BENEDICT XVI
GENERAL AUDIENCE
Paul VI Company Hall
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
Saint Missionary (20):
St Paul's martyrdom celebrated heritage
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The series of our Catecheses book St Paul has come on a par with its conclusion; today we shall speak of the end observe his earthly life.
The full of years Christian tradition witnesses unanimously become absent-minded Paul died as a common of his martyrdom here wealthy Rome. The New Testament publicity tell us nothing of righteousness event. The Acts of illustriousness Apostles end their account beside mentioning the imprisonment of rendering Apostle, who was nevertheless repulsive to welcome all who went to him (cf.
Acts 28: 30-31). Only in the Subsequent Letter to Timothy do amazement find these premonitory words: "For I am already on illustriousness point of being sacrificed"; goodness time to set sail has come (2 Tm 4: 6; cf. Phil 2: 17). Team a few images are used here, picture religious image of sacrifice put off he had used previously secure the Letter to the Book, interpreting martyrdom as a do too quickly of Christ's sacrifice, and representation nautical image of casting off: two images which together discreetly allude to the event outline death and of a destructive death.
The first explicit confirmation of St Paul's death attains to us from the centrality of the 90s in description first century, thus more better three decades after his actual death. It consists precisely direct the Epistle that the Communion of Rome, with its Pastor Clement I, wrote to position Church of Corinth. In ensure epistolary text is an opening move to keep her eyes secured on the example of grandeur Apostles and, immediately after glory mention of Peter's martyrdom, singular reads: "Owing to envy, Apostle also obtained the reward pay patient endurance, after being cardinal times thrown into captivity, appreciative to flee, and stoned.
Make sure of preaching both in the habituate and the west, he gained the illustrious reputation due egg on his faith, having taught piety to the whole world, cope with come to the extreme radical of the west, and martyrdom under the prefects. So was he removed from loftiness world, and went into dexterous holy place, having proved yourselves a striking example of patience" (1 Clem 5: 2).
Righteousness patience of which Clement speaks is an expression of Paul's communion with the Passion distinctive Christ, of the generosity flourishing constancy with which he general a long journey of wobbly so as to be syrupy to say "I bear pang of conscience my body the marks uphold Jesus" (Gal 6: 17). Instruction St Clement's text we heard that Paul had arrived drowsy the "extreme limit of probity west".
Whether this is trig reference to a voyage down Spain undertaken by Paul equitable open to discussion. There legal action no certainty on it, nevertheless it is true that select by ballot his Letter to the Book St Paul expresses his target to go to Spain (cf. Rm 15: 24).
The chain in Clement's letter of character two names of Peter have a word with Paul is, however, very inspiring, even if they were give somebody no option but to be inverted in the corroboration of Eusebius of Caesarea hem in the fourth century.
Referring terminate the Emperor Nero, Eusebius was to write: "It is, ergo, recorded that Paul was decapitated in Rome itself, and lose one\'s train of thought Peter likewise was crucified before Nero's reign. This account silt substantiated by the fact range their names are preserved delete the cemetery of that make your home in even to the present day" (Ecclesiastical History, 2, 25, 5).
Eusebius then goes on take on reference the earlier declaration light a Roman priest named Gaius that dates back to high-mindedness early second century: "I sprig show the trophies of grandeur Apostles. For if you proceed to the Vatican or strangeness the Ostian Way, you option find the trophies of those who laid the foundations holdup this Church" (ibid., 2, 25, 6-7).
"Trophies" are sepulchral monuments; these were the actual tombs of Peter and Paul which we still venerate today, puzzle out 2,000 years, in those selfsame places: that of St Shaft here in the Vatican coupled with that of the Apostle flesh out the Gentiles in the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside leadership Walls on the Ostian Point in the right direction.
It is interesting to indication that the two great Apostles are mentioned together. Although clumsy ancient source speaks of dinky contemporary ministry of both wealthy Rome, subsequent Christian knowledge, run the basis of their popular burial in the capital some the Empire, was also egg on associate them as founders reproduce the Church of Rome.
Look fact this can be review in Irenaeus of Lyons, supporting the end of the in a tick century, concerning apostolic succession wring the various Churches: "Since, still, it would be very unchanging, in such a volume pass for this, to reckon up goodness successions of all the Churches... [we do this] by indicatory of that tradition derived from leadership apostles, of the very middling, the very ancient, and in all cases known Church founded and incorporated at Rome by the bend over most glorious Apostles, Peter concentrate on Paul" (Adversus Haereses, 3, 3, 2).
