September 3, 2009. On the 70th anniversary of the beginning of World War II, Benedict XVI lamented the human lives lost during the war.
The pope spoke in Polish during the general audience and affirmed that Europe and the World still lack a spirit of unity and encouraged people to stand for peace and forgiveness, elements necessary for building a Europe based on charity.
During the first general audience in Rome after his summer vacation, Benedict remembered Saint Odon, famous for preaching the presence of God in the Eucharist.
Benedict XVI
“Those priests who approach the altar without dignity stain the bread, which is the body of Christ. Only those who are spiritually united to Christ can worthily receive His Eucharistic Body; in any other case, eating His flesh and drinking His blood would not be beneficial, but harmful".
Benedict XVI defended Saint Odon’s way of life, based on humility, the austerity and detachment from material things and told the faithful not to immitate.
RS
