Rome‐Italy, February 16, 2011 (Communicationes). ‐This Wednesday, in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican, Benedict XVI devoted his instruction to Saint John of the Cross, referring to him as a “spiritual friend of Saint Teresa, reformer, together with her, of the Carmelite religious family, proclaimed Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1926, and according to tradition was given a title: Mystical Doctor.
The Pope emphasized the importance of the writings of the Carmelite mystic for every Christian and, before the 4,000 pilgrims present at the audience, he outlined the fundamental themes of St John’s four great works: The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love.
The Holy Father pointed out that John of the Cross describes in his works “a secure path to reach sanctity”, a state of perfection in which the Christian needs an interior purification of all disorderly dependence on things”.
At the same time, the Pope underlined that this “process of purification demands personal effort”. In actual fact “the real protagonist is God” and people are incapable of purifying themselves completely by themselves.
“Holiness comes not from our own work” explained Benedict XVI, rather it consists of “opening the windows of our soul to God’s light. He invited all Christians to “let themselves be loved by God, who helps us to carry our daily burden”.
This is the second instruction that the Pope has devoted this month to a Carmelite saint. On the 2nd February he began his instructions on the great Doctors of the Church by speaking about Saint Teresa of Jesus.
The Pope emphasized the importance of the writings of the Carmelite mystic for every Christian and, before the 4,000 pilgrims present at the audience, he outlined the fundamental themes of St John’s four great works: The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle and The Living Flame of Love.
The Holy Father pointed out that John of the Cross describes in his works “a secure path to reach sanctity”, a state of perfection in which the Christian needs an interior purification of all disorderly dependence on things”.
At the same time, the Pope underlined that this “process of purification demands personal effort”. In actual fact “the real protagonist is God” and people are incapable of purifying themselves completely by themselves.
“Holiness comes not from our own work” explained Benedict XVI, rather it consists of “opening the windows of our soul to God’s light. He invited all Christians to “let themselves be loved by God, who helps us to carry our daily burden”.
This is the second instruction that the Pope has devoted this month to a Carmelite saint. On the 2nd February he began his instructions on the great Doctors of the Church by speaking about Saint Teresa of Jesus.
Source:
Communicationes N. 171
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