VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

1 – 3 September 2010

HILDEGARD OF BINGEN: EXEMPLARY MINISTRY OF AUTHORITY

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father held his general audience this morning in the square in front of the Apostolic Place of Castelgandolfo, where he is spending the summer. His catechesis was dedicated to St. Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179), a great seer known as the “Teutonic prophetess”.

Before focusing on the saint the Pope turned his attention John Paul II’s 1988 Apostolic Letter “Mulieris dignitatem”, which examined “the precious role women have played and continue to play in the life of the Church”. The Church, that text states, “gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine ‘genius’ which have appeared in the course of history”.

“During the centuries we customarily call the Middle Ages”, said Benedict XVI, “certain female figures also stood out for the sanctity of their lives and the richness of their teachings”. One of these was Hildegard of Bingen, born to a noble family who chose to dedicate her to the service of God.

Having received an appropriate human and Christian formation at the hands of her teacher Jutta of Spanheim, Hildegard entered the Benedictine convent of St. Disibod where she received the veil from Bishop Otto of Bamberg. In 1136 she was elected as mother superior, a role she carried out using “her gifts as a cultured and spiritually elevated woman, capable of dealing with the organisational aspects of life in the cloister”, said the Pope.

Soon afterwards, due to the large number of vocations, Hildegard founded another community, located in Bingen and dedicated to St. Rupert, where she spent the rest of her life. “The manner in which she exercised the ministry of authority remains exemplary for all religious communities”, noted the Holy Father. “She aroused saintly emulation in the practice of good works”.

While still superior of the convent of St. Disibod the saint began to dictate her mystical visions to her spiritual advisor, the monk Volmar, and to her own secretary, Richardis of Strade. “As is always the case in the lives of true mystics, Hildegard wished to place herself under the authority of the wise, in order to discern the origin of her visions, which she was afraid could be the fruit of illusions and not from God”.

To this end she spoke with St. Bernard of Clairvaux who calmed her fears and encouraged her. In 1147, moreover, she received the crucial approbation of Pope Eugene III who, in the Synod of Trier, read out one of the texts dictated by Hildegard which had been presented to him by Archbishop Henry of Mainz.

“The Pope authorised the mystic to write her visions and to speak in public. From that moment Hildegard’s spiritual prestige grew to the point that her contemporaries gave her the title of the ‘Teutonic prophetess’”, said Benedict XVI.

“The sign of an authentic experience of the Holy Spirit, the source of all charisms”, the Pope concluded, “is that the individual possessing supernatural gifts never boasts of them, never shows them off and, above all, demonstrates complete obedience to ecclesiastical authority. All gifts distributed by the Holy Spirit are, in fact, intended for the edification of the Church and it is the Church, through her pastors, who recognises their authenticity”.

YOUNG PEOPLE: LIVE AND TRANSMIT THE VALUES OF THE GOSPEL

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Among his remarks to pilgrim groups at the end of this morning’s general audience in Castelgandolfo, the Pope addressed a special greeting to participants in the Third Latin American Youth Conference, which is soon to be held in the city of Los Teques, Venezuela, on the theme “Let us walk with Jesus to give Life to our peoples”.

Benedict XVI invited young people to fix their “gaze on Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God. With His Grace”, he said, “you will find the strength which encourages us to commit ourselves to causes that dignify mankind and make peoples great.

“Dear young people, may these days of coexistence, prayer and study serve to bring you to a personal encounter with the Lord, and to listen to His Word. You will not be disappointed, because He has designs of love and salvation for everyone. The Pope is with you and reiterates his trust, at the same time asking God to help you so that - being authentic disciples of Jesus Christ - you may live the values of the Gospel, transmit them courageously to those around you and draw inspiration from them to build a more just and reconciled world. It is worthwhile committing to this beautiful mission”.

The Holy Father concluded by calling on the Virgin Mary to accompany the young people on their journey and “to remind them always that there is no greater happiness that being a friend of Christ”.

CONGRESS OF ASIAN CATHOLIC LAITY: PROCLAIMING JESUS CHRIST

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was a Message from the Pope for the opening of the Congress of Asian Catholic Laity, which is being held in Seoul, Korea, from 31 August to 5 September on the theme “Proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia Today”.

