VATICAN - “We must not only speak of God, we must carry God in our hearts”: during his general audience Pope Benedict XVI highlights the validity of the teaching of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, recalls Blessed Teresa of Calcutta and underlines the importance of commitment to protect creation

Thursday, 6 September 2007

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - On Wednesday 5 September Pope Benedict XVI flew by helicopter from Castel Gandolfo to the Vatican to give his general audience to several thousands of visitors gathered in St Peter's Square. In his catechesis he illustrated certain aspects of the teaching of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, of whom he had spoken last Wednesday. “First of all Gregory of Nyssa demonstrates an elevated conception of the dignity of the human person - the Pope said -. Man's destiny, for the holy Bishop, is to grow in likeness to God.... through love, knowledge and the practice of virtues".
However, "the perfection that makes us participants in God's own sanctity is not something granted once and forever," the Holy Father warned. Rather it is "a permanent journey, a constant commitment to progress ... because complete likeness to God can never be achieved. The history of each soul is that of a love ... open to new horizons, because God continually expands the possibilities of the soul, so as to make it capable of ever greater good. In this journey of spiritual ascent, Christ is the Model and the Master. In fact “"because a Christian is one who bears the
name of Christ, and one who bears the name of Christ live like Him. .... We Christians with Baptism take on a great responsibility ” the Pope said.
Another important teaching of Saint Gregory of Nyssa was about love for the poor: human life is like an “ascent to God in prayer through purity of heart; but an ascent to God also through love of neighbour. Love is the stairway which leads to God ”. Since all humanity depends on God, Gregory affirms: “Do not think everything is yours! There must be a part for the poor, the friends of God. The truth is that everything comes from God, the universal Father and we are all brothers of the same lineage”. The Christian must examine his life, Gregory emphasises, on his fasting and must abstain from eating meat: what value can he have before God if, acting unjustly, he robs from the hand of the poor man that which is his? “To progress on the way to perfection and receive God in one's self, carry within one's self the Spirit of God, God's love, man must turn to Him with trust in prayer” Pope Benedict XVI said recalling this last aspect of the teaching of St Gregory of Nyssa, and he concluded “we must not only speak of God we must carry him in our hearts. We must do this with commitment to prayer and living in a spirit of love for all our brothers and sisters”.
At the end of his catechesis the Pope recalled that it was the tenth anniversary of the death of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta. Addressing some 1,500 Sisters and priests Missionaries of Charity and helpers present in the Square he said “the life and witness of this authentic disciple of Christ, are a call to you and to all the Church to serve God faithfully in the poor and the needy. Continue to follower her example and be everywhere channels of divine mercy.”
At the end of the audience, Benedict XVI turned his attention to an international symposium on the defence of the Arctic, which begins tomorrow on the west coast of Greenland under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The theme of the meeting is: "The Arctic: Mirror of Life." Speaking English, the Pope said: "Care of water resources and attention to climate change are matters of grave importance for the entire human family. Encouraged by the growing recognition of the need to preserve the environment, I invite all of you to join me in praying and working for greater respect for the wonders of God's creation." (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 6/9/2007 - righe 43, parole 629)


Share: