Those who minister the Word of God must be well prepared, and the “cultural dimension” of faith needs to be cultivated, says Benedict XVI.
The Pope affirmed this today when he reflected on the life and teaching of St. Dominic Guzmán during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. He noted “the great contribution made by St. Dominic to the renewal of the Church in the Middle Ages.”
The Holy Father emphasized the saint’s insistence on being well educated and prepared for the apostolate.
Benedict XVI took up this exhortation, urging everyone, “pastors and laity, to cultivate this ‘cultural dimension’ of faith, so that the beauty of the Christian truth can be better understood and faith can be truly nourished, reinforced and also defended. In this Year for Priests, I invite seminarians and priests to appreciate the spiritual value of study.
“The quality of the priestly ministry depends also on the generosity with which one applies oneself to the study of revealed truths.”
One more reason to love this pope. The Anglican communion likely wouldn’t be in the mess it is now if its priests – especially those in the west – attended more to their studies. Only when priests make time for study of the word and prayer are they then equipped to be effective agents of the kingdom. Thanks for this, Kendall.
How wonderful that the pope pulls out of his treasury something old. Gregory the Great said nearly the same thing in his Pastoral Rule. If only we in TEC could return to hitting the old books rather than the ear tickling ones we read now.
“He who does not sow in the study will not reap in the pulpit.” Shared recently in a study on the Bible in the Church featuring John Stott on tape and Pastor Richard Crocker of St. James Anglican Church in Newport Beach, CA.
Revealed by whom?
An excellent quote Richard in #3, many thanks.