Take Courage!

The Fundamental Truth

Lent stimulates us to let the word of God penetrate 

our life and in this way to know the fundamental truth: 

who we are, 

where we come from, 

where we must go, 

what path we must take.  

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Only in This Encounter

'Christianity is not a new philosophy or a new morality. 

We are Christian only if we encounter Christ.... 

only in this personal relationship with Christ, 

only in this encounter with the Risen One do we really become Christians... 

Therefore, let us pray to the Lord to enlighten us so that, in our world, 

He will grant us the encounter with His presence, and thus give a lively faith, 

an open heart, and great charity for all, capable of renewing the world.'

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Painting: Karoly Ferenczy, Sermon on the Mountain, 1896

Simply

'Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not the expensive gifts that call for time and money.  We can communicate this joy simply: with a smile, a kind gesture, a little help, forgiveness. And the joy we give will certainly come back to us.'

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Do We Seek A Savior?

"The question is: is the humanity of our time still waiting for a Savior? One has the feeling that many consider God as foreign to their own interests. Apparently, they do not need Him. They live as though He did not exist and, worse still, as though He were an 'obstacle' to remove in order to fulfill themselves. Even among believers - we are sure of it - some let themselves be attracted by enticing dreams and distracted by misleading doctrines that suggest deceptive shortcuts to happiness. Yet, despite its contradictions, worries and tragedies, it seeks a Savior and awaits, sometimes unconsciously, the coming of the Savior who renews the world and our life, the coming of Christ, the one true Redeemer of man and of the whole of man."

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Painting: T F Simon, New York

The Beautiful Task of Advent

'Advent is concerned with 
that very connection 
between memory and hope 
which is so necessary to man. 
Advent's intention is to awaken 
the most profound and emotional 
memory within us; namely, 
the memory of the God Who became a child. 
This is a healing memory; 
it brings hope.... 
It is the beautiful task of Advent 
to awaken in all of us 
memories of goodness 
and thus to open doors of hope.'

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

Be Not Afraid

Painting: Childe Hassam, The Fourth of July, 1916, in US public domain due to age

Encounter

Your Photo Here...

'What does it mean to be saints? Who is called to be a saint? Often it is thought that holiness is a goal reserved for a few chosen ones. St. Paul, however, speaks of God's great plan and affirms: '(God) chose us in him, before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blemish before him.' And he speaks of all of us..... I would like to invite you to open yourselves to the action of the Holy Spirit, who transforms our life, to be, we also, pieces of the great mosaic of holiness that God is creating in history, so that the Face of Christ will shine in the fullness of its brilliance....'  (Pope Benedict XVI, 2011; click here to continue)

Only In This Friendship

'If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing,
absolutely nothing, of what makes life free,
beautiful and great.  No!
Only in this friendship
are the doors of life opened wide.
Only in this friendship
is the great potential of human existence truly revealed.'

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI












Photo via Pixabay

In Thanksgiving

Thank You, Lord our God, that we have been blessed with eight years under the guidance of Pope Benedict XVI.

As You lead him now into a truly cloistered life, we ask that you hold him, protect him, and draw him ever more deeply into Your most Sacred Heart.

Jesus, we trust in You.

Amen.