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On the Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist "The Truth is the Truth; there is no compromise" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 29, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held in the main square at Castel Gandolfo. Today the Holy Father reflected on the figure of St. John the Baptist, whose martyrdom we celebrate today. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, This final Wednesday of the month of August marks the liturgical memorial of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. In the Roman...

Pope's Homily on Solemnity of the Assumption "Mary is the Dawn and Splendor of the Church Triumphant" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 16, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is the translation of Pope Benedict XVI’s homily on the feast of the Assumption at the parish church of St. Thomas of Villanova in Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, On November 1, 1950, the Venerable Pope Pius XII proclaimed as dogma that the Virgin Mary “having ended the course of earthly life, was assumed into heavenly glory in soul and body.” This truth of faith was known by the Tradition, affirmed...

On the Prayer of St. Dominic "The day he dedicated to his neighbor, but the night he gave to God" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 8, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at Castel Gandolfo. This morning the Holy Father reflected on the prayer of St. Dominic. * * * Dear brothers and sisters! Today the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Dominic de Guzmán, priest and founder of the Order of Preachers, also known as the Dominicans. In a previous catechesis, I presented this illustrious figure and...

On Prayer According to St. Alphonsus Liguori "He who prays is saved. He who prays not is damned!" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 1, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at Castel Gandolfo. This morning the Holy Father resumed his Wednesday audiences after a customary pause in July by reflecting on St. Alphonsus Liguori's teaching on prayer. * * * Dear brothers and sisters! Today marks the liturgical memorial of St. Alphonsus Maria de' Liguori, bishop and doctor of the Church, founder of the Congregation of the Most...

On Beauty as a Way to God Art "Is Like a Door Opened to the Infinite" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 31, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, On several occasions in recent months, I have recalled the need for every Christian to find time for God, for prayer, amidst our many daily activities.The Lord himself offers us many opportunities to remember Him. Today, I would like to consider briefly one of these channels that can lead us to God and also...

On World Youth Day 2011 "The Cross of Christ Gives Much More Than It Demands" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 24, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear brothers and sisters, Today I would like to return briefly in mind and heart to the extraordinary days spent in Madrid for the XXVI World Youth Day. It was, as you know, a moving ecclesial event: approximately 2 million youth from every continent gathered for a truly exceptional experience of fraternity, of encounter with...

On Meditation "Consistency in Giving Time to God Is a Fundamental Element for Spiritual Growth" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 17, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience held at the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, We are still in the light of the Feast of the Assumption, which -- as I said -- is a feast of hope. Mary has arrived in heaven, and this is our destination: We can all reach heaven. The question is: How? Mary has arrived there,...

On Monastic Silence "The Environmental Condition That Most Favors Contemplation" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 13, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the Italian-language catechesis Benedict XVI gave during the Aug. 10 general audience at the Apostolic Palace of Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters! In every age, men and women who have consecrated their lives to God in prayer -- such as monks and nuns -- have established their communities in places of particular beauty: in the countryside, upon the hills, in mountain valleys, by the lakeside or on the seashore, or even on little islands....

General Audience of Pope Benedict XVI, 3 August 2011 Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am very glad to see you here in the square at Castel Gandolfo and to resume the audiences after the interval in July. I would like to continue with the subject we have embarked on, that is, a “school of prayer”, and today, in a slightly different way and without straying from this theme, I would also like to mention certain spiritual and concrete aspects which seem to me useful, not only for those who — in one part of the world — are spending their...

On St. Hildegard: Cloistered Nun and Mystic "The Receiver of Supernatural Gifts Never Boasts" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, SEPT. 1, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today at the general audience in Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, In 1988, on the occasion of the Marian Year, the Venerable John Paul II wrote an Apostolic Letter titled "Mulieris dignitatem," dealing with the valuable role that women have had and have in the life of the Church. "The Church," one reads there, "gives thanks for all the manifestations of the feminine 'genius' which...

Editor: the meeting is interesting, as we've said before, in light of the talks currently taking place each month with the Society of Pius X. It is hard to see, given the previous statements about statements which appear to capitulate the Church's previous positions to the modern world, will square with the resistance shown to the Society's representatives. The fact is, we don't know what is being said about Vatican II, but there is almost no doubt that the concerns that were realized by the Society of Pius X will be dealt with in this meeting and that whatever the...

On the Saints, Companions on the Journey "Each One Should Have a Saint That Is Familiar to Him" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 25, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, In the life of each one of us there are very dear persons, to whom we feel particularly close; some are already in God's arms, others still share with us the journey of life: they are our parents, relatives, educators. They are persons to whom we have done good or from whom we...

On Martyrdom "A Martyr Follows the Lord to the End" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 17, 2010 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the catechesis Benedict XVI gave last Wednesday, Aug. 11, during the general audience at the summer papal residence in Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, Today in the liturgy we recall St. Clare of Assisi, founder of the Poor Clares, a luminous figure of whom I will speak in one of the forthcoming catecheses. However, this week -- as I already indicated in the Angelus address last Sunday -- we also commemorate some of the...

On Development That Respects the Environment "We Come From God and We Are All Going Back to Him" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 26, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of Benedict XVI's address at this Wednesday's general audience, which gathered pilgrims in the courtyard of the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters: We are coming to the end of the month of August, which for many means the end of the summer holidays. As we return to our daily activities, how can we not thank God for the precious gift of creation, which...

On Mary, Mother of Priests "The Perfect Model for Their Existence" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 27, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a Vatican translation of the address Benedict XVI gave Aug. 12 during the general audience given at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters, The celebration of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, next Saturday, is at hand and we are in the context of the Year for Priests. I therefore wish to speak of the link between Our Lady and the priesthood. This connection is deeply rooted in the...

On St. John Eudes "He Wanted to Remind People Â… of the Heart" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 19, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today during the general audience held at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo. He reflected on St. John Eudes and the formation of the clergy. * * * Dear brothers and sisters: Celebrated today is the liturgical memorial of St. John Eudes, tireless apostle of devotion to the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, who lived in France in the 17th century, a century marked by opposing religious phenomena...

St. John Mary Vianney, the Curé d'Ars Dear Brothers and Sisters, In today's catechesis I would like briefly to review the life of the Holy Curé of Ars. I shall stress several features that can also serve as an example for priests in our day, different of course from the time in which he lived, yet marked in many ways by the same fundamental human and spiritual challenges. Precisely yesterday was the 150th anniversary of his birth in Heaven. Indeed it was at two o'clock in the morning on 4 August 1859 that St John Baptist Mary Vianney, having come...

On the Saints "They Represent for Us a Real Path of Access to Jesus" CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy, AUG. 20, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI delivered today during the weekly general audience, held at Castel Gandolfo. * * * Dear Brothers and Sisters! Every day the Church offers for our consideration one or more saints and blesseds whom we can invoke and imitate. This week, for example, we remember some who are much loved by popular devotion. Yesterday, St. John Eudes who, in face of the rigor of the Jansenists -- we are talking about...

16 August, 2006 VATICANMary’s Assumption is hope for today’s society, says Pope Today’s world denies God His place or despairs in death. Only God’s love can quench the thirst for happiness and give value to the mystery of human frailty and death. The Pontiff remembers Frère Roger of Taizé, killed a year ago. Castel Gandolfo (AsiaNews) – Today’s general audience was a bit special. Contrary to the usual practice, it was held in the courtyard of the Pontiff’s summer residence rather than St Peter’s Square. And instead of continuing his meditations on the Apostles, the Pope spoke again of the...