Just something for any seminarians who might drop by to the blog. Here our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, speaking to seminarians in Cologne during the World Youth Day gathering in 2005, speaks of the need to have a holiness based on friendship with Christ. The reference to the gifts of the three wise men is because of Cologne having those three as patrons, but it is especially good in this time of Epiphany how they relate to the gifts we can bring:
The secret of holiness is friendship with Christ and faithful obedience to his will. Saint Ambrose said: "Christ is everything for us"; and Saint Benedict warned against putting anything before the love of Christ. May Christ be everything for you. Dear seminarians, be the first to offer him what is most precious to you, as Pope John Paul II suggested in his Message for this World Youth Day: the gold of your freedom, the incense of your ardent prayer, the myrrh of your most profound affection.
5 comments:
Fr Julian,
I hope you don't mind, but may I nab this to post this quote on my own blog? I find it very instructive and inspirational.
Be my guest. It belongs to Pope John Paul II and I doubt he'll complain too much.
Thank for for posting that, Father. It was lovely to be reminded of that text. It was deeply influential for me, both in the profound message that Pope Benedict gave, and in the fact that he devoted this time to us at the World Youth Day. This is definitely an apt time to revisit it...
Very good. Now all we need is a link on your blog!
As always Fr J you know how to help! Thanks so much!!
JP
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