On Christian Unity

On Christian Unity

VATICAN CITY, MAY 7, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of the greetings Benedict XVI gave today to Catholicos Karekin II, supreme patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and a translation of the catechesis he gave afterward during his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square.

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[English Greetings to Catholicos Karekin II]

It is my great joy today to greet His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, and the distinguished delegation accompanying him. Your Holiness, I pray that the light of the Holy Spirit will illumine your pilgrimage to the tombs of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the important meetings you will have here, and particularly our personal conversations. I ask all who are present today to pray for God’s blessing upon this visit.

Your Holiness, I thank you for your personal commitment to the growing friendship between the Armenian Apostolic Church and the Catholic Church. In 2000, soon after your election, you came to Rome to meet Pope John Paul II, and a year later, you graciously received him in Holy Etchmiadzin. You came once again to Rome together with many Church leaders from East and West, for the funeral liturgy of Pope John Paul II. I am sure that this spirit of friendship will be further deepened during the coming days.

In an external niche of Saint Peter’s Basilica, there is a fine statue of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, founder of the Armenian Church. It serves to remind us of the severe persecutions suffered by Armenian Christians, especially during the last century. Armenia’s many martyrs are a sign of the power of the Holy Spirit working in times of darkness, and a pledge of hope for Christians everywhere.

Your Holiness, dear Bishops and dear friends, together with you I implore Almighty God, through the intercession of Saint Gregory the Illuminator, to help us grow in unity, in one holy bond of Christian faith, hope and love.

Cont'd.

On Christian Unity

Catechisis]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As you see, among us today is His Holiness Catholicos Karekin II, supreme patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, accompanied by a distinguished delegation. I express again my joy at having been able to welcome him this morning: His presence revives in us the hope of full unity among all Christians. I also would like to take advantage of the opportunity to thank him for the amiable welcome he recently offered in Armenia to the cardinal secretary of state. For me it is a pleasure to remember the unforgettable visit that the Catholicos made to Rome in 2000, a little after his election. In his encounter with him, my beloved predecessor, John Paul II, offered to him a distinguished relic of St. Gregory the Illuminator and then returned the visit by traveling to Armenia.
The commitment of the Apostolic Armenian Church in favor of ecumenical dialogue is known, and I am sure that this visit of the venerable supreme patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians will contribute to intensify the fraternal friendship that unites our Churches. These days of immediate preparation for Pentecost encourages us to revive hope in the help of the Holy Spirit to advance in the path of ecumenism. We have the certainty that the Lord Jesus will never abandon us in the search for unity, given that the Spirit acts tirelessly to bolster our efforts oriented toward overcoming every division and to mend every tear in the living cloth of the Church.
This is precisely what Jesus promised to the disciples in his last days of his earthly mission, as we just heard in the Gospel passage: He assured them of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, that he would send so they will continue to experience his presence (John 14:16-17). This promise he made a reality when, after the resurrection, Jesus entered in the Cenacle, greeted the disciples with the words, "Peace be with you" and, blowing over them, he told them, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). He gave them the authority to forgive sins. The Holy Spirit, then, is presented as the power of the forgiveness of sins, of the renewal of our hearts and of our existence, and in this way renews the earth and creates unity where there was division. Afterward, at the feast of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is shown through other signs: an impetuous wind, tongues of fire, and the apostles speaking all languages. This last one is a sign that the Spirit, who is charity and who fosters unity in diversity, has overcome the Babylonian Diaspora, fruit of the pride that separates men. From the first moment of its existence the Church spoke all languages, thanks to the power of the Holy Spirit and the tongues of fire, and lives in all cultures. It does not destroy the gifts or the history of a culture, rather it assumes them all in a great new unity, which reconciles unity with the multiplicity of forms.
Cont'd.

