Pope receives Pontifical Spanish College of Saint Joseph
Pope Benedict XVI received the students, faculty, and staff of the Pontifical Spanish
College of St. Joseph of Rome on Thursday, to mark the 50th anniversary
of the College’s current facilities. Speaking to his guests in the Clementine Hall
of the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican, Pope Benedict remembered the thousands of
priests who have studied at the College since its founding in the 19th
century, and expressed joy at marking the fiftieth anniversary of its facilities at
via di Torre Rossa in Rome, just Southwest of Vatican City. The Holy Father especially invoked St John of Avila, whose liturgical memory comes on May 10th, recalling that he shall declare the saint and Patron of Spanish secular clergy a Doctor of the Church. Pope Benedict reminded his guests that the training of priests is always a top priority for the Church, and that the priest renews his life and his ministry by drawing strength from the contemplation of God’s word and from intense dialogue with the Lord. “You can not bring Christ to your brethren, nor can you find Him in the poor and the sick,” said Pope Benedict, “if you do not discover Him first in fervent and constant prayer.” T
he Holy Father went on to discuss the need to promote a personal relationship with Christ as the one whom the priest then proclaims, celebrates and communicates., saying that this is the foundation of priestly spirituality. Listen to our report:
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