VATICAN - Pope tells seminarians: “the Word of God that you must sow with your hands full and that carries eternal life, is Christ Himself, the only One who can change the human heart and renew the world”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In addressing a group of students from the Pontifical Seminaries of the Italian regions of the Marche ("Pio XI"), Puglie ("Pio XI"), Molfetta, and Chieti (“San Pio X”) received in an audience on November 29, on the 100th anniversary of their foundation, the Holy Father Benedict XVI referred to the Apostle Paul as the model in preparing for apostolic ministry. “In imitation of Saint Paul, dear seminarians, never tire in seeking Jesus through listening to, reading and studying Sacred Scripture, through prayer and individual meditation, through the liturgy and all daily activities,” the Pope said, encouraging them to value their years in the seminary, as “time dedicated to formation and discernment, years in which priority must be given to the constant search for a personal relationship with Jesus, an intimate experience of His love.”
Among the main priorities of the priest, as was also mentioned in the Synod of Bishops recently held, is that of sowing the Word of God in the field of the world. Speaking of this theme, Benedict XVI told the seminarians: “The Word of God that you must sow with your hands full and that carries eternal life, is Christ Himself, the only One who can change the human heart and renew the world. But, we could ask ourselves: does modern man still feel the need for Christ and His message of salvation?”
Today, a certain culture spreads the idea of a self-sufficient humanity, which considers itself to be the only builder of his own destiny, and that, as a result, believes the presence of God to be irrelevant. Thus, the religious experience also runs the risk of being considered a subjective choice, something that is neither essential nor decisive for one's life. “Certainly today, for these and other reasons, it becomes increasingly more difficult to believe, increasingly more difficult to welcome the Truth that is Christ, increasingly more difficult to give one's life for the cause of the Gospel,” the Pope said. “However, as is evident in the daily news reports, contemporary man often seems confused and concerned about his future, seeking certainties and eager for secure points of reference. Mankind of the third millennium, as in all ages, has need of God and sometimes seeks Him without even realizing it. The task of Christians, and especially priests, is to respond to this profound longing of the human heart and to offer everyone, using means and methods in keeping with the needs of the time, the unchangeable Word of eternal life which is Christ, Hope of the world.”
Addressing those responsible for their formation, the Holy Father reminded them of the importance of their task, of being “witnesses even more so than teachers, of the Gospel.” He later reflected on the importance of the Regional Seminaries, which can be ideal places for forming seminarians in the diocesan spirituality, offering wisdom and balance in the formation, in the widest sense of the ecclesial and regional context, so that they “may become 'houses' in which to welcome vocations, so as to give even greater momentum to vocational pastoral care, with particular concern for the world of youth, educating young people to the great evangelical and missionary ideals.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides 1/12/2008)