2008-05-05 13:53:45

Pope urges Catholic Action to fight relativism, hedonism, consumerism


(May 5, 2008) Pope Benedict on Sunday denounced what he called the ‘education emergency’ of Italy and urged the country’s largest Catholic movement, Catholic Action, to defeat the mentality of relativism, hedonism and consumerism. The Pope’s remarks came in an address to a massive rally of over 100,000 young and adult members of Catholic Action in St. Peter’s Square. They celebrated the 140th anniversary of their foundation with a Mass presided over by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the Italian bishops' conference. Speaking to the group after the traditional Sunday midday ‘Regina Coeli’ prayer the Pope recalled the ample "ecclesial dimension" of Catholic Action as a great responsibility of the lay vocation. "In a missionary Church, faced with an educational emergency like the one currently in Italy, you who love and serve it should be tireless announcers and ready and generous educators,” the Pope exhorted. “In a Church that faces the relativistic, hedonistic, and consumerist mentality on a daily basis, you must be able to make more room for rationality under the banner of a faith that is the friend of intelligence, both in the area of popular mass culture, and in that of more elaborate and reflective research,” he said. “In a Church that calls to the heroism of sanctity, respond without fear, always trusting in the mercy of God,” the Pope urged. He pointed to the roots of Catholic Action nourished by adherence to the Word of God, an unconditional love for the Church, an attentive participation in civic life and a constant commitment to formation.
Before reciting the “Regina Coeli” Marian prayer, the Pope reflected on the day’s feast of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven saying Christ came into the world to bring mankind back to God. This, he said, is the solid anchor of man’s existence. After the example of the first disciples who remained gathered together in the Cenacle around the Mother of Jesus in fervent expectation of the gift of the Holy Spirit promised by Jesus, the Holy Father urged all to be united in prayer and invoke the gift of the Holy Spirit. After the Marian prayer, the pope greeting various groups in their languages. He briefly addressed a group of the Neocatechumenal Way from Mumbai, India, but unfortunately the group was stranded in Mumbai with Italy refusing to grant entry visa.








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