At the last General Audience of 2009, this past Wednesday, Pope Benedict spoke about the 12th century's Peter Lombard. Benedetto XVI Forum also posted a translation with photos. The Daily Bulletin has the original Italian with summaries in several languages. Asia News has an article. The Pope spoke about Peter Lombard's life and about the 4 books of Lombard's The Sentences, which were used in theology schools until the 16th century, and were studied by the greatest theologians of the 13th century. He said, "I wish to underscore how the organic
presentation of the faith is an indispensable requirement. In fact, the
single truths of the faith illumine each other, and a total unified
view of these truths shows the harmony of God's plan of salvation and
the centrality of the mystery of Christ." The Pope spoke of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and its Compendium as offering today "this complete picture of the Christian Revelation that we should accept with faith and gratitude."
In his words at today's midday Angelus, Pope Benedict spoke about the Holy Family, drawing from the Gospel reading for Mass (Luke 2:41-52) about Mary and Joseph finding Jesus in the temple. Speaking in Spanish about a demonstration for the family held today in Madrid, the Pope said encouraged Christians "to bear witness serenely
but firmly that the family is based on the marriage of a man and a
woman, so as to safeguard it and promote it, because it is of the
utmost importance for the present and the future of humanity." Here is his English-language greeting after the Angelus prayer:
"I am happy to greet all the English-speaking visitors present at this Angelus
prayer. Today we celebrate with joy the Feast of the Holy Family, who shared
with us this fundamental human experience. I pray that the Lord may bless all
Christian families and assist them in living their daily life in mutual love and
in generosity to others, after the example of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. May
Almighty God continue to bless you all with peace and joy during this Christmas
Season!"
I will add a link to a full translation when available. The Daily Bulletin has the original text in Italian, with the Spanish portion as mentioned, and with greetings in several languages. Asia News has an article.
Later in the day, the Pope visited a soup kitchen to have lunch with the poor of Rome. Vatican Radio has an audio report on that visit and on the earlier Angelus address.
Here are some links for Pope Benedict's Christmas Eve homily, Christmas Day Urbi et Orbi address, and his words at the midday Angelus for today's celebration of the Feast of St. Stephen. This video is from today.
Unveiling of the Crèche:Vatican Radio has an audio report on Christmas Eve at the Vatican and the evening unveiling of the Christmas Crèche. The Pope participated in the unveiling of the Nativity Scene from the window of the papal apartments. Benedetto XVI Forum has photos of the crèche and the Pope's presence in his window.
Christmas Vigil Mass: The Daily Bulletin of the Vatican Press Office has the full Italian text of the Holy Father's homily with full translations into several languages, including English. Zenit and Benedetto XVI Forum have full English translations of the Holy Father's homily at the Christmas Vigil Mass held on Christmas Eve in St. Peter's Basilica. Benedetto XVI Forum also has a collection of photographs. KTO French Catholic TV has video on demand of the Mass.
In his homily, Pope Benedict spoke about the shepherds as models for how we too should respond to the birth of Christ. They heard the message because they were awake, he said, and we too should be awake. They went at once. Pope Benedict said, "From them we
should learn not to be crushed by all the pressing matters in our daily lives." The shepherds set off to see what has happened. "In the figure of Jesus
Christ, in the whole of his life and ministry, in his dying and rising, we can
see the Word of God and hence the mystery of the living God himself. This is
what God is like."
Afterward, the Vatican issued a Note the following day on an incident in which a woman believed to have mental problems attacked the Pope and Cardinal Etchegaray during the procession at the beginning of the Mass. The Pope was not injured, and he continued with the Mass. Cardinal Etchegaray will need surgery for a broken femur.
Urbi et Orbi: The Daily Bulletin also has the Italian text and translations into English and several other languages for the Pope's Christmas Address to the City of Rome and to the World ("Urbi et Orbi"). KTO has video on demand. Zenit and Benedetto XVI Forum also have English translations. Asia News has an article. Vatican Radio has an audio report, which also discusses the Christmas Vigil Mass and the attack on the Pope that evening.
