Benedict XVI.Benedict XVI, first spectator of the film about the saint from Hippo
Benedict XVI previewed the condensed version of the film, “Saint Augustine”, last September 2 at the Swiss Hall of Castel Gandolfo. The film - a collaboration of Italy, Germany and Poland - was produced by the Lux Vide/Rai Fiction; the Bayerischer Rundfunk/Telux Film; and Eos Entertainment Rai Trade and Grupa Filmanova Baltmedia. Christian Duguay directed the movie.
“We have seen how in a context that is very distant from us, the entire reality of human life with its problems, sorrows, and failures is presented and also how at the end, the Truth, which is stronger that any obstacle, encounters human being. That is the great hope that remains at the end; on our own we cannot find the truth, but it is the Truth, which is a Person, who finds us. Seen from the outside, the life of St. Augustine seems to end tragically: the world in which he lived and for which he lived is destroyed. But as we have seen affirmed here, his message remains and even endures in spite of world’s changes because it springs from the Truth and leads to Love, which is our common destiny”.
“Thank you, all of you,” he concluded, “we hope that many, who watch this human drama, would allow themselves to be found by the Truth and in return also find Love”.
Ecumenism
The following day and after the general audience, Benedict XVI addressed a group of Catholics and Orthodox and urged them to make a common reflection on St. Augustine, how he can help to facilitate ecumenical dialogue.
The Pope, greatly indebted to the saint from Hippo, directed himself to the participants of the Inter-Christian Symposium that is promoted by the Pontifical University Antonianum and the Aristotle University of Thessalonica.
The Holy Father is confident that “the common study done by Catholics and Orthodox on the figure of St. Augustine will help pave the way to full communion”.
News
FEBRUARY 2009 · ITALY.
Augustine, transgressions of a saint
Interesting links
Life of St. Augustine
Augustine (354-430), an Algerian, was born to a pagan father, Patricius, and a Christian mother, Monica. He was educated in the North African cities of Tagaste, Madaura and Cartago. He entered the Catholic Church though baptism in 387. He was ordained to the priesthood of Hippo in 391 and bishop of the same city in 395.
Works of saint Augustine
Considerada en conjunto como antropología teológica, de su obra puede decirse que es la pionera del humanismo cristiano. En ella, penetrada por la Sagrada Escritura, la condición humana aparece tan valiosa, que constituye incluso uno de los pilares que sostienen la búsqueda y descubrimiento de Dios.