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Vatican City, Vatican, 23th September 2004 (CNA) -
Pope John Paul II
received Benedictine Abbots and Priors at Castelgandolfo
this morning and encouraged them to “stay faithful” to
their history, noting the valuable witness of their
monastic communities that remind the secularized world
of God and create “vital spaces” in which to encounter
Him.
The Pope urged the abbots,
who are gathered together for the Congress of the Abbots
and Priors of the Benedictine Confederation and the
meeting of "Communio Internationalis Benedictarum," not
to be discouraged "by the problems of our
time."
"Stay faithful to your
history,” he urged, “Our secularized world is in debt to
you for the witness of your communities which put God at
the center. Many bishops ask to have these vital spaces
for encountering Our Lord in their dioceses. Through the
liturgy, study and work, may you always be an example of
Christian life, fully oriented toward God, respectful of
man and creation."
"I know," he continued,
"that you maintain contact with monks and nuns of every
religion: these relations are very important and could
be fruitful. I urge you to deepen ecumenical relations
with our brothers and sisters in Eastern Europe.
Monasticism is a natural platform for mutual
understanding. This is extremely important at this
moment in history for Europe to preserve its Christian
roots."
The Holy Father expressed
his joy that "as a large Benedictine family, you are
always discovering your common heritage. Follow in the
footsteps of St. Benedict and St. Scholastica. 'Do not
put anything before Christ.' Faithful to this rule of
life, you will have a future full of God's
blessings."
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