2011-04-08 13:18:14

Papal preacher addresses the "secularization of love"


Pope Benedict XVI heard the III Lenten sermon from the preacher of the Papal Household Friday morning in the Redemptoris mater chapel of the Apostolic Palace. The traditional Lenten exercise for the Pope and the curia began with the sining of the Parce Domine antiphon, and then passed to the sermon of Capuchin Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa – the preacher of the Papal household – who this Friday concentrated his reflections on the theological virtue of charity.

Drawing on sources as diverse as Soren Kierkegaard, St. Catherine of Siena, Lafontaine’s Fables and the Letter of St. Paul the Apostle to the Romans, to name just a few: the three-part sermon focused on charity as the essential and indispensible characteristic of true love of neighbour, as requiring authenticity – real commitment to and investment in the good of one’s fellow, and as an element – the element, which edifies.

Fr. Cantalamessa concluded his reflection by recalling St. Paul’s exhortation to the Christian community at Philippi:

Make my joy complete, by being of a single mind, one in love, one in heart and one in mind. Nothing is to be done out of jealousy or vanity; instead, out of humility of mind everyone should give preference to others, everyone pursuing not selfish interests but those of others.

Fr Cantalamessa’s sermon was in continuity with his Advent reflections on modern and contemporary obstacles to authentic love, and were in large measure inspired by the Pope’s own reflections in his Encyclical letters Deus caritas est and Caritas in veritate.

Listen to Chris Altieri’s report: RealAudioMP3








All the contents on this site are copyrighted ©.