In the English-language Message, addressed to Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Holy Father mentions his “wish to single out with gratitude the outstanding work of the many catechists who bring the riches of the Catholic faith to young and old alike”. In this context he highlights the contribution of apostolic and charismatic movements which “bring new life and vigour to the formation of the laity, particularly families and young people”.

“I pray”, the Holy Father writes, “that the present congress will highlight the indispensable role of the lay faithful in the Church’s mission and develop specific programmes and initiatives to assist them in their task of proclaiming Jesus Christ in Asia today”.

“Those who have found in Jesus the truth, joy and beauty which give meaning and direction to their lives will naturally desire to bring this grace to others. Undaunted by the presence of difficulties, or the enormity of the task at hand, they will trust in the mysterious presence of the Holy Spirit Who is always at work in the hearts of individuals, in their traditions and cultures, mysteriously opening doors to Christ as ‘the way, and the truth and the life’, and the fulfilment of every human aspiration”.

BENEDICT XVI’S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Pope Benedict’s general prayer intention for September is: “That in less developed parts of the world the proclamation of the Word of God may renew people’s hearts, encouraging them to work actively toward authentic social progress”.

His mission intention is: “That by opening our hearts to love we may put an end to the numerous wars and conflicts which continue to bloody our world”.

POPE RECEIVES SHIMON PERES, PRESIDENT OF ISRAEL

VATICAN CITY, 2 SEP 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today released the following English-language communique:

“Today in the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, Benedict XVI received in audience Shimon Peres, president of Israel, who also met with Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. and Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, secretary for Relations with States.

“During the cordial discussions, the pilgrimage of His Holiness to the Holy Land in May 2009 was recalled.

“Concerning the renewal of direct contacts between Israelis and Palestinians, scheduled for today in Washington, U.S.A., the hope was expressed that this may assist in reaching an agreement that is respectful of the legitimate aspirations of the two peoples and capable of bringing lasting peace to the Holy Land and to the entire region. The condemnation of all forms of violence and the necessity of guaranteeing better conditions of life to all the peoples of the area were reaffirmed. The discussions also touched on inter-religious dialogue and an overview of the international situation.

“The discussions also permitted the examination of the relations between the State of Israel and the Holy See and those of the State authorities with the local Catholic communities. In this regard, emphasis was given to the great significance of the presence of these communities in the Holy Land, and the contribution they make to the common good of society, also through Catholic schools. Finally, the results, thus far, of the bilateral working Commission, which has for many years been tasked with the drafting of an accord concerning economic matters, were noted while at the same time expressing the hope for the rapid conclusion of its work”.

ACTIVITIES OF POPE BENEDICT XVI IN AUGUST

VATICAN CITY, 2 SEP 2010 (VIS) - Following is a list of Pope Benedict’s activities during the month of August. It includes the Angelus, general and private audiences, other pontifical acts, letters, messages, telegrams and other news. The activities are presented in chronological order under their respective headings.

ANGELUS

- 1: The Holy Father recalls the saints days and feast days of early August: St. Alfonso Maria de Liguori and St. John Mary Vianney, and the feasts of the dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica and of the Transfiguration of the Lord. Following the Angelus he expresses his happiness at the fact that the convention on the prohibition of cluster munitions comes into effect today, recalling the many victims who have suffered and continue to suffer because of them.

- 8: Benedict XVI, commenting on today’s Gospel reading, highlights the Lord’s call to remain vigilant, alert and full of love for His coming at the end of time. He then goes on to mention a number of saints whose liturgical memory falls in this period and who lived their lives rooted in God: Dominic of Guzman, Clare of Assisi, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) and Maximilian Kolbe.

- 15: On the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Holy Father calls on the Virgin Mary “to accompany us in this earthly life, to help us look up to heaven, and one day to welcome us alongside her Son Jesus”.

- 22: Before praying the Angelus, the Pope speaks about the Virgin Mary, who is venerated today as Queen. To Mary’s intercession the Holy Father entrusts “daily prayer for peace, especially where the absurd logic of violence is most prevalent, so that all mankind may become convinced that we must be as brothers in this world, helping one another to build a civilisation of love”.

