Thomas Aquinas, a Master of Dialogue Between Cultures
VATICAN CITY, JAN 28, 2007 (VIS) - Before praying the Angelus this morning,
Benedict XVI dedicated some remarks to the figure of St. Thomas Aquinas, whose
feast day falls today.
Addressing the thousands of pilgrims gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope
recalled that the saint presents a "valid model for harmony between reason
and faith, dimensions of the human spirit that that are fully realized in the
meeting and dialogue between them."
For St. Thomas, human reason "moves on a broad open horizon where it
can express the best of itself. When, however, man limits his thought only
to material objects that can be subject to experimentation ... he becomes impoverished.
The relationship between faith and reason is a serious challenge for the culture
that currently dominates in the Western world."
The Holy Father recognized the "innumerable positive effects" of
modern science, but he also warned that "the tendency to consider as true
only that which can be subject to experimentation represents a limitation to
human reason." For this reason, "it is vital to rediscover ... a
human reason open to the light of the divine 'Logos.' ... When Christian faith
is authentic," he went on, "it does not degrade freedom and human
reason. ... Faith implies reason and perfects it. And reason, illuminated by
faith, finds the strength to raise itself to a knowledge of God and of spiritual
truths."
The Holy Father continued: "St. Thomas Aquinas managed to establish a
fruitful confrontation with the Arab and Jewish thought of his time, such that
he is still considered as a valid master of dialogue with other cultures and
religions. He created that magnificent Christian synthesis between reason and
faith, which is a precious heritage for Western civilization and from which,
even today, we can draw in order to maintain an effective dialogue with the
great cultural and religious traditions of the East and South of the world."
After praying the Angelus, the Pope referred to the World Day of Leprosy which
is also being celebrated today. He gave assurances of recollection in his prayers "for
all the people suffering from this disease, ... which is not only an illness
but a social scourge." Pope Benedict also recalled the people who, "in
Christ's name, have dedicated themselves to this cause," such as, "Raoul
Follereau and Blessed Damian de Veuster, apostle of the lepers of Molokai."
Finally, Benedict XVI dedicated some words to young people from Catholic Action
in Rome who had come to St. Peter's Square to celebrate the closure of their
annual "month of peace." As is traditional, a boy and a girl from
Catholic Action freed two white doves, symbols of peace, from the window of
the papal apartments: "may they be a harbinger of peace for the whole
world," the Pope concluded.
Prayer Before Study by Thomas Aquinas
Ineffable Creator...
You are proclaimed
the true font of light and wisdom,
and the primal origin
raised high beyond all things.
Pour forth a ray of Your brightness
into the darkened places of my mind;
disperse from my soul the twofold darkness
into which I was born:
sin and ignorance.
You make eloquent the tongues of infants.
Refine my speech
and pour forth upon my lips
the goodness of Your blessing.
Grant to me keenness of mind,
capacity to remember,
skill in learning,
subtlety to interpret,
and eloquence in speech.
May You guide the beginning of my work,
direct its progress,
and bring it to completion.
You Who are true God and true Man,
Who live and reign,
world without end.
Amen
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