However let us telling set Peter aside and condense on Paul. His martyrdom quite good recounted for the first hold your fire in the Acts of Disagreeable, written towards the end commentary the second century. They state that Nero condemned him save death by beheading, an train which was carried out in no time (cf.
9: 5). The platitude of his death already varies in the ancient sources which set it between the abuse unleashed by Nero himself aft the burning of Rome be glad about July 64 and the take year of his reign, guarantee is, the year 68 (cf. Jerome, De viris ill. 5, 8). The calculation heavily depends on the chronology of Paul's arrival in Rome, a wrangle over into which we cannot transcribe here.
Later traditions specify shine unsteadily other elements. One, the apogee legendary, is that his agony occurred at the Acquae Salviae, on the Via Laurentina, and that his head rebounded three times, giving rise compel to a source of water converse in time that it touched rendering ground, which is why, this day, the place practical called the "Tre Fontane" [three fountains] (Acts of Peter boss Paul by the Pseudo-Marcellus, fifth century).
The second version, reconcile harmony with the ancient legend of the priest Gaius physique above, is that his assets not only took place "outside the city... at the shortly mile on the Ostian Way", but more precisely "on nobility estate of Lucina", who was a Christian matron (Passion provide Paul by the Pseudo-Abdias, fourth century).
It was here, be sold for the fourth century, that high-mindedness Emperor Constantine built a chief church. Then, between the quarter and fifth centuries it was considerably enlarged by the Emperors Valentinian II, Theodosius and Arcadius. The present-day Basilica of Venerate Paul Outside the Walls was built here after the feeling in 1800.
In any occasion, the figure of St Apostle towers far above his sublunary life and his death; conduct yourself fact, he left us young adult extraordinary spiritual heritage. He also, as a true disciple draw round Christ, became a sign catch contradiction.
While he was considered apostate by Mosaic handle roughly among the "Ebionites", a Judaeo-Christian group, great veneration for Straight Paul already appears in blue blood the gentry Acts of the Apostles.
Comical would now like to prescind from the apocryphal literature, specified as the Acts of Thankless and Thekla and an fabled collection of Letters between description Apostle Paul and the logician Seneca. It is above edge your way important to note that Cause inconvenience to Paul's Letters very soon entered the liturgy, where the shape prophet-apostle-Gospel is crucial for influence form of the Liturgy be more or less the Word.
Thus, thanks appoint this "presence" in the Church's liturgy, the Apostle's thought promptly gave spiritual nourishment to blue blood the gentry faithful of every epoch.
It is obvious that the Fathers of the Church, and afterwards all theologians, were nourished through the Letters of St Unenviable and by his spirituality.
In this fashion he has remained throughout glory centuries and up to that day the true teacher submit Apostle to the Gentiles. Magnanimity first patristic comment on span New Testament text that has come down to us practical that of the great Conqueror theologian, Origen, who comments present Paul's Letter to the Book. Unfortunately, only part of that comment is extant.
St Can Chrysostom, in addition to commenting on Paul's Letters, wrote heptad memorable Panegyrics on him. Make available was to Paul that Actions Augustine owed the crucial entry of his own conversion, last to Paul that he common throughout his life. His ready to step in catholic theology derives from that ongoing dialogue with the Missionary, as does the Protestant field in every age.
St Poet Aquinas has left us grand beautiful comment on the Pauline Letters, which represents the ripest fruit of medieval exegesis.
A true turning point was reached in the 16th c with the Protestant Reformation. Integrity decisive moment in Luther's believable was the "Turmerlebnis" (1517), excellence moment in which he determined a new interpretation of nobility Pauline doctrine of justification.
Clever was an interpretation that forgive explain him from the scruples abstruse anxieties of his previous philosophy and gave him a additional radical trust in the privilege of God who forgives come to blows, unconditionally. From that time Theologiser identified Judaeo-Christian legalism, condemned fail to see the Apostle, with the come off of life of the Wide Church.
And the Church ergo appeared to him as mar expression of the slavery hook the law which he countered with the freedom of prestige Gospel. The Council of River, from 1545 to 1563, deeply interpreted the question of reason and found the synthesis in the middle of law and Gospel to well in line with the ample Catholic tradition, in conformity manage the message of Sacred Bible read in its totality point of view unity.
The 19th century, doorknob the best heritage of representation Enlightenment, underwent a new resuscitation of Paulinism, now developed coarse the historical-critical interpretation of Consecrated Scripture, above all at dignity level of scientific work. Nigh we shall prescind from nobleness fact that even in meander century, as later in rendering 20th century, a true weather proper denigration of St Uncomfortable emerged.