- 29: In his last Angelus of August, Benedict XVI comments on the parable of the wedding guests, inviting people to imitate Christ as a model of humility and gratitude and, like Him, to take the last lowest place. He then goes on to recall how 1 September marks the Day for the Protection of Creation, an initiative promoted by the Italian Episcopal Conference “which this year highlights how there can be no peace without respect for the environment”. He also makes special mention of miners trapped in the San Jose mine in the Chilean region of Atacama.

WEDNESDAY GENERAL AUDIENCES

- 4: The Pope travels by helicopter from Castelgandolfo to the Vatican where, in St. Peter’s Square, he meets with participants in a pilgrimage of altar servers, addressing them in German. Following the catechesis, he makes an appeal for peoples recently affected by serious natural calamities.

- 11: At today’s general audience, held at the Apostolic Palace of Castelgandolfo, the Pope turns his attention to a number of martyr saints, both from the early centuries of the Church and from more recent times, such as Lawrence, Hippolytus, Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and Maximilian Kolbe. The Holy Father highlights how “God calls us all to sanctity” and he invites people to call on the Lord to enflame their hearts so that, like the saints and martyrs, “we may be capable of loving as He loved us”.

- 18: In his catechesis today the Pope speaks about St. Pius X, who “teaches us that at the root of our apostolic activity, in the various fields in which we work, there must always be an intimate personal union with Christ, a union to be cultivated and nurtured day after day”. He also makes an appeal for people affected by the recent flooding in Pakistan which has caused many deaths and left thousands of families homeless.

- 25: Benedict XVI turns his attention to St. Augustine who, he said, “became a great ‘travelling companion’ in my own life and ministry”. He also invites the faithful to gain a deeper knowledge of the saints, reading their lives and their writings. “Be sure”, he explained, “that they will become guides to help you love the Lord with ever greater love, and an important help for your human and Christian development”. At the end of the audience, the Pope launches an appeal for an end to violence in Mogadishu, giving assurances of his “closeness to the families of the victims and to everyone who is suffering because of hatred and instability in Somalia”.

OTHER NEWS

- 15: For the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Virgin, the Pope celebrates Mass and pronounces a homily in the parish church of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castelgandolfo.

- 31: Publication of the words pronounced by the Pope at the Mass which concluded his meeting with a group of his former students (Ratzinger Schulerkreis). The meeting took place at Castelgandolfo from 27 to 30 August.

MESSAGE FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY 2011

VATICAN CITY, 3 SEP 2010 (VIS) - “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” is the title of the Message of Benedict XVI for the twenty-sixth World Youth Day, which is due to be celebrated in the Spanish capital Madrid during the month of August 2011.

The Message - dated from the Vatican on 6 August, Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord - has been published today. Paragraphs taken from the English-language version are given below. The Pope writes:

I often think back on the World Youth Day held in Sydney, Australia, in 2008. There we had an experience of a great festival of faith in which the Spirit of God was actively at work, building deep communion among the participants who had come from all over the world. That gathering, like those on previous occasions, bore rich fruit in the lives of many young people and in the life of the whole Church. ... Now, at a time when Europe greatly needs to rediscover its Christian roots, our meeting will take place in Madrid with the theme: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”.

1. At the source of your deepest aspirations

In every period of history, including our own, many young people experience a deep desire for personal relationships marked by truth and solidarity. ... In thinking of my own youth, I realise that stability and security are not the questions that most occupy the minds of young people. True enough, it is important to have a job and thus to have firm ground beneath our feet, yet the years of our youth are also a time when we are seeking to get the most out of life. ... We wanted something great, something new. We wanted to discover life itself, in all its grandeur and beauty. Naturally, part of that was due to the times we lived in. During the Nazi dictatorship and the war, we were, so to speak, “hemmed in” by the dominant power structure. So we wanted to break out into the open, to experience the whole range of human possibilities. I think that, to some extent, this urge to break out of the ordinary is present in every generation.

