On the last day of the Symposium “Holiness of today”, Mrs. Costa, professor at the University of Rome III, reflected on the current cultural situation and on the theme of holiness, emphasizing that holiness is the fulcrum of Christian life.
(Vatican News Network)At the symposium “The holy virtue today”, Mrs. Cecilia Costa, professor at the University of Rome III, and Federico Lombardi, former Director of the Holy See Press Office and president of the Vatican Ratzinger Foundation) on 5 October, the third day of conference. Mrs. Costa spoke about the crisis of holiness and today’s culture, and Father Lombardi raised the importance of discerning the shape of the saint.
Ms. Costa first of all stated that both holiness and the cultural crisis are sociological facts: Christianity is lived in history and the mission of the Church is closely connected to the current situation. Therefore saints are born in every historical epoch, and even in our present epoch, which lacks self-devotion and meaning, there is room for holiness.
Speaking of the importance of holiness for contemporary culture, Mrs. Costa invites everyone to reflect: how do we connect holiness to today’s cultural situation? The situation today is characterized by the rapid development of technology and the oversimplification of truth, faith and happiness; in this context, “the thirst for God helps to open the way”. It is today, in this cultural crisis, that we need more saints who live the hope of the Gospel.
The issue highlighted by Don Lombardi is that “holiness is at the center of Christian life”. Holiness “flows without end in history” and we must try to discern the example of the saints. The examples of saints are many, because all are called to be saints. The saints are part of the People of God and our relationship with them encourages us and increases our sense of belonging as people on the move.
The president of the Vatican Foundation said that the first example is Jesus Christ, whom we should follow. However, we think it is difficult to reach the kingdom of Jesus, and the testimony of the saints is like the way, making Jesus’ example more accessible. The saints have integrated the Gospel into their culture and we want to “implement the Gospel in our time, in our world”. Therefore, in this day and age, we need exemplary priests, holy couples who show true love. Fr Lombardi concludes: The language of the Lord who speaks to us is precisely the testimony of the saints.
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