The Christian vision of creation and life

Notes from Rome: The birthday of Benedict XVI and a pilgrimage in the footsteps of St. Benedict

El Cardenal Ratzinger en Belmonte Cardinal Ratzinger in Belmonte Kardinal Ratzinger in Belmonte Foto: Abram © 2007
El Cardenal Ratzinger en Subiaco, tras las huellas de San Benito (abril de 2005) Cardinal Ratzinger in Subiaco, april 2005 Kardinal Ratzinger auf den Spuren des heiligen Benedikt in Subiaco, April 2005
Primer encuentro de un curso de un Instituto de Schoenstatt en la Casa de Belmonte First meeting of a course of an Institute in Schoenstatt, at the House in Belmonte Erstes Treffen eines Kurses eines Schönstatt-Instituts im neuen Haus in Belmonte
Jovenes en Belmonte Youth at Belmonte Jugendliche in Belmonte Fotos: Nuño © 2007

ROME, Francisco Nuño. The entire Church has congratulated Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of his 80^th birthday. Together with all of the members of the Church, we too congratulate him and unite in prayer for him asking God our Lord: "Dominus conservet eum, et vivificet eum, et beatum faciat eum in terra." As inhabitants of the city of Rome, we were invited to celebrate with him his birthday in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, April 15^th at 10:00 A.M. More than fifty thousand people gathered at that hour with the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica.

As custodians of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine in Belmonte, we regretted not being able to accept the invitation because at that hour we had to open the Shrine and be on duty. We remained in Belmonte and spiritually accompanied in prayer the Church gathered with the Pope at St. Peter’s. Since the morning and the afternoon are long, we took advantage of the time to read and study a text from our Holy Father in order to live more intensely with him his concerns as pastor of the universal Church. One of his greatest concerns and also one of the key goals of his pontificate refers to the situation of our Europe which is building its future without taking into account its historical Christian roots. While still Cardinal and precisely on April 1, 2005, the eve of the death of John Paul II, Joseph Ratzinger received in Subiaco the San Benedetto prize for his achievements in promoting life and the family in Europe. On this occasion he gave a discourse entitled "Europe in the crises of the cultures" which is worth recalling because in it several important principles of the pontificate of Benedict XVI are formulated.

For the times of change

A few days before, Anneliese and I had been in Subiaco (70 Km from Rome) to visit the Sacro Speco and the Monastery of St. Scolastica. They are founding places for the Benedictines and we are attracted to following the footsteps of St. Benedict and his Work as well as following the footsteps of our present German Pope. Subiaco and Belmonte are also "connected" in a unique way with the present Holy Father: he was in both places while still a Cardinal and shortly before being elected Pope. It is not only this Providential coincidence which took us to Subiaco, but rather it was that we wanted to appreciate the mission of our Father and Founder, Father Joseph Kentenich, for the times of change we are living in the light of the life of St. Benedict before arriving at Montecassino. At the Santo Speco (Subiaco), Benedict lived for three years amid the loneliness of the rocks and the mountain. It was a time of purification before founding the first Benedictine monastery, the Monastery of St. Scolastica which is also located near this Italian area. During this visit, we learned of the visit to Subiaco and the discourse of the now Pope.

The central point of the discourse of the then Cardinal on April 1, 2005 in Subiaco was the Christian vision of creation and life according to which man, created in the image of God, is a gift to shelter and protect. In the last century, lay thinking has excluded God from public life and has relegated morality to the private sector. On the other hand, Science has conquered the ability to manipulate which allows it to model life according to the image of society. In these conditions, poverty, the abusive exploitation of human resources, hunger and sickness have developed in the world. Can then a scientific and pragmatic vision which eliminates God from the present scene and banishes morality from public life continue to be trusted?

The breakdown between technical possibilities and moral energy

"Within these confines emerges, above all, the responsibility which we Europeans should assume at this historic moment: in the debate about the definition of Europe, about a new political form, a nostalgic "rearguard" battle of history is not at play here, but rather, a great responsibility for today’s humanity is at play here." This affirmation of Benedict XVI summarizes the introduction of the discourse and opens a profound analysis of the present day world. The great evils of the world today, according to him, are the fruits of an ever increasing "dominion" of man over matter. In the last century it has grown at par with "his power to destroy"…..He is a brilliant and keen man, capable of deciphering the human being’s components to the point that the child-man no longer enters the world "like a gift from the Creator" but as a "product" selected by man himself, thanks to the "ability to manipulate" which he has achieved. In the face of this technical scientific growth, the Pope says, "moral strength has not grown along side the development of science" and in this breakdown "between technical possibilities and moral energy" lies "the true great danger" of our world.

In the proposal of radical enlightening which is reigning in Europe and which has found its expression in the proposal of an European Constitution of "agire etsi Deus non daretur" (to act as if God does not exist), the then Cardinal Ratzinger proposed the contrary in Subiaco as a principle of reason and harmony…..to act always "veluti Deus daretur" (as if God does exist).

The battle in favor of a Christian Europe

Recently, with the occasion of the fiftieth celebration of the signing of the Roman Treaty which brought about the construction of the European Union, some politicians, including Catholics, and taking into consideration the present situation, have proposed to resign themselves to the exclusion of God in the European Constitution and public life. On the contrary, Pope Benedict XVI, in Subiaco and in many other later occasions, continues exhorting Europe and Europeans to not impose a lay position and to become promoters of reason and harmony for themselves and for the world.

While the bells of St. Peter celebrate the 80^th birthday of His Holiness, we have asked our Mother and Queen in the silence of our Matri Ecclesiae Shrine for the necessary graces so that all of us, the children of Father Kentenich, may unite with Benedict XVI in his battle in favor of a Christian Europe. We have also implored for the Pope the graces and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Pilgrims in Belmonte

The green grass of Belmonte is glistening in this Roman spring. The groups of pilgrims who come to visit the Shrine have also increased. The place was filled with joy and laughter on April 2^nd: a group of German girls’ youth was with us for several hours in the shadow of the Shrine. The Casa dell’Alleanza (House of the Covenant), although not finished, has been "occupied" by Schoenstatt groups who have celebrated their gatherings and meetings there (for sleeping they had room reservations in another house). With garden chairs and tables, our course (a group from the Family Institute) occupied the House for several days and improvised a meeting room and dining hall so that we could enjoy in Rome our course meeting (the first course meeting of an Institute in the new house!). The Archbishop of Oristano (Sardinia) and Rector of the Matri Ecclesiae Shrine, His Excellency Bishop Ignazio Sanna, visited us. He shared with us the joy of being in Belmonte and he blessed us.

Translation Carlos Cantú Family Federation La Feria, Texas USA 042307