Italy "participates in the predominant culture of the West ... according to which only things that can be demonstrated and calculated have rational validity while, at a practical level, individual freedom is held up as a fundamental value to which everyone must submit. Thus God is excluded from culture and public life, and faith in Him becomes more difficult, also because we live in a world that is almost always presented as our being of our own making, in which ... God does not appear directly. He seems to have become a stranger, superfluous."It apparently took him an hour and fifteen minutes to give this talk --that'll teach the press to try to reduce his message to a sound-bite. Later in the day he celebrated mass. The homily isn't posted yet, but will be here soon.
"Ethics are brought within the confines of relativism and utilitarianism, and any moral principles that are valid and binding of themselves are excluded. It is not difficult to see how this kind of culture represents a radical break ... with the religious and moral traditions of humanity and is not, then, capable of establishing a true dialogue with other cultures in which the religious element is strongly present."
Speaking of Regensberg, 38 Muslim scholars, representing the 8 schools of Muslim thought, have written an open letter to the Pope in response to his lecture. Among other things, it roundly condemns as "un-Islamic" the murder of Sr. Leonella.
Today's the feast of St. Isaac Jogues and companions. St. Isaac was tomahawked and scalped by an Iriquois chief on this date in 1646. (If you saw the movie Black Robe, he makes a brief appearance as the mutilated priest who celebrates mass for the young missionary hero.)
Very interesting papal audience regarding Judas yesterday. Just for the curiosity of it, there's the discussion of the meaning of "Iscariot," which I'd always assumed referred to his hometown. That's one possibility, but some think it means assassin and others "the one who betrayed." But of course it's the substance that's striking, because Judas' case raises two questions: why did Jesus trust Judas and why did Judas betray him? The Pope teases out a few possibilities and then concludes:
In any case, Judas' betrayal continues to be a mystery. Jesus treated him as a friend (cf. Matthew 26:50), but in his invitations to follow him on the path of the beatitudes he did not force his will or prevent him from falling into Satan's temptations, respecting human freedom. In fact, the possibilities of perversion of the human heart are truly many. The only way to prevent them consists in not cultivating a view of life that is only individualistic, autonomous, but in always placing oneself on the side of Jesus, assuming his point of view. We must try, day after day, to be in full communion with him.
When we fail, let's learn from the negative example of Judas not to despair --even his crime God used for the good.
Let us recall that even Peter wanted to oppose him and what awaited him in Jerusalem, but he received a very strong rebuke: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men" (Mark 8:32-33). After his fall, Peter repented and found forgiveness and grace. Judas also repented, but his repentance degenerated into despair and in this way it became self-destruction. It is an invitation for us to always remember what St. Benedict says at the end of Chapter 5 -- fundamental -- of his Rule: "Never despair of God's mercy." In fact, "God is greater than our hearts," as St. John says (1 John 3:20).
He then addresses Matthias, the one chosen to replace Judas, ending with what we might call the "take home message."
We draw a final lesson from here: Although there is no lack of unworthy and traitorous Christians in the Church, it is up to us to counterbalance the evil they do with our limpid testimony of Jesus Christ our lord and savior.
