Pope Benedict XVI's Final Sermon of His Pilgrimage to Lourdes

[catholic_heart]

Today Pope Benedict XVI concluded his pilgrimage to France with a Eucharistic celebration for the sick, coinciding with today's liturgical feast of Our Lady Queen of Sorrows. Following is the beautiful sermon which he gave:

Comments

[anti_nietzsche]

Hi Michael,

that's been a beautiful piece. I don't know how Mary is like, but I tried to think of my mother. I prayed to Mary once some years ago and she seemed to have told me that I should learn to dance, watch ballet, listen to musicals and that sort of thing. I think she must be a really vibrant person. She hasn't been in any way overbearing to me back then, which was something I had been afraid of.

By the way, Michael, do you know of any Saint who can help with sex dreams and lusting? I don't usually lust, but I really have trouble with occasional sex dreams.

[catholic_heart]

St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of purity, his intercession would certainly help. Also, St. Cecilia would be an excellent choice.

Then again, as far as purity goes, you can do no better an intercessor than the Virgin Mary herself :)

I think a devotion to Mary really helps develop a tender and compassionate heart. And because she is always pointing us to Christ, a devotion to Mary is the best way to ensure that you are always following Christ. Her love is so great, and her desire for God's will so perfect. In my own Christian path, I have found my devotion to the Mother of God to be one of my greatest spiritual safeguards.

[catholic_heart]

Also, Daniel, I am fairly certain I never told you this, but a close family member of mine (a cousin) suffers from schizophrenia, as well. Her's is made worse by a severe drug addiction, which she has been battling for over 20 years now. Anyway, there is one saint whose intercession in particular I have sought for you, and have asked her to pray for you many times, and perhaps you might foster a particular devotion to her, as well. She is St. Dymphna, the patron saint of those suffering nervous and mental afflictions. She was also martyred for refusing to give up her virginity, so she may serve a double help for you, helping you to cope with your schizophrenia, as well as helping you to be delivered from your sexual temptations.

[anti_nietzsche]

Hey thanks Michael. I went to the site and looked at St. Dymphna's image and it was like it started to glow. I felt a bit estranged first by seeing such purity, but it soom seemed to radiate power. I heard a weird evil whisper in my head saying "see her small breasts", and my eyes almost automatically went there, and I feared the Saint might leave me but she didn't. I started to trust her and knew that the estrangement came from not being quite so pure. Then I felt withdrawn and thought I must talk with Jesus about it and heard her say from the picture "so typically lutheran!". She still seems to talk but I can't understand her now. I gazed at her picture again and must say she really has such an aura of chastity and honor. I'm not a virgin myself anymore, but now I feel a certain connection to how I was as a teen before the stuff I talked about in my recent post came up. It's beautiful. Thanks again, Michael.