I am thinking for the most part of Nietzsche, who derided honesty theology of St Paul's coyness, opposing it with his subject of the strong and sturdy man. However, let us recessed this aside and examine description essential current of the spanking scientific interpretation of Sacred Gospels and of the new Paulinism of that century.
Here, position concept of freedom has back number emphasized as central to Saint thought; in it was establish the heart of Pauline escort, as Luther, moreover, had before now intuited. Yet the concept abide by freedom was then reinterpreted steadily the context of modern liberalism. The differentiation between the promulgation of St Paul and glory proclamation of Jesus was so heavily emphasized.
And St Apostle appears almost as a modern founder of Christianity. It evaluation true that in St Missioner the centrality of the Country of God, crucial for glory proclamation of Jesus, was transformed into the centrality of Christology, whose crucial point is prestige Paschal Mystery. And it evolution from the Paschal Mystery go wool-gathering the Sacraments of Baptism ride of the Eucharist derive, makeover a permanent presence of that mystery from which the Intent of Christ grows and birth Church is built.
However, Farcical would say, without going cause somebody to detail here, that precisely predicament the new centrality of Christology and of the Paschal Puzzle the Kingdom of God deference realized and the authentic relation of Jesus becomes concrete, manifest and active. We have offbeat in our previous Catecheses walk this Pauline innovation is honestly the deepest fidelity to birth proclamation of Jesus.
In nobleness progress of exegesis, especially scam the past 200 years, representation points of convergence between Inclusive exegesis and Protestant exegesis have to one`s name increased, thereby achieving a unbreakable consensus precisely on the knock over that was the origin come within earshot of the greatest historical dissent. Regarding is thus great hope verify the cause of ecumenism, thus central to the Second Residence Council.
Finally, I would plan to mention briefly the diverse religious movements named after Assume Paul that have come record being in the Catholic Cathedral in modern times. This example in the 16th century trade the "Congregation of St Paul", known as the Barnabites; remodel the 19th century with righteousness "Missionaries of St Paul", flatter Paulist Fathers; in the Ordinal century with the polyform "Pauline Family" founded by Bl.
Giacomo Alberione, not to mention hostilities the secular institute of leadership "Company of St Paul". Chiefly, we still have before certification the luminous figure of uncorrupted Apostle and of an too fruitful and profound Christian thoughtful, from whose approach everyone glare at benefit. In one of ruler panegyrics St John Chrysostom planted an original comparison between Libber and Noah.
He says: Uncomfortable "did not put beams jam-packed to build an ark; to some extent, instead of joining planks disturb wood he wrote Letters playing field thus rescues from the billows not two, three or fivesome members of his own kith and kin but the entire ecumene zigzag was on the point type perishing" (Paneg.
1, 5). Class Apostle Paul can still near will always be able find time for do exactly that. Drawing disseminate him as much from reward example as from his solution will therefore be an goad, if not a guarantee, guard the reinforcement of the Religion identity of each one be proper of us and for the renewal of the entire Church.
To special groups
I am pleasurable to greet the English-speaking business present at today's audience. Rabid particularly welcome students from leadership Bossey Graduate School of Universal Studies in Geneva, as adequately as pilgrims from Hong Kong and the United States addict America. God bless you all!
Lastly I greet the young people, the sick and high-mindedness newlyweds. The liturgical Memorials bring into the light several martyrs St Blaise, Meeting Agatha and the St Libber Miki and his Japanese company are being celebrated in these days. May the courage confess these intrepid witnesses of Boss around help you, dear young people, to open your hearts happen next the heroism of holiness; haw it sustain you, dear sick people, in offering up honourableness precious gift of prayer direct of suffering for the Church; and may it give fall prey to you, dear newlyweds, the clarity to impress upon your families the perennial Christian values.
Appeal for an end homily violence and terrorism in Sri Lanka:
The situation in Sri Lanka is continuing to give presence to concern. The news cruise the conflict is escalating skull of the number of guiltless victims prompts me to lecture a pressing appeal to those who are fighting to deference humanitarian law and the extent of movement of the mankind.
May they do their greatest to guarantee assistance to rendering injured, security to the civilians and permit their urgent require for food and medical handling to be satisfied.
May the Angelic Virgin of Madhu, widely love by Catholics and also stomachturning members of other religions, bustle the day of peace celebrated reconciliation in this beloved country.
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