Cardinal Bertone warns Austrian bishops against loss of faith
June 17, 2009
In a homily preached in St. Peter’s Basilica on June 15-- the first of two consecutive days of meetings between Pope Benedict XVI and the bishops of Austria on the situation in the Diocese of Linz-- Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone referred to two texts of St. Paul in making two points he wished “to emphasize briefly.”
He said the first text-- “I have kept the faith” (2 Tm. 4:7)-- is a reminder that faith is a very precious gift that is not acquired once for all. “The faith is able to be lost in every age and condition of life,” said Cardinal Bertone. “Rather, the truth of the faith itself can be lost, adulterating it, polluting it, confusing it.” The second text (Phil. 3:12-14), Cardinal Bertone preached, shows that St. Paul kept focused on the judgment of God as he conducted his pastoral work.
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Further information:
- Eucharistic Celebration at the beginning of the pastoral meeting on the situation of the Diocese of Linz (Austria)
- Pope Benedict in Austria (Catholic World Report, 2007)
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