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Skriven 2007-07-04 09:47:24 av Marc Lewis (1:396/45)
Ärende: Vatican Information Service (Press Release)
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                               VIS-Press releases

BASIL: LIGHT OF THE CHURCH AND WITNESS OF GOD'S LOVE

VATICAN CITY, JUL 4, 2007 (VIS) - St. Basil, defined in Byzantine liturgical
texts as a "light of the Church," was the subject of the Holy Father's
catechesis during today's general audience. The audience, attended by 12,000
people, was held in the Vatican Basilica then continued in the Paul VI Hall.

St. Basil, the Pope explained, was born in the 4th century. "Dissatisfied with
his worldly successes and ... attracted by Christ, ... he dedicated himself to
a monastic life in prayer ... and in the practice of charity." The Church in
both East and West, he added, "looks to him admiringly for the sanctity of his
life, the excellence of his doctrine and the harmonic blend of his intellectual
and practical gifts."

"Through his preaching and writing," this saint, who became bishop Caesarea in
370, "undertook an intense pastoral, theological and literary activity" and
"supported the foundation of many 'fraternities' or communities of Christians
consecrated to God, whom he visited frequently."

St. Basil "is one of the fathers of monasticism. ... He created a special form
of monasticism, not closed to the local church community but open to it. ...
His monks formed part of the particular Church, the driving nucleus that
preceded the faithful in discipleship of Christ, and not only in faith ... and
love, ... but also through works of charity. The monks ran schools and
hospitals and served the poor, thus demonstrating the integrity of their
Christian life."

"As bishop and pastor of his vast diocese, Basil was constantly concerned by
the difficult conditions in which his faithful lived, firmly denouncing all
evils. ... And he would intervene with government leaders to alleviate the
sufferings of the people. ... He safeguarded the freedom of the Church,
opposing even the powerful in order to defend the right to profess the true
faith." St. Basil, who bore witness to the fact that "God is love and charity,"
also founded various institutions for the most needy, which became a model for
modern hospitals.

While maintaining his concern with charity as a sign of faith, Basil
"considered the liturgy as the focus of his life," and "was also a wise
liturgical reformer. ... At his encouragement, the people came to know and love
the Psalms. ... He was able to oppose heretics ... and dedicated his energies
to healing divisions within the Church."

"Following a plan he himself had devised, he became apostle and minister of
Christ, ... herald of the Kingdom of God, model and rule of piety, ... pastor
of Christ's flock, pious doctor, father and nurse, God's helper and laborer,
builder of the Lord's temple.

"This," the Pope concluded, "is the plan that the holy bishop passes on to us,
especially to those who announce the Word. He was a man ... who showed us how
to be truly Christian."
AG/ST. BASIL/...VIS 070704 (490)

SUMMARY

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