... Is this simply an empty dream that fades away as we become older? No! Men and women were created for something great, for infinity. ... The desire for a more meaningful life is a sign that God created us and that we bear His “imprint”. God is life, and that is why every creature reaches out towards life. Because human beings are made in the image of God, we do this in a unique and special way. We reach out for love, joy and peace. So we can see how absurd it is to think that we can truly live by removing God from the picture! God is the source of life. To set God aside is to separate ourselves from that source and, inevitably, to deprive ourselves of fulfilment and joy.

In some parts of the world, particularly in the West, today’s culture tends to exclude God, and to consider faith a purely private issue with no relevance for the life of society. Even though the set of values underpinning society comes from the Gospel - values like the sense of the dignity of the person, of solidarity, of work and of the family - we see a certain “eclipse of God” taking place, a kind of amnesia which, albeit not an outright rejection of Christianity, is nonetheless a denial of the treasure of our faith, a denial that could lead to the loss of our deepest identity.

For this reason, dear friends, I encourage you to strengthen your faith in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. You are the future of society and of the Church! As the Apostle Paul wrote to the Christians of Colossae, it is vital to have roots, a solid foundation! This is particularly true today. Many people have no stable points of reference on which to build their lives, and so they end up deeply insecure. There is a growing mentality of relativism, which holds that everything is equally valid, that truth and absolute points of reference do not exist. But this way of thinking does not lead to true freedom, but rather to instability, confusion and blind conformity to the fads of the moment. As young people, you are entitled to receive from previous generations solid points of reference to help you to make choices and on which to build your lives: like a young plant which needs solid support until it can sink deep roots and become a sturdy tree capable of bearing fruit.

2. Planted and built up in Jesus Christ

In order to highlight the importance of faith in the lives of believers, I would like to reflect with you on each of the three terms used by St. Paul in the expression: “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”. We can distinguish three images: “planted” calls to mind a tree and the roots that feed it; “built up” refers to the construction of a house; “firm” indicates growth in physical or moral strength. These images are very eloquent.

... The first image is that of a tree which is firmly planted thanks to its roots, which keep it upright and give it nourishment. ... What are our roots? Naturally our parents, our families and the culture of our country are very important elements of our personal identity. But the Bible reveals a further element. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: “Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots by the stream”. ... For the prophet, to send out roots means to put one’s trust in God. From Him we draw our life. ... Jesus Himself tells us that He is our life. Consequently, Christian faith is not only a matter of believing that certain things are true, but above all a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is an encounter with the Son of God that gives new energy to the whole of our existence.

... There is a moment, when we are young, when each of us wonders: what meaning does my life have? What purpose and direction should I give to it? This is a very important moment, and it can worry us, perhaps for some time. ... Here, once more, I think of my own youth. I was somehow aware quite early on that the Lord wanted me to be a priest. Then later, after the war, when I was in the seminary and at university on the way towards that goal, I had to recapture that certainty. I had to ask myself: is this really the path I was meant to take? Is this really God’s will for me? ... A decision like this demands a certain struggle. It cannot be otherwise. But then came the certainty: this is the right thing! Yes, the Lord wants me, and He will give me strength. If I listen to Him and walk with Him, I become truly myself. What counts is not the fulfilment of my desires, but of His will. In this way life becomes authentic.

Just as the roots of a tree keep it firmly planted in the soil, so the foundations of a house give it long-lasting stability. Through faith, we have been built up in Jesus Christ, even as a house is built on its foundations. Sacred history provides many examples of saints who built their lives on the Word of God. ... Being built up in Jesus Christ means responding positively to God’s call, trusting in Him and putting His Word into practice.

Dear friends, build your own house on rock. ... Try each day to follow Christ’s Word. ... With Him at your side, you will find courage and hope to face difficulties and problems, and even to overcome disappointments and set-backs. You are constantly being offered easier choices, but you yourselves know that these are ultimately deceptive and cannot bring you serenity and joy. Only the Word of God can show us the authentic way, and only the faith we have received is the light which shines on our path. ... Do not believe those who tell you that you don’t need others to build up your life! Find support in the faith of those who are dear to you, in the faith of the Church, and thank the Lord that you have received it and have made it your own!

