Whenever you begin any good work you should first of all make a most pressing appeal to Christ our Lord to bring it to perfection….
Our eyes should be open to the God-given light, and we should listen in wonderment to the message of the divine voice as it daily cries out: Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts….
And so, girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his paths by the guidance of the Gospel; then we shall deserve to see him who has called us into his kingdom. If we wish to attain a dwelling-place in his kingdom we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds.
From the Rule of Benedict, abbot
Office of Readings, 11 July+
To live no longer for ourselves but for Christ: this is what gives full meaning to the life of those who let themselves be conquered by him. This is clearly demonstrated by the human and spiritual life of St Benedict who, having abandoned all things, set out to follow Jesus Christ faithfully.
…Benedict was a shining example of holiness and pointed Christ out to the monks as the one great ideal; he was a teacher of civilization who, in suggesting a balanced and adequate vision of the divine requirements and ultimate destiny of the human being, always also kept clearly in mind the needs and reasons of the heart, to teach and inspire authentic and constant brotherhood so that in the complex social relations people would not lose sight of a spiritual unity that would always be capable of building and fostering peace.
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
HomilyBenedictine Archabbey of Monte Cassino, 24 May 2009
For the complete text, please visit:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2009/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20090524_vespri-montecassino_en.html+
For the text of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s General Audience of 9 April 2008 on his patron, Saint Benedict of Norcia, please visit:
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