Pope Benedict XVI Blog

“Without God, man loses his greatness; without God, there is no true humanism,” says Pope Benedict

Wednesday General Audience

Castelgandolfo, Aug 8, 2007 / 09:54 am (CNA).- “Without God, man loses his greatness; without God, there is no true humanism”.

With these words, Pope Benedict XVI today recalled the great legacy of another early Church father, Saint Gregory of Nazianze, theologian, preacher and poet from fourth-century Cappadocia.

A friend and admirer of St. Basil, whom the Holy Father remembered last week, St. Gregory was inspired to seek Baptism and to enter monastic life, devoting himself to prayer, solitude, and meditation.

The Pope recalled how St. Gregory “loved to leave behind the things of this world and enter into intimate communion with God, so that the depths of his soul became like a mirror reflecting the divine light”.

“Here was a man who sensed the primacy of God and so speaks to us today, to this world of ours”, the Pope said. “Without God, man loses his greatness; without God, there is no true humanism. That’s why we listen to this voice and also try to come to know the face of God”.

The Pope recalled how St. Gregory reluctantly, but in a spirit of obedience, accepted priestly ordination. He was then sent to Constantinople, where he preached his five Orations: “beautifully reasoned presentations of the Church’s teaching”, the Pope said.

The Orations, known as "The Theologian", stressed that “theology is more than merely human reflection”, the Pope explained. “It springs from a life of prayer and holiness, from wonder at the marvels of God’s revelation”.
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 5:17 PM