Monday, September 2, 2013

Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI Celebrates Mass with the Ratzinger Schuelerkreis

On Sunday, Pope Benedict celebrated his first public Mass since his resignation as Supreme Pontiff. Joining him on this joyous occasion were members of the Ratzinger Schuelerkreis, a group of his former students. This is their 38th annual meeting.

In his homily, Benedict was as beautiful as ever, saying that man cannot survive without gratuity in the Christian sense. "We cannot pay for the greatest things in life - love, friendship, goodness, forgiveness - we get them free, as God gives them to us. And so, even in the midst of fighting for justice in this world, in a continuous give-and-take, we must never forget God's gratuity."

Yes -- We cannot pay for the greatest things in life - love, friendship, goodness, forgiveness - we get them free or not at all. And we must give them for free in turn. So let us be generous in gratiuty, seeking the good of others in all humility before our own prestige and worldly desires.

Thanks to Teresa Benedetta at the Benedetto XVI Forum, where the rest of the story and homily may be read.

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