In his Urbi et Orbi address, Pope Benedict began, "The liturgy of the Mass at Dawn reminded us that the night is
now past, the day has begun; the light radiating from the cave of Bethlehem
shines upon us." He spoke about the light of Christ, saying, "Wherever there is an 'us' which welcomes God’s
love, there the light of Christ shines forth, even in the most difficult
situations." He concluded by speaking of the gift of being part
of "the communion of
the Most Holy Trinity", open to everyone, from whose heart Jesus came into the world as God with us.
Feast of St. Stephen:Benedetto XVI Forum has an English translation of the Pope's words at today's midday Angelus. The Daily Bulletin has the original Italian text and greetings in several languages. Asia News has an article. Speaking of the first Christian martyr, he said, "Stephen's testimony, like that of all
the Christian martyrs, shows contemporary men, often distracted and
disoriented, in whom to place our trust in order to give sense to life." Remembering Christians who are suffering for their faith in various parts of the world, the Holy Father asked that we "commit ourselves to sustaining them with
prayers, and never to fall short of our Christian calling, always
placing Jesus Christ in the center of our life, whom we contemplate
these days in the simplicity and humility of the manger."
Here is the Holy Father's English language greeting:
"In these last days before Christmas, the Church invites us to contemplate the
mystery of Christ’s Birth and to experience the joy and hope which the newborn
Saviour brings into our world. Gazing on the Christ Child lying in the manger,
we contemplate the love of a God who humbly asks us to welcome him into our
hearts and into our world. By coming among us as a helpless Child, God conquers
our hearts not by force, but by love, and thus teaches us the way to authentic
freedom, peace and fulfilment. This Christmas, may the Lord grant us simplicity
of heart, so that we may recognize his presence and love in the lowly Babe of
Bethlehem, and, like the shepherds, return to our homes filled with ineffable
joy and gladness."
In his words before praying today's midday Angelus, Pope Benedict XVI spoke about the prophecy from Micah 3:1-4 in today's readings for Mass, particularly the words "He himself shall be peace!" That prophecy of messianic peace, he said, represents "a peace that is laboriously sought and awaited". He said that the mystery of Christmas "commits Christians to face the barriers, the crises, often unknown and
hidden, and the conflicts of their lives, with the sentiments of Jesus,
to become the instruments and messengers of peace everywhere, to bring
love where there is hate, forgiveness where there is offense, joy where
there is sadness, and truth where there is error, according to the
beautiful expressions of a famous Franciscan prayer." After the Angelus, his English language greeting spoke about Mary's visit to Elizabeth.
Here is the English language summary from the Daily Bulletin:
"In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the Middle Ages,
we now turn to John of Salisbury, an outstanding philosopher and theologian of
the twelfth century. Born in England, John was educated in Paris and Chartres. A
close associate of Saint Thomas Becket, he was involved in the crisis between
the Church and the Crown under King Henry II, and died as Bishop of Chartres. In
his celebrated work, the Metalogicon, John teaches that authentic
philosophy is by nature communicative: it bears fruit in a message of wisdom
which serves the building up of society in truth and goodness. While
acknowledging the limitations of human reason, John insists that it can attain
to the truth through dialogue and argumentation. Faith, which grants a share in
God’s perfect knowledge, helps reason to realize its full potential. In
another work, the Policraticus, John defends reason’s capacity to know
the objective truth underlying the universal natural law, and its obligation to
embody that law in all positive legislation. John’s insights are most timely
today, in light of the threats to human life and dignity posed by legislation
inspired more by the "dictatorship of relativism" than by the sober
use of right reason and concern for the principles of truth and justice
inscribed in the natural law."
