” “A pastor who was "able to speak to his people a fresh, colourful and riveting language": this is another piece from the Pope’s portrait of Saint Cromatius, who, "although not unaware of the perfect Latin ‘cursus’, preferred to use people’s language, full of easily understandable figures of speech". "At such a stormy time as his, ravaged by Barbarian raids commented Benedict XVI , he successfully stood on the side of his devotees to comfort them and open their souls to trust in God, who never deserts His children". Hence the topicality of one of Cromatius’ exhortations, which, according to the Holy Father, still "perfectly applies". It is the one in which the bishop of Aquileia, in one of his Sermons, prays "to release us from any enemy rally, from any fear of our opponents". "May He not look at our merit says Cromatius’ prayer He, who, even in the past, deigned to release the children of Israel, not because of their merits, but because of His mercy. May He protect us with His usual merciful love, and may He do for us what the saint Moses said to the children of Israel: The Lord will fight in your defence, and you will be silent. It is Him who fights, it is Him who will win… and, for Him to deign to do this, we have to pray as much as we can". Cromatius very likely died in exile in Grado, as he was trying to escape the Barbarian raids, in 407.” “
