Pope’s Sunday ‘Angelus’ message on role of Christian parents in education of children

(August 20, 2009) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday reflected on St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, and praised Christian parents and the role they play in helping their children in discovering God's will for them in their lives. Speaking in Italian to the crowds gathered at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, south-east of Rome, to recite the weekly midday “Angelus” prayer, the Holy Father noted that on Thursday the Church observed the feast day St. Monica, the model and patroness of Christian mothers. The dissolute young Augustine learned of Christ from his mother, "whose principles would remain with him even in the years when he had hit bottom spiritually and morally." "Monica never ceased to pray for him and for his conversion, and had the consolation of seeing him return to the faith and receive baptism," the Pontiff said. Augustine not only converted, but that he "decided to embrace the monastic life and, returning to Africa, found a community of monks." The Pope noted that the history of Christianity is studded with countless examples of saints and authentic Christian families, and he particularly picked out St. Basil the Great and St. Gregory Nazianzen. In our own times too the Pope pointed to the married couple, Luigi Beltrame Quattrocchi and Maria Corsini of Italy, who died in the second half of the last century and who were beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2001. “When the husband and wife generously dedicate themselves to the education of their children, guiding and orienting them in the discovery of God's design of life,” the Holy Father said, “they are preparing that fertile spiritual soil from which vocations to the priesthood and the consecrated life grow and mature."
After reciting the Sunday midday ‘Angelus’ Marian prayer at Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict recalled Italy's Day for the Protection of Creation, and urged people to commit themselves to safeguarding the environment. Italy will observe the day to protect the environment on Tuesday. The Holy Father said, "It is a significant event, even of ecumenical importance that has as its theme this year 'air,' an indispensable element for life." He called on all to “a greater commitment to the safeguarding of creation, gift of God." In particular, he encouraged “the industrialized countries to cooperate responsibly for the future of the planet, and that the poorest populations not pay the greatest price for climactic changes."
The Pope also greeted the crowd in several other languages, including in English.
Listen:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors at this Angelus including the first year seminarians from the Pontifical North American College. May your time here at Castel Gandolfo and in Rome deepen your integral understanding of our faith and strengthen in you the desire to be consistent in word and deed, following the heart and mind of our Lord. Upon each of you present and your families, I invoke God’s blessing of joy and peace!