"We must witness God’s love to the weakest and neediest people", for God’s love "changes one’s life": said Benedict XVI this morning, before the general audience, on welcoming pilgrims coming from various parts of Italy to the Vatican Basilica. "Don’t forget he added, – that each of us, by spreading divine charity, contributes to the building of a fairer and more sympathetic world". The Pope dedicated today’s audience catechesis to St. Basil, "bishop of the IV century, admired by both the Church of the Orient and the Western Church, for the holiness of his life, the excellence of his doctrine, and for the harmonious synthesis of speculative and practical qualities". Through his "wise balance", recalled the Holy Father, St. Basil "was able to match service to souls and devotion to prayer and meditation in loneliness". Furthermore, "by taking advantage of his personal experience, he encouraged the foundation of lots of ‘fraternities’ or communities of Christians consecrating themselves to God, which he often visited". And Basil "encouraged them to live and progress in perfection". Moreover, "several legislators of the old monasticism took advantage of his works, such as St. Benedict, who considered Basil his master". (To be continued)