On Christian Unity

The Holy Spirit, which is eternal charity, the link of unity in the Trinity, unites with its power in divine charity the dispersed men, creating in this way the great and multiform community of the Church in the entire world. In the days that passed between the Ascension of the Lord and the Sunday of Pentecost, the disciples were united with Mary in the Cenacle to pray. They knew that alone they couldn't found, organize the Church: the Church had to be established and organized by a divine initiative; it is not a creature of ours, but rather a gift of God. Only in this way is unity also created, a unity that has to grow. The Church in all times, and in particular in those nine days between the Ascension and Pentecost, unites itself spiritually in the Cenacle with the apostles and with Mary to implore incessantly the effusion of the Holy Spirit. Moved by the impetuous wind it will be capable of announcing the Gospel to the furthest confines of the earth.
For this reason, despite the difficulties and divisions, Christians cannot resign themselves, nor give in to discouragement. This is what the Lord asks us: Hold fast in prayer to keep alive the flames of faith, charity and hope, which nourish the longing for full unity. "Ut unum sint!" says the Lord. This invitation from Christ always resounds in our hearts; an invitation that I launched again in my recent apostolic trip to the United States of America, where I referred to the centrality of prayer in the ecumenical movement. In this time of globalization, and at the same time, of fragmentation, "without [prayer], ecumenical structures, institutions and programs would be deprived of their heart and soul" (ecumenical encounter in the Church of St. Joseph in New York, April 18, 2008). Let us give thanks to the Lord for the goals reached in ecumenical dialogue thanks to the action of the Holy Spirit. Let us be docile, listening to his voice so that our hearts, full of hope, set out without delay on the path that leads to the communion of all Christ's disciples.
St. Paul, in the letter to the Galatians, recalls that "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). These are the gifts of the Holy Spirit that we also invoke today over all Christians, so that in the mutual and generous service of the Gospel, they can be in the world a sign of the love of God for humanity. Let us direct, with trust, our gaze to Mary, sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, and through her, let us pray, "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love." Amen.
God bless us all, everyone, Come Holy Spirit,
NitaM

It is my hope that the day will come that the Armenian Church and the Catholic Church become one. Armenia was the first country to become Christian, even before the Roman Empire. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was one of the subjects that I reported on in Religion class in college.

JOHN wrote:

It is my hope that the day will come that the Armenian Church and the Catholic Church become one. Armenia was the first country to become Christian, even before the Roman Empire. Saint Gregory the Illuminator was one of the subjects that I reported on in Religion class in college.

Hi, John, amazing coincidence that you did a report on this Great Saint. Thanks for sharing this important fact of history of our Church. My prayers are with you and the Pope that the pendulum, in momentum, swings back towards a more perfect Christian unity after a very long vacation from it. Prayer is powerful in God's eyes and we might see Him work a miracle through us and the Holy Spirit working towards this end.
God bless you my dear brother in Christ,
Nita

NitaM

NitaM wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi, John, amazing coincidence that you did a report on this Great Saint. Thanks for sharing this important fact of history of our Church. My prayers are with you and the Pope that the pendulum, in momentum, swings back towards a more perfect Christian unity after a very long vacation from it. Prayer is powerful in God's eyes and we might see Him work a miracle through us and the Holy Spirit working towards this end.
God bless you my dear brother in Christ,
Nita
NitaM

Thank you Nita, yes college was a long time ago, with a degree in history but 20 units of religion studies. I was having a crisis with my faith at the time, it was right after Vatican II. I thought I would start from the very beginning with Jewish studies going to Church History and Christian studies, along with Catholism and finished up with Eastern Orthodoxy. I missed the Latin Mass, so I started to Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches for several years before returning to the Church. It was a long journey but I feel that it was worth it because it has made me more firmly planted in the Church. Take care John

This seems a bit off topic here, but in a way it fits and I think I can trust people here as you all seem like faithful Catholics. I'm going to post a link to another Topix topic and PLEASE read the post to me on the last page, it's kind of long. Then read some posts before if you want. Am I responsible for this soul?

http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/catholic/...

Thanks.

