(08 Nov 09 - RV) In the final discourse of his visit to Brescia in the footsteps of
Pope Paul VI Benedict XVI told the 300 parishioners of St Anthony’s Church in Concesio
that ''It's not 'easy being a Christian”.
Speaking in the small village
church were the future Pope, Giovanni Battista Montini, was Baptised more than a century
ago, Pope Benedict noted that “it takes courage and tenacity not to comply with
the mentality of today’s world, not to be seduced by the sometimes powerful calls
of hedonism and consumerism, to face, if necessary, misunderstandings and sometimes
even real persecution''.
For this reason - he added -''we should remain
firmly united in the Church, even when we see some shadows and blemishes on its face''
''loving her as our true mother'' and translating this love into concrete action ''within
our communities'.''
Pope Benedict also urged believers not to yield to
the temptation of “individualism 'and prejudice” rather to overcome “all rivalry and
division”.
Earlier Sunday evening Pope Benedict XVI launched an appeal
for the freedom for Catholics to educate their children according to their faith and
tradition.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Paul VI institute
for religious studies, in the home of the late pope, Concesio Northern Italy.
Retracing
his own personal bond with Paul VI, and their shared commitment to education he noted
that “educating the younger generation, on which the future depends, has never been
easy, but in our time seems to become even more complex”.
Pope Benedict
said “a mentality and a culture that cast doubts on the value of the person, the meaning
of truth and goodness..,is spreading”.
Yet he also observed that “there
is a widespread thirst for hard certainties and values”.
Pope Benedict
spoke of Paul VI’s involvement with the university students of his day, his promotion
of an ‘intellectual charity’ that was rooted in social action in favour of the poor.
“Young people” he concluded “must be educated to regarded themselves
''as people and not a mere number in the crowd''.