It is Rational to Believe

"As the Year of Faith progresses we carry in our hearts the hope of rediscovering our joy at believing and our enthusiasm for communicating the truth of faith to all. … This leads us to discover that our encounter with God brings value to, perfects and elevates that which is true, good and beautiful in mankind", said His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in his catechesis during the November 21, 2012 General Audience, held in the Vatican's Paul VI Hall.

 

Faith, the Pope explained, "means knowing God as Love, thanks to His own love. The love of God … opens our eyes and allows us to know all reality beyond the limited horizons of individualism and subjectivism which distort our awareness".

 

"…God, with His grace, illuminates reason and opens up new horizons, immeasurable and infinite. Therefore, faith is a continuous stimulus to seek, never to cease or acquiesce in the inexhaustible search for truth and reality. … In the irresistible desire for truth, only a harmonious relationship between faith and reason can show the correct path to God and to self-fulfilment".

 

Our Holy Father concluded, "It is rational to believe, as it is our very existence that is at stake".

For more information, please visit:

http://www.news.va/en/news/benedict-xvi-it-is-rational-to-believe

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 Pray for Peace in Gaza

"I am following with grave concern the escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the Gaza Strip", said His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI during his greetings following today's general audience. "Along with my prayers for the victims and for those who suffer, it is my duty to emphasise once again that hatred and violence are not the solutions to these problems. Furthermore, I endorse the initiatives and efforts of those who are working to promote a ceasefire and negotiations. I also encourage the authorities of both parties to make courageous decisions in favour of peace and to bring an end to a dispute which has negative repercussions throughout the whole of the Middle East, a region riven by excessive conflict and in need of peace and reconciliation".

For more information, please visit:

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-appeal-for-peace-in-gaza-full-text

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“Let us all pray to the Lord to give us peace that men cannot take away from us.”

-        His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem

For more information, please visit:

http://en.lpj.org/2012/11/21/patriarch-reacts-to-instability-in-the-region-affecting-latin-patriarchate-in-gaza-and-jordan/

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