Pope: Rejoice when non-Catholics do good

Last updated on: September 30, 2012 at 7:19 pm by CNA Daily News

Pope: Rejoice when non-Catholics do good 2012-09-30T19:19:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Sep 30, 2012 / 01:19 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Benedict XVI says that Catholics should be delighted whenever non-Catholics do what is good or embrace what is true.

“Members of the Church should not feel jealousy, but rejoice if someone from outside the community does good in the name of Christ, provided this is done with right intention and with respect,” he said during his Sept. 30 Angelus address at Castel Gandolfo.

The Pope was reflecting on the Sunday Gospel, as recorded by St. Mark, in which “a man, who was not the followers of Jesus had cast out demons in his name” when “the Apostle John, young and zealous, wants to stop him, but Jesus will not allow him.”

Several thousand pilgrims gathered at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo for the Angelus, where they heard the Pope remind them of the words of the 4-5th century Doctor of the Church, St. Augustine: “Just as one can find that which is not Catholic in the Catholic Church – that is, in the Church – one can also find something that may be Catholic outside of the Catholic Church.”

This, the Pope said, is what Jesus wishes to explain to his disciples, that “good and even miraculous things” can happen outside their circle when others “cooperate with the Kingdom of God” even in small gestures such as “offering a simple glass of water to a missionary.”

The same tendency towards jealousy can also exist, observed Pope Benedict, within the Church when Catholics resent holiness and goodness being attained co-religionists.

“Instead we should all be able to always appreciate and respect each other, praising the Lord for the infinite ‘fantasy’ with which he acts in the Church and in the world,” advised the Pope.

He also touched upon the Second Reading from today’s Mass in which St. James rebukes those who “trust in the riches accumulated by dint of oppression.”

“The words of the apostle James,” said the Pope, are a warning against the “vain desire for material goods.” Instead they are a “powerful call” to use wealth “in the perspective of solidarity and the common good, always acting with fairness and morality, at all level.”

In conclusion, Pope Benedict commended all those present to the Blessed Virgin Mary so that all Catholics may “rejoice in every good gesture and initiative, without envy or jealously.”

He then led the faithful in the traditional midday Marian prayer before addressing pilgrims in their various native languages and imparting his apostolic blessing.

Vatican

Previous Post

September 30, 2012

No actor’s life for him

Next Post

September 30, 2012 Dodger Stadium to host 'joyous' pro-life youth event

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What Christian group commonly practices foot washing as a religious act?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Mennonites Methodists Presbyterians Episcopalians