In this context, Pope Benedict is recalling Catholic figures from the history of the Czech lands: St Wenceslaus, St Ludmilla, St John Nempomuk and more recent confessors:
I recall the experiences of two Archbishops of this local Church, Cardinals Josef Beran and František Tomášek, and of many Bishops, priests, men and women religious, and lay faithful, who resisted Communist persecution with heroic fortitude, even to the sacrifice of their lives.Noting that the president of the Czech Republic wishes to see a greater role for religion in the life of the country, Pope Benedict ended his address during the welcome ceremony at the airport in Prague with these words:
The authentic progress of humanity is best served by just such a combination of the wisdom of faith and the insights of reason. May the Czech people always enjoy the benefits of that happy synthesis.
The texts of Pope Benedict's addresses at the airport in Prague, and in St Vitus Cathedral, in which he addresses the themes of the Christian heritage of the Czech lands, the witness of Catholics during communist persecution and the challenges of increasing secularisation in Czech society, can be found here and here, on the Vatican website.
4 comments:
Well, listen. The Czechs are one of the most educated and intellectual nations in the world, and they do not buy the old-fashioned catholic stories like in the past. It is all fine. What did you expect? Catholic church must reinvent itself if it wants better positions in countries like CR.
But one thing to remember ... is the positive regard that one of the Czech Republic's leading non-believing intellectuals had towards religious believers - "Courtesy towards God" is, I believe, one phrase used to describe his attitude.
The intellectual I refer to? Vaclav Havel.
So perhaps what is needed is for the Catholic Church to re-discover itself, not to "re-invent" itself as if its earlier contribution was of no value.
But one thing to remember ... is the positive regard that one of the Czech Republic's leading non-believing intellectuals had towards religious believers - "Courtesy towards God" is, I believe, one phrase used to describe his attitude.
The intellectual I refer to? Vaclav Havel.
So perhaps what is needed is for the Catholic Church to re-discover itself, not to "re-invent" itself as if its earlier contribution was of no value.
I don't know what Aussie means by "the old-fashioned Catholic stories"
Th Catholic church, along with other Chrisian denominations ,proclaims what the scriptures say -"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life ".
It was made simple so the non-intellectuals among us could get it !
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