Christian hope. This, of course, follows his first encyclical on love, another of the three theological virtues (faith, hope and charity/love). Catholic News Agency has a story.
Blogging will be light today for me. Check the blogs in the sidebar's "Insightful Blogs" list for information about the upcoming encyclical and tomorrow's consistory for new cardinals. There is an earlier post on this blog (updated and moved to top today) with links for TV coverage and information about the consistory.
I will do one or two round-up posts tomorrow on the consistory and encyclical, and possibly a photo or two of the Christmas decorations going up this Thanksgiving week-end.
Among the many reasons to give thanks, I hope that each of you who read this, from the U.S. and elsewhere, will say a word of thanksgiving to God for the wisdom of our Holy Father and for each one of the new cardinals.
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI's catechesis described a saint from the fourth century Near East, where a Syrian monastic tradition existed in the Holy Land, Lebanon and Mesopotamia, an ascetic tradition that was not influenced by Egyptian monasticism. The subject of his catechesis was Aphraates, also known as "The Sage." He lived in an area that is now part of Iraq, and he wrote 23 treatises known as the Expositions, or the Demonstrations.
Translations of the Pope's catechesis into English are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is an excerpt from what the Holy Father said about Aphraates' teaching on prayer:
"One other important aspect of Aphraates's work is his teaching on prayer, and particularly, on Jesus as a teacher of prayer. The Christian prays following the teaching of Christ and his example as a praying man: "Our Lord taught us to pray, saying 'Pray in secret to Him who is hidden but who sees everything', and also "Go into your room and pray to your Father in secret, and the Father who sees the secret will reward you' (Mt 6,6)....What our Lord wants to show us is that God knows the desires and thoughts in our hearts" (Exposition 4,10)."
In his words before praying the midday Angelus today, Pope Benedict XVI spoke from today's Gospel reading for Mass (Luke 21:5-19), saying that "the Church has from the very beginning lived in the prayerful expectation of the Lord's return." History must follow its course, and the plan of salvation that Jesus has already carried out, through his incarnation, death and resurrection, develops in history. We should not fear the future, even when it seems bleak. Rather, we should "face daily events trusting in his providential love."
He specifically remembered consecrated persons called to contemplation in cloistered monasteries, whose lives, he said, "invite us with singular effectiveness to keep this perspective alive." This coming Wednesday, November 21, he mentioned that the Church particularly remembers them on the memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the temple.
After the Angelus, speaking in Italian, he remembered those suffering from this past week's cyclone in Bangladesh. He also remembered this afternoon's beatification of Father Antonio Rosmini.
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI continued his catechesis on St. Jerome, begun last week. Last week, he mentioned St. Jerome's work with Scripture. This week, he mentioned St. Jerome's work in education in living according to the ethical teachings of Scripture: responsibility "before God and before man is the
true condition for progress, peace and reconciliation and as a result
the exclusion of violence." The Pope mentioned that St. Jerome sought a broad education for the young, both men and women.
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is a quote from the Pope's summary in English at the end of the General Audience, as reported by Zenit:
"In this week's catechesis we continue our reflections on Saint Jerome, the priest and scholar who was responsible for the Latin translation of the Bible known as the Vulgate. Convinced that "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ", Jerome everywhere urged the daily, prayerful study of the word of God. He insisted that the correct interpretation of the Scriptures demands not only the interior assistance of the Holy Spirit but also conformity to the Church's authoritative teaching. Jerome stressed the importance for all Christians, but especially for preachers, of ensuring that their lives accord with the ethical teaching offered in the sacred texts. Devotion to the word of God also shaped Jerome's ascetic doctrine, which emphasized the virtue of obedience and encouraged the pious practice of pilgrimage, particularly to the Holy Land. Finally, by his spiritual counsel, especially to parents, he emphasized the importance of a broad and disciplined Christian education for the young, including women. Jerome's integration of the enduring values of classical civilization and the wisdom of the inspired word of God made him one of the great figures of the emerging Christian culture of late antiquity."
At the end of the General Audience, the Holy Father mentioned the relics of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, which were in Rome from November 9 to 14, were brought to the patio of St. Damasus outside the papal apartments. According to the Information Service of the Discalced Carmelite Curia, he "venerated the relics in his private chapel, remaining a long time on his knees, recollected in prayer." Zenit also has an article about it, quoting the Pope's words about the relics:
"St. Thérèse would have liked to learn the languages of the Bible in order to better understand sacred Scripture," he said. "Following her example and that of St. Jerome, dedicate time to frequent reading of the Bible. By familiarizing yourselves with the Word of God, you will discover Christ and remain in intimate contact with him."
Christopher Blosser has a new comprehensive Pope Benedict Roundup at The Benedict Blog, covering the past month or two of events and writings. The roundup is also posted at Against the Grain.
At today's noonday Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI turned his attention to St. Martin of Tours, whose feast day is today. He remembered that St. Martin once shared his cloak with a beggar who was shivering in the cold, and that Christ appeared to the saint in a dream that night, wearing the same cloak. After the Angelus, he mentioned the situation in Lebanon, where a planned election has been postponed for the third time due to divisions that may lead to civil war.
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta of Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is an excerpt from Teresa Benedetto's translation:
"It is the logic of sharing through which love for neighbor is concretely expressed. May St. Martin help us to understand that only through a common commitment to share is it possible to respond to the great challenge of our time, which is to construct a world of peace and justice, in which every man may live in dignity."
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about St. Jerome. He spoke of St. Jerome's love for Scripture, his work in translating the Latin Vulgate, and his work in teaching perfection to monks and classical and Christian culture to young adults. In St. Jerome's writing, he said, "the Word of God transcends time: human opinions pass, today they are the latest trend, tomorrow they are already out of date, while the Word of God is eternal and leads to eternity."
