Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Thoughts on Paul: I

I just got a little book from the Libreria Editrice Vaticana. "Pensieri su Paolo" (Thoughts on Paul). It's a collection of brief reflections on St. Paul, taken from the talks and writings of Pope Benedict, and collected together in a slim, attractive, volume for the Pauline Year. The second one is also a selection of meditations by the Holy Father on St. Paul. I didn't realize it when ordering it, but they are collected together as short prayer services designed to be celebrated publicly! As best as I can, I'll be sharing one reflection a day, in my translation from the Italian. For the rest of the life of this blog. :)

Today's reflection is from the Preface, by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State of His Holiness.

"The third movement which, in a certain sense, completes Paul's spiritual journey is that of mission. His task, in fact, is that of bringing the name of the Lord "even to the people, the kings and the sons of Israel" (Acts 9:15). Bringing Christ: he who has known Christ, who has come into contact with Him, cannot keep him for himself. We can think about the journey of joy of Mary to Elizabeth after the divine conception. ... However, the announcement of mission contains in itself also another revelation, that of the Cross. "I will show you," says the Lord, "how much you will need to suffer for my name." (Acts 9:16). The Cross tells us this: that our mode of giving should be like that of Jesus, who gave himself to us, renouncing every privilege, emptying himself, and choosing to serve. And this the Cross that Paul also carried in his life full of passion for Jesus, bu also full of suffering and torment, and which concluded with the spilling of his blood."

1 comment:

Fr. Andrew said...

That would be awesome if you can continue this until you leave.