By Lisa Haddock
NJ Faith Forum Editor
“Religion sought on a ‘do-it-yourself’ basis cannot ultimately help us,” Pope Benedict XVI preached at the final Mass during World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany.
“It may be comfortable, but at times of crisis we are left to ourselves,” the pontiff said during his Sunday (Aug. 21) homily, which focused on the Eucharist.
“Freedom is not simply about enjoying life in total autonomy, but rather about living by the measure of truth and goodness, so that we ourselves can become true and good. This gesture is necessary even if initially our yearning for freedom makes us inclined to resist it,” the pope said to the hundreds of thousands of young people in his audience.
Submission to God brings true freedom, Pope Benedict said. “He to whom we submit is Love. In this way submission acquires a meaning, because it does not impose anything on us from the outside, but liberates us deep within.”
He urged the young people to study their faith by reading The Catechism of the Catholic Church. But knowledge is not enough. He urged them to build communities based on faith.
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1 comment:
We need to rely on the Holy Spirit's guidance and teaching when reading and listening to others.
# posted by Anonymous : Sun Aug 28, 10:40:43 AM EDT
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