At the Angelus on this third Sunday of Advent, Pope Benedict spoke about one of the readings for today's Mass, Philippians 4:4-7 ("Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice!"). Blessing images of the baby Jesus, brought today by children from Rome to be placed in their families' crèches, he spoke about the true joy of Christmas:
"The blessing of the 'Bambinelli', as we
say in Rome, reminds us that the crèche is a school of life, where we
can learn the secret of true joy. This does not consist in having many
things, but in feeling loved by the Lord, in giving ourselves to
others, and in loving each other."
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict spoke about Rupert of Deutz, a 12th century theologian who wrote prolifically about the theological issues of his day and also wrote sometimes of "his mystical experiences, as when he confides about the ineffable joy of having perceived the presence of the Lord" combining "the rational study of the mysteries of the faith with prayer and contemplation, considered the summit of all knowledge of God."
Zenit and Benedetto XVI Forum have full English translations of the text. The Daily Bulletin has the original Italian text with summaries and greetings in several languages. Vatican Information Service has a press release. In his French greeting, he congratulated KTO French Catholic TV on this month's celebration of 10 years of broadcasting, extending an apostolic blessing to those who run the TV channel and to its viewers.
Here is the English language summary:
"In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the Middle Ages, we now turn to
Rupert of Deutz, an outstanding theologian of the twelfth century. Rupert
experienced at first hand the conflict between the Empire and the Church linked
to the investiture crisis, and he played a significant role in the principal
theological debates of his day. He forcefully defended the reality of Christ’s
real presence in the Eucharist, and insisted that the origin of evil is to be
found in man’s mistaken use of freedom, not in the positive will of God.
Rupert also contributed to the medieval discussion of the purpose of the
Incarnation, which he set within a vast vision of history centred on Christ. His
teaching on the dignity and privileges of the Virgin Mary, presented within a
broad ecclesiological context, would prove influential for later theology and
find an echo in the doctrine of the Second Vatican Council. Rupert’s ability
to harmonize the rational study of the mysteries of faith with prayer and
contemplation makes him a typical representative of the monastic theology of his
time. His example inspires us to draw near to Christ, present among us in his
Word and in the Eucharist, and to rejoice in the knowledge that he remains with
us at every moment of our lives and throughout history."
In his words at today's midday Angelus, Pope Benedict spoke about St. John the Baptist as a historical figure. He then mentions that in today's Gospel reading for Mass (Luke 3:1-6), "after this ample historical
introduction, the subject matter becomes 'the Word of God', presented
as a power that comes from above and descends on John the Baptist. . . . Jesus himself is the Divine Word made flesh in the virginal womb of Mary." He spoke about Mary as "the most beautiful flower germinated from the Word of God", and he mentioned the struggle "between the
desert and the garden, between the sin that parches the earth and the
grace that waters it so that it produces abundant fruits of holiness."
In today's General Audience, Pope Benedict spoke about 12th century William of Saint-Thierry. Zenit and Benedetto XVI Forum have full English translations. The Daily Bulletin has the original Italian text and summaries in several languages. Vatican Information Service has a press release, and Asia News has an article.
Here is the Holy Father's English language summary:
"In our catechesis on the Christian culture of the Middle Ages, we now turn to
William of Saint-Thierry, an outstanding monastic theologian and a close friend
of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. William took active part in the twelfth-century
movement of monastic renewal and, after serving as abbot of Saint-Thierry, he
entered the Cistercian monastery of Signy. A central theme of his writings is
the nature and power of love, seen as the ultimate vocation and the driving
force of the human spirit. For William, this innate human drive finds perfection
in the love of the triune God, the source and goal of all love. As the
culmination of a process of purification and integration of the affections, the
love of God brings supreme human fulfilment, and a profound experiential
knowledge of both God and the world about us. In William’s celebrated phrase, Amor
ipse intellectus est – love itself brings knowledge. By contemplation of
the mysteries of the faith, we grow in the image of God and, by uniting our will
to his, we become one with him. May the example and teaching of William of
Saint-Thierry strengthen our desire to love God above all things and to let that
love overflow in love of our neighbour. May we thus discover authentic joy and
the foretaste of eternal bliss."
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