Pope Benedict XVI states in his new book about Jesus that the Jewish people are not collectively responsible for His death. While the Vatican has for five decades taught that Jews weren't collectively responsible, Jewish scholars said that the argument laid out by the German-born pontiff was significant and would help fight anti-Semitism today. Pope Benedict uses biblical and theological analyses to explain why there was no basis in Scripture that the Jewish people as a whole were responsible for Jesus' death. The book is the second installment to Pope Benedict's 2007 "Jesus of Nazareth," his first book as pope, which offered a very personal meditation on the early years of Christ's life and teachings. This second installment, set to be released March 10, concerns the final part of Christ's life, his death and resurrection. The Pope also said it was a mistake to interpret the words reported in the Gospel, "His blood be on us and on our children," as a blood curse against the Jews. Those words, spoken by the mob that demanded Jesus' death, need to be read in the light of faith, the Pope wrote. They do not cry out for vengeance, but for reconciliation, he said. "It means that we all stand in need of the purifying power of love which is his blood. These words are not a curse, but rather redemption, salvation," he said. The Pope said the trial and condemnation of Jesus was a classic conflict of truth versus power, posing questions that still reverberate in modern politics. When Jesus said that his kingship consisted of bearing witness to the truth, Pilate -- the representative of worldly power -- did not know how to react, and asked pragmatically: "What is truth? It is the question that is also asked by modern political theory: Can politics accept truth as a structural category? Or must truth, as something unattainable, be relegated to the subjective sphere?" the Pope said. He said that when "truth counts for nothing," justice is held hostage to the arbitrariness of "changing opinions and powerful lobbies." The history of great dictatorships fed by ideological lies demonstrates that only truth can bring freedom, he said. In essence, he said, bearing witness to truth means giving priority to God.
Finding St Anthony Among the Lost Items
Saint Anthony of Padua, though often associated with finding lost articles, was primarily known in his lifetime as a powerful and eloquent preacher. Originally a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, he was inspired to join the newly formed Franciscan order after witnessing the martyrdom of the first Franciscan missionaries in Morocco. His conversion to the mendicant life under St. Francis of Assisi transformed him, deepening his commitment to poverty, humility, and evangelical preaching. Gifted with profound theological knowledge and a captivating speaking style, he traveled across Italy and France, drawing immense crowds with his clear and passionate sermons, converting many and combating heresy with his unwavering faith and intellectual rigor. Beyond his public ministry, St. Anthony was a mystic who enjoyed profound spiritual experiences, most notably a vision of the Infant Jesus. This intimate connection with the Christ Child is a hallmark of his iconography, often depicting him c...
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