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WHAT IS GOD WHISPERING TO YOU?
Friends, again I ask you, what about today? What are you seeking? What is God whispering to you? The hope which never disappoints is Jesus Christ. The saints show us the selfless love of his way. As disciples of Christ, their extraordinary journeys unfolded within the community of hope, which is the Church. It is from within the Church that you too will find the courage and support to walk the way of the Lord. Nourished by personal prayer, prompted by silence, shaped by the Church's liturgy you will discover the particular vocation God has for you. Embrace it with joy. You are Christ's disciples today. Shine his light upon this great city and beyond. Show the world the reason for the hope that resonates within you. Tell others about the truth that sets you free.
-Pope Benedict XVI
Greeting to Young People
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
19 April 2008
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THE CHURCH NEEDS HOLY PRIESTS
The Church needs holy priests; ministers who can help the faithful to experience the merciful love of the Lord and who are his convinced witnesses.
Pope Benedict XVI
Opening of the Year for Priests
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PRIESTHOOD IS THE LOVE OF THE HEART OF CHRIST
One of St. John Vianney's beautiful and moving sayings, cited in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, immediately springs to my mind: ''The Priesthood is the love of the Heart of Jesus''. How is it possible not to remember with emotion that the gift of our priestly flowed directly from this Heart? How can we forget that we priests were consecrated to serve humbly and authoritatively the common priesthood of the faithful? Ours is an indispensable mission, for the Church and for the world, which demands full fidelity to Christ and in unceasing union with him this to remain in his love means that we must constantly strive for holiness, this union, as did St. John Marie Vianney.
Pope Benedict XVI
Opening of the Year for Priests
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GOD WAITS FOR US
A rabbinical tale recorded by Elie Wiesel tells of Jehel, a little boy, who comes running into the room of his grandfather, the famous Rabbi Baruch. Big tears are rolling down his cheeks. And he cries, ''My friend has totally given up on me. He is very unfair and very mean to me.''
''Well, could you explain this a alittle more?'' asks the master.
''Okay,'' responds the little boy. ''We were playing hid and seek. I was hidding so well that he could not find me. But then he simply gave up and went home. Isn't that mean?''
The most exciting hiding place has lost its excitement because the other stops playing.
The master caresses the boy's face. He himself now has tears in his eyes. And he says, ''Yes, this is not nice. But look, it is the same way with God. He is in hiding, and we do not seek Him. Just imagine! God is hiding, and we people do not even look for Him.''
In this little story a Christian is able to find the key to the ancient mystery of Christmas. God is in hiding. He waits for his creation to set out toward Him, He waits for a new and willing Yes to come about, for love to arise as a new reality out of his creation. He waits for man.
Pope Benedict XVI in Co-Workers of the Truth
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