Pope's general audience of August 8
(August 08, 2012) 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 in several languages and receive his blessing. The
general audience of August 8th took place in the courtyard of the summer
papal residence in the hill town of Castel Gandolfo, just southeast of Rome, where
the Pope is currently staying. Continuing his series of general audience reflections
on prayer, Pope Benedict XVI this weekly focussed on the spirituality of the saint
of the day - St. Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers or Domenicans, who
lived between the 12th and 13th centuries. Speaking in Italian,
Pope Benedict explained that the man of prayer was in love with God and had no other
desire except the salvation of souls, particularly of those caught up in the heresies
of the time. The imitator of Christ, radically incarnated the three evangelical councils
of poverty, chastity and obedience, uniting to the proclamation of the Word the witness
of a life of poverty. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Pope said, Dominic
advanced in Christian perfection, finding strength in prayer that renewed and enriched
his apostolic works. Pope Benedict recalled Blessed Jordan of Saxony who wrote about his immediate predecessor saying during the day no one was more sociable than Dominic and at night no one more earnest in prayer than him. His day was dedicated to his neighbours while his night was to God. In the saint we find an example of harmonious integration of contemplation of divine mysteries and apostolic activity. According to eye witnesses Dominic always talked with God or about God. This, the Pope said, indicates the saint’s profound communion with the Lord and at the same time his constant effort to lead others to this communion. In this regard, Pope Benedict briefly dwelt on ‘The Nine Ways of Prayers of St. Dominic’ written in the 13th century by a Domenican friar, which gives a glimpse of the interior life of the saint. Each of these nine ways of praying demonstrates a bodily and spiritual attitude of recollection and fervour. The first seven ways follow a pattern of rising movement toward an intimate communion with the Trinity. St. Dominic prayed standing with head bowed as a sign of humility, he prostrated himself on the ground begging pardon for his sins and was on his knees as penance for the Lord’s suffering, with outstretched arms and eyes fixed on the the Crucifix to contemplate His supreme love. The last two ways, instead, the Pope explained, are two regular practices of piety of the saint – namely, long intimate personal prayer which followed the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass. Witnesses say that sometimes he drifted into a sort of ecstasy gazing at the Crucifix, but soon after humbly engaged himself in daily activity, charged with power from above. Dominic also prayed while travelling, visiting monasteries, reciting the various Liturgy of the Hours or contemplating on the beauty of creation. And from his heart poured forth a song of praise and thanksgiving to God for the many gifts, specially the greatest marvel of Redemption by Christ.
Pope Benedict said that St Domenic reminds us that prayer is at the origin of the witness to faith that every Christian must give in the family, work, social service and even leisure. Only a constant relation with God can give us the strength to live every moment, especially difficult ones. The Pope said St. Domenic also reminds us of the importance of external attitude during prayer. Bowing the head, standing in front of the Lord, fixing the gaze on Him, stopping by or silent contemplation are not secondary but help create an interior disposition in our relation with God. Pope Benedict thus urged all to find time daily to pray in tranquillity for our spiritual life. It will help us enter in the presence of God who brings peace and love which we all need. Later during the general audience Pope Benedict also spoke in English.
Listen:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims present at today’s Audience, especially those from England, Macau, Japan and the United States. Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Dominic, the founder of the Order of Preachers. In his life, Saint Dominic was able to combine constant prayer and zealous activity in the service of the Lord and his Church. By his example and intercession, may all of us rediscover the importance and beauty of daily prayer, and bear joyful witness to our faith in Christ the Saviour!
| All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©. |