3. Firm in the faith

You are “planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith”. The Letter from which these words are taken was written by St. Paul in order to respond to a specific need of the Christians in the city of Colossae. ... Our own cultural context, dear young people, is not unlike that of the ancient Colossians. Indeed, there is a strong current of secularist thought that aims to make God marginal in the lives of people and society by proposing and attempting to create a “paradise” without Him. Yet experience tells us that a world without God becomes a “hell”: filled with selfishness, broken families, hatred between individuals and nations, and a great deficit of love, joy and hope. On the other hand, wherever individuals and nations accept God’s presence, worship Him in truth and listen to His voice, then the civilisation of love is being built, a civilisation in which the dignity of all is respected, and communion increases, with all its benefits. Yet some Christians allow themselves to be seduced by secularism or attracted by religious currents that draw them away from faith in Jesus Christ. There are others who, while not yielding to these enticements, have simply allowed their faith to grow cold, with inevitable negative effects on their moral lives.

Dear friends, the Cross often frightens us because it seems to be a denial of life. In fact, the opposite is true! It is God’s “yes” to mankind, the supreme expression of His love and the source from which eternal life flows. ... I can only urge you, then, to embrace the Cross of Jesus, the sign of God’s love, as the source of new life.

4. Believing in Jesus Christ without having seen Him

For many people today, it has become difficult to approach Jesus. There are so many images of Jesus in circulation which, while claiming to be scientific, detract from His greatness and the uniqueness of His person. That is why, after many years of study and reflection, I thought of sharing something of my own personal encounter with Jesus by writing a book. It was a way to help others see, hear and touch the Lord in whom God came to us in order to make Himself known.

Dear young people, learn to “see” and to “meet” Jesus in the Eucharist, where He is present and close to us, and even becomes food for our journey. In the Sacrament of Penance the Lord reveals His mercy and always grants us His forgiveness. Recognise and serve Jesus in the poor, the sick, and in our brothers and sisters who are in difficulty and in need of help. Enter into a personal dialogue with Jesus Christ and cultivate it in faith. Get to know Him better by reading the Gospels and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Converse with Him in prayer, and place your trust in Him. He will never betray that trust! ... Thus you will acquire a mature and solid faith, one which will not be based simply on religious sentiment or on a vague memory of the catechism you studied as a child. You will come to know God and to live authentically in union with him, like the Apostle Thomas who showed his firm faith in Jesus in the words: “My Lord and my God!”

5. Sustained by the faith of the Church, in order to be witnesses

In the history of the Church, the saints and the martyrs have always drawn from the glorious Cross of Christ the strength to be faithful to God even to the point of offering their own lives. In faith they found the strength to overcome their weaknesses and to prevail over every adversity. ... The victory born of faith is that of love. There have been, and still are, many Christians who are living witnesses of the power of faith that is expressed in charity.

Christ is not a treasure meant for us alone; He is the most precious treasure we have, one that is meant to be shared with others. In our age of globalisation, be witnesses of Christian hope all over the world. How many people long to receive this hope!

In the same way, if you believe, and if you are able to live out your faith and bear witness to it every day, you will become a means of helping other young people like yourselves to find the meaning and joy of life, which is born of an encounter with Christ!

6. On the way to World Youth Day in Madrid

Dear friends, once again I invite you to attend World Youth Day in Madrid. I await each of you with great joy. Jesus Christ wishes to make you firm in faith through the Church. The decision to believe in Jesus Christ and to follow Him is not an easy one. It is hindered by our personal failures and by the many voices that point us towards easier paths. Do not be discouraged. Rather, look for the support of the Christian community, the support of the Church!

Throughout this year, carefully prepare for the meeting in Madrid with the bishops, priests and youth leaders in your dioceses, parish communities, associations and movements. The quality of our meeting will depend above all on our spiritual preparation, our prayer, our common hearing of the word of God and our mutual support.

Dear young people, the Church depends on you! She needs your lively faith, your creative charity and the energy of your hope. Your presence renews, rejuvenates and gives new energy to the Church. That is why World Youth Days are a grace, not only for you, but for the entire People of God. The Church in Spain is actively preparing to welcome you and to share this joyful experience of faith with you.

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