(August 11, 2010) Every week on Wednesday, the Pope holds a public meeting, called
the general audience, during which pilgrims and tourists who come to Rome have a chance
of seeing and hearing him speak. This week the Pope did not hold his the general
audience in the Vatican as usual but in the courtyard of the papal summer of Castel
Gandolfo, just outside Rome, where he is spending his summer. He delivered his catechesis
or reflection in Italian only. The Pope recalled some of the saints that the
Church commemorates this week, especially picking out Teresia Benedicta of the Cross
or Edith Stein, one of the three patronesses of Europe and Franciscan priest Maximilian
Kolbe. Both were martyred by the Nazis during World War II. Pope Benedict said that
the foundation of martyrdom lies in Christ’s supreme sacrifice of love on the cross
so that we might have life. Christ, the suffering servant who gave himself as ransom
for many, exhorted his disciples to take up their cross daily and follow him. Anyone
who does not take up his cross is not worthy of Him and one who loses his life for
His sake will find it. In this, the Pope said, is involved the logic of the grain
that must die in order to bring new life. Jesus allowed Himself to be broken in death
to bear fruit in the world. The Holy Father explained that martyrdom is not the
result of human effort but a grace and vocation from God and is born of an intimate
union with Him. It is God who enables man to respond to His call in order to offer
his life to Christ, the Church and the world. If we look at the lives of martyrs,
we will be surprised by their serenity and courage in front of suffering and death.
The Pope said, “God’s might is fully manifested in the weakness and poverty of the
one who trusts and hopes solely in Him.” The Pope further explained that God’s grace
in no way suppresses or suffocates the freedom of the one facing martyrdom. On
the contrary it enriches and enhances his freedom, as the martyr is absolutely free
in front of the powers and the world. A martyr is a free person, who in a unique
and definitive action gifts his entire life to God , and in a supreme act of faith,
hope and charity abandons himelf in the hands of his Creator and Redeemer. However,
Pope Benedict pointed out that even though not all called to martyrdom, no one is
excluded from taking up his cross daily. “Especially in our times when egoism and
individualism seem to prevail we must commit ourselves to the first and fundamental
task of growing each day in a greater love of God and neighbour, in order to transform
our lives and subsequently our world,” the Pope added. Pope Benedict greeted those
present at the audience in various languages, including in English. Listen: I
greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present today. I especially welcome the young
altar servers from Malta and their families, and I thank them for their faithful service
in Saint Peter’s Basilica. I also greet the pilgrimage groups from Nigeria, Indonesia
and the United States. In this month of August, when the Church commemorates so many
martyrs, let us give thanks for all those who followed Christ to the end by offering
their own lives in union with his sacrifice on the Cross. May their act of supreme
love and surrender to God inspire us on the way of holiness and charity towards our
brothers and sisters. Commending you and your families to their intercession, I cordially
invoke upon you God’s abundant blessing.