MichelleMC wrote:

This seems a bit off topic here, but in a way it fits and I think I can trust people here as you all seem like faithful Catholics. I'm going to post a link to another Topix topic and PLEASE read the post to me on the last page, it's kind of long. Then read some posts before if you want. Am I responsible for this soul?
http://www.topix.com/forum/religion/catholic/...
Thanks.

I forgot to say the post I'm concerned about is on Pg. 16. The person says something to me that concerns me about myself in relationship to him.

MichelleMC wrote:

<quoted text>
I forgot to say the post I'm concerned about is on Pg. 16. The person says something to me that concerns me about myself in relationship to him.

Michelle, I would let it go. I have been called all sorts of things by Non-Catholic's on these forums as has Nita. I get a little tired sometimes of the negative Catholic bashing then I leave for awhile. Sometimes I try to get on these forums, to let non-Catholics know that we are good religious people. I always try to be humble try not to get negative. Take care John

MichelleMC wrote:

<quoted text>
I forgot to say the post I'm concerned about is on Pg. 16. The person says something to me that concerns me about myself in relationship to him.

Michelle, you are not responsible for his soul. Please let it go. John

JOHN wrote:

<quoted text>
Michelle, I would let it go. I have been called all sorts of things by Non-Catholic's on these forums as has Nita. I get a little tired sometimes of the negative Catholic bashing then I leave for awhile. Sometimes I try to get on these forums, to let non-Catholics know that we are good religious people. I always try to be humble try not to get negative. Take care John

John, I don't care that he called me childish or told me to grow up and told me that I personalize everything. The sentence that got to me was when he said that I have driven a nonCatholic(himself) further away from wanting to learn than anyone else has(even if he didn't say "than anyone else has" that still would have concerned me). I don't want to drive anyone away or further away from Christ and His Church.

MichelleMC wrote:

<quoted text>
John, I don't care that he called me childish or told me to grow up and told me that I personalize everything. The sentence that got to me was when he said that I have driven a nonCatholic(himself) further away from wanting to learn than anyone else has(even if he didn't say "than anyone else has" that still would have concerned me). I don't want to drive anyone away or further away from Christ and His Church.

Michelle, you have not driven anyone away. If he has left the church he has done it on his own. We come to these forum's as lay people voicing our opinions and experiences. I pray for some of the people that I have coresponded on the forum both Catholic and Non-Catholic. Those that have attacked me verbally, I never take offense. Michelle please continue to post, I think it is healthy on a religion forum. We can grow in our faith by doing so. I am a cradle Catholic who struggled in faith after vatican II, even though never really leaving the Church I found my parish on topix, when someone gave me a web address for Latin Mass Churches. I found my parish...now I feel great and complete. Michelle please enjoy your weekend and don't give it another thought.

JOHN wrote:

<quoted text>
Michelle, you have not driven anyone away. If he has left the church he has done it on his own. We come to these forum's as lay people voicing our opinions and experiences. I pray for some of the people that I have coresponded on the forum both Catholic and Non-Catholic. Those that have attacked me verbally, I never take offense. Michelle please continue to post, I think it is healthy on a religion forum. We can grow in our faith by doing so. I am a cradle Catholic who struggled in faith after vatican II, even though never really leaving the Church I found my parish on topix, when someone gave me a web address for Latin Mass Churches. I found my parish...now I feel great and complete. Michelle please enjoy your weekend and don't give it another thought.

Hi John,
Thanks for your post again. I also went to ask this question on another topic, and when I did I provided the wrong link. So when I saw from someone's post that it went to the general forum, I found the topic, and the link and I made sure it worked. When the topic came up, I forgot to go back to the other topic and I posted to the poster who told me the general forum came up. So I posted on the link I gave you by mistake, and because of that mistake, that person who posted about me driving someone away and I made up and he explained that if I focus on myself as he saw me doing, that can drive someone away from the Church. He is still in the Church. I misunderstood his post.