Pope Benedict Visits Austria

The visit to Mariazell was in all senses of the term a true pilgrimage. Yet, as with every pilgrimage, it was worth every sacrifice and inconvenience.

Remarkably, despite the early morning, cold rain, and long walk, I did not hear any student utter one complaint! Way to go!

I was especially moved by several points in his homily in Vienna and in Mariazell, and I would like to share them with you today for reflection and meditation:

- The Holy Father made an appeal to politicians "not to allow children to be considered as a form of illness, ... to do everything possible to make European countries once again open to welcoming children," and "to favor conditions enabling young couples to raise children. Yet," he added, "all this will be pointless, unless we can succeed in creating once again in our countries a
climate of joy and confidence in life, a climate in which children are not seen as a burden, but rather as a gift for all."

- It should be everyone's concern to ensure that the day will never come when only its [Austria's] stones speak of Christianity! An Austria without a vibrant Christian faith would no longer be Austria."

- Making a pilgrimage means setting out in a particular direction, travelling towards a destination.

- "The awakening of the Christian faith," he added, "the dawning of the Church of Jesus Christ was made possible, because there were people in Israel whose hearts were searching, people who did not rest content with custom, but who looked further ahead, in search of something greater. ...Because their hearts were expectant, they were able to recognize in Jesus the One Whom God had sent....We too need an open and restless heart like theirs."

- "We need the truth"

- "Truth proves itself in love"

- "Where God is, there is the future"