An article is available from Asia News. The Italian text and summaries in various languages, including English, can be found from the Vatican Press Office. Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
This blog has a biographical post About St. Jerome and posts St. Jerome on Meditation and St. Teresa of Avila and St. Jerome. The principle writings of St. Jerome are available on line at Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
Pope Benedict XVI met with King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia at 12:30 p.m. today at the Vatican. The Saudi king previously met with Pope John Paul II when he was crown prince to his brother, the former King Fahd. This was the first time a king of Saudi Arabia ever visited a pope. After a 30 minute meeting with the Pope, the king met with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti.
I will add more links to this post as I find them.
The Vatican Press Office published the following statement in English translation:
Today in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Holy Father Benedict XVI met with King Abdallah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia. The sovereign subsequently went on to meet with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.
The meetings took place in a cordial atmosphere and provided an opportunity to consider questions close to the heart of both sides. In particular, the commitment to inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue aimed at peaceful and fruitful coexistence between individuals and peoples was reiterated, as was the importance of collaboration between Christians, Muslims and Jews for the promotion of peace, justice and spiritual and moral values, especially in support of the family.
The Vatican authorities expressed their hope for the prosperity of all the inhabitants of the country, and mention was made of the positive and industrious presence of Christians.
Finally, views were exchanged on the situation in the Middle East and on the need to find a just solution to the conflicts affecting the region, especially that between Israelis and Palestinians.
Papa Ratzinger Forum has photos, some background news articles (including those translated from the Italian press), and news from today.
P.I.M.E. Asia News has an article about the meeting and an interview with a Christian of Indian origin, who was detained in Saudi prisons in 2004, about the prospects for improvement in the aftermath of the visit. Added November 8, that site also has Comments by Msgr. Paul Hinder on the visit.
AFP had one of the earliest English language news articles about today's visit.
Other news articles about the visit are available from Zenit, Catholic World News, Catholic News Agency, Associated Press, and Reuters.
Stephen Hand comments at The Bride and the Dragon: Saudi King Leaves Pope with a Sword.
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In his words before praying the noonday Angelus today, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the Gospel reading for Mass today (Luke 19:1-10) and also about St. Charles Borromeo, whose feast day is November 4, and Pope John Paul II, whose baptismal name "Karol" was the Polish equivalent of "Charles."
The Gospel reading is St. Luke's account of Jesus and the tax collector Zacchaeus. The Holy Father said, "Once again, the Gospel tells us that love, coming from the heart of God and working through the heart of man, is the power that renews the world." He said of St. Charles Borromeo, the 16th century bishop, "His figure stood out in the 16th century as the model of a pastor exemplary for his charity, doctrine, apostolic zeal, an above all, prayer. 'Souls,' he said, 'are conquered by being on one's knees.'" He asked that people entrust bishops to St. Charles' intercession. After the Angelus, he mentioned the situation on the Turkey-Iraq border, a region where many Iraqi Christians live who have fled the situation in their country.
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
The Holy Father mentioned both today's and tomorrow's feasts in his words today at the Angelus. Here is a link to the Asia News article. Full translations are available from the Vatican and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is a quote:
"All human beings are therefore called to holiness, which ultimately consists in living as children of God, in that "likeness" with him in accordance with which they were created. All human beings are children of God and all must become what they are by means of the demanding process of freedom. God invites everyone to belong to his holy people. The "Way" is Christ, the Son, the Holy One of God: "no one comes to the Father but by me [Jesus]" (cf. Jn 14: 6)."
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about Maximus of Turin, who was bishop of Turin in a time of growing unrest, beginning in 398. Turin was a place to which many people fled from barbarian invaders. The homilies of Maximus were preached to the wealthy, often speaking of their civic duties at a time when the Roman authority was declining. The Pope spoke about the importance of paying taxes and commitment to the poor, saying that "living a Christian life means observing one’s civic duties."
An article is available from Asia News. Full translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
Here is a quote from the Holy Father's words in English at the end of the Audience (from Zenit):
"Like many other Bishops of the time, Maximus found himself called upon to take on greater civic authority and responsibility.
"His example and teaching remind us that, whatever the age in which they live, Christian believers are called upon to carry out faithfully their duties as citizens, working to imbue temporal society with the spirit of the Gospel, and striving to achieve a vital synthesis between their duties as citizens of the earthly city and their commitment to work for the coming of God’s Kingdom of holiness, justice and peace."
Pope Benedict spoke about martyrdom today in his words before praying the noonday Angelus. This followed the beatification mass of 498 martyrs from the Spanish Civil War.
Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, presided at the beatification mass in St. Peter's Square. I will look for an English translation of the homily and post a link to it here later. Meanwhile, it will be re-broadcast on EWTN at 9:00 a.m. Pacific/12:00 noon Eastern/6:00 p.m. Rome (about half an hour from now). I will do a separate post about the beatification later.
An article about the Pope's Angelus address is available from Asia News. Translations are available from the Vatican, Zenit, and from Teresa Benedetta at Papa Ratzinger Forum.
The Pope spoke about the possibility of martyrdom is "a realistic eventuality for the entire Christian people." It is not always a bloody martyrdom like that of the 498 martyrs beatified today. For some, like Celina Chludzińska Borzźcka who was beatified yesterday, it is "a bloodless martyrdom" of living the Gospel. Here is a quote from his words to English-speaking pilgrims:
"The Gospel invites us to leave aside all arrogance and pride, and to walk in humility before God and with our neighbour.
"The Beatifications today remind us of the importance of humbly following our Lord even to the point of offering our lives for the faith."