Pope Benedict XVI in English –Weekley General Audience
Dear Brothers and Sisters, As the Year for Priests draws to its close, I would
like to devote today’s catechesis to the example of two remarkable priests of the
nineteenth century associated with the Italian city of Turin. Saint Leonard Murialdo,
the founder of the Congregation of Saint Joseph, devoted his life to the education
and pastoral care of disadvantaged young people. He saw his priestly vocation as
a gracious gift of God’s love, to be received with gratitude, joy and love. Imbued
with a powerful sense of the Lord’s mercy, he encouraged his confreres to unite contemplation
and apostolic zeal, and to confirm their preaching by the example of their lives.
Saint Joseph Cottolengo, who lived a generation before Saint Leonard, was another
outstanding apostle of charity. Early in his priesthood, after a dramatic encounter
with human suffering, he founded the “Little Home of Divine Providence”, involving
scores of people – priests, religious and laity alike – in a great charitable outreach
which continues today. May the example of these two great priests, outstanding for
their love of God and their devotion to Christ and the Church, continue to inspire
and sustain the many priests today who generously devote their lives to God and to
the service of our brothers and sisters in need.* * *I offer a most cordial welcome
to the ecumenical delegations from the Lutheran Church of Norway and from the Church
of England. My warm greeting also goes to the group of Jewish leaders visiting the
Vatican with the Pave the Way Foundation. Upon all the English-speaking visitors
and pilgrims present at today’s Audience, especially those from England, Scotland,
Norway, Indonesia and the United States of America I invoke Almighty God’s blessings
of joy and peace!