'When man is entirely caught up in his own world, with material things, with what he can do, with all that is feasible and brings him success, with all that he can produce or understand by himself, then his capacity to perceive God weakens, the organ sensitive to God deteriorates, it becomes unable to perceive and sense, it no longer perceives the Divine..' Pope Benedict XVI, 2006
'God is the first home of human beings, and only by dwelling in God do men and women burn with a flame of divine love that can set the world on fire.' Pope Benedict XVI, 2006
Penetrating! Beautiful! I miss him so much, and I think I always will. Thank you for reminding me that we can still "hear" him through his writings.
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Penetrating.... yes, I felt the first quote (in particular) was exactly that, although I didn't have the word for it. I miss him too, and hope he's writing more inspired insights from behind his "cloister" walls. Thank you, Patricia!
DeleteI second everything Patrica said. Penetrating!
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ReplyDeleteLove this....I have to admit to being a JPII girl and so I spent a large amt of Papa Ben's papacy missing my beloved JP and in so doing, losing out on Papa's wisdom and "caretaking" of us all...Sounds awful, but it's true.
Now I can see the beauty of our Papa shared by so many of my blogger friends .....thanks, I did need that!
I hope you and your family ahd a lovely Easter.:)
Love getting your posts by email...
xoxoxo
Thank you, Chris. The great thing about our popes is that they (the last two at least) have left us so many wonderful writings! And those are just as applicable now as ever. I'd like to think that our former holy father Benedict is going to write volumes as he spends his days now in prayer. I had read some of Cardinal Ratzinger's works before he became Pope (loved all of them), and the very day after his election I marched into our local Catholic bookstore and announced "I have a papal emergency! I need EVERYTHING Cardinal Ratzinger ever published!" Well, I couldn't afford "everything" .. not in one day :)! But slowly I've gathered. And as you were with your (our) beloved John Paul II, I am still adjusting to the newness and learning about our NEW holy father. It's an adventure!
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