Pope Benedict XVI. and St John Henry Newman: Masters of Faith

Fourteen young men from six different countries came to Bregenz (Austria), to the Thalbach Monastery, spending four days with us from August 27 to 30, sharing community life, prayer, and study. The days were led by Fr. Hermann Geissler FSO, Director of the International Centre of Newman Friends in Rome, who worked for many years with Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger/ Pope Benedict XVI.

Benedict XVI held St. John Henry Newman, recently declared a Doctor of the Church, in very high esteem. During the Benedict Days we reflected on the lives of these two men of God, their search for truth, and their ministry as spiritual fathers. We heard personal testimonies and read several of Pope Benedict’s sermons on Newman, finding in them strength for living the faith in the challenges of our time. We shared in the prayer life of the sisters and brothers of The Spiritual Family The Work. The daily rosary walk was a cherished part of our gatherin. The days were crowned by two highlights: the Memorial Mass of Mother Julia, at which most of the participants served at the altar, and a Holy Mass on a mountain with a magnificent view over Vorarlberg (Austria) and beyond. 

Although most of the participants had not known one another, a sense of community quickly developed. Everyone experienced that faith can be a powerful force for unity, and how beautiful it is to live in friendship with the Lord and with one another, as St John Henry Newman and Pope Benedict show us.