Benedict XVI Faithful Friend of the Bridegroom – Theologian of Beauty

Abstract

On 29th August 2006 Benedict XVI wrote his spiritual testament which was published soon after his death, i.e. 31stDecember 2022. The Pope started his will with the expression of thankfulness to God. Immensely important, also in the context of the following article, seem to be his words: Do not be confused! Often it seems as if science - on the one hand, the natural sciences; on the other, historical research (especially the exegesis of the Holy Scriptures) - has irrefutable insights to offer that are contrary to the Catholic faith. I have witnessed from times long past the changes in natural science and have seen how apparent certainties against the faith vanished, proving themselves not to be science but philosophical interpretations only apparently belonging to science - just as, moreover, it is in dialogue with the natural sciences that faith has learned to understand the limits of the scope of its affirmations and thus its own specificity. (…) I have seen, and see, how, out of the tangle of hypotheses, the reasonableness of faith has emerged and is emerging anew. Jesus Christ is truly the Way, the Truth, and the Life - and the Church, in all her shortcomings, is truly His Body[1]. It cannot be denied that on the 31st day of December 2022, at 9:34, when Pope Benedict XVI went to the House of the Father, the Church lost her Shepherd, faithful to God and to every man, extraordinary and inspiring person, great theologian and mystic of Christianity, defender of faith and morality, and a humble worker in the Lord’s vineyard – as he used to call himself. The funeral service which took place on 5th January 2023 in St. Peter’s Square was attended by the author of these words who represented the Pontifical University of John Paul II in Cracow, the university which had conferred upon Benedict XVI the honoris causa doctorate many years before. During the funeral liturgy His Holiness Pope Francis said the following, unforgettable words about his predecessor: Benedict, faithful friend of the Bridegroom, may your joy be complete as you hear his voice, now and forever! These beautiful words certainly reflected the very essence of the mission of the deceased Pontiff. This article presents the way of life and the achievements of Pope Benedict XVI, showing him as an outstanding theologian of liturgy and music. It was also important to reflect on his honoris causa doctorate granted to him by the Pontifical University in Cracow. The article finishes with Benedict XVI’s spiritual testament and message of hope. It was not easy to present in such a short form the immense scale of the achievements of this extraordinary man, so beneficial for the Church and for the whole world. The following text merely outlines the above, for the subject concerns a remarkable theologian, proficient liturgist and musician, defender of Catholic faith and her transparency, humble worker in the Lord’s vineyard and the faithful friend of the Bridegroom – as recalled by his successor. And it seems certain that in the next years, even in the following decades we will still be reading his spiritual message, or maybe one day this great Pontiff shall be accorded the title of the Doctor of the Church, so well deserved. [1] Benedict XVI, Mój testament duchowy [My Spiritual Testament] [in] L’Osservatore Romano, year XLII, Polish edition, no. 1(449) 2023, p. 8.