Vatican
City, 27 May 2012 (VIS) - After celebrating Mass this morning in the
Vatican Basilica for the Solemnity of Pentecost, the Holy Father
appeared at the window of his study to pray the Regina Coeli with
pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square.
Before
the Marian prayer the Pope announced that on 7 October, at the start
of the Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, he will proclaim
St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard of Bingen as Doctors of the
Universal Church. "These two great witnesses of the faith lived
in very different historical periods and cultural environments",
he said. "Hildegard was a Benedictine nun during the height of
the German Middle Ages, a true master of theology and a great scholar
of the natural sciences and of music. John was a young diocesan
priest of the Spanish Renaissance, who participated in the travails
of the cultural and spiritual renewal of the Church and society at
the dawn of the Modern Age".
The
sanctity of their lives and the profundity of their doctrine mean
that these two saints "retain all their importance. The grace of
the Holy Spirit enabled them to experience profound understanding of
divine revelation and intelligent dialogue with the world, two
factors which represent the perennial goal of the life and activity
of the Church".
St. John
and St. Hildegard are particularly significant on the eve of the
forthcoming Year of Faith, and in light of the new evangelisation to
which the Synod of Bishops will be dedicating its attention. "Also
in our own day, and through their teaching, the Spirit of the risen
Lord continues to make His voice heard and to illuminate the path
which leads to the Truth, which is the only thing that can make us
free and give full meaning to our lives", the Pope said.
After
praying the Regina Coeli he recalled that Mother Saint Louis (nee
Marie-Louise Elisabeth de Lamoignon, widow of Mole de Champlatreux),
foundress of the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis who lived between
the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, was today proclaimed a
blessed in France. She was "an exemplary witness of love for God
and for neighbour", the Holy Father said. He also recalled the
fact that he is due to travel to Milan on Friday to participate in
the seventh World Meeting of Families, and he asked the faithful to
pray for the success of that event.
You
can find more information at: www.visnews.org
The
news items contained in the Vatican Information Service may be used,
in part or in their entirety, by quoting the source:
V.I.S.
-Vatican Information Service.
Copyright
© Vatican Information Service 00120 Vatican City
