Catechesis of Benedict XVI on St. Gregory of Nyssa (II)
Man Is Made for Perfection, Says Pontiff
Offers St. Gregory of Nyssa's Teachings
VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 5, 2007 (ZENIT.org)
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St. Gregory of Nyssa taught that the human person has great dignity, and he reaches it through love, Benedict XVI says.
The Pope said that today at the general audience in St. Peter's Square. The Pontiff continued his reflections on the fathers of the Church, turning again to St. Gregory of Nyssa.
"First of all, Gregory of Nyssa shows a highly elevated sense of man's dignity," the Holy Father said. "Man's aim, says the bishop-saint, is to make himself like God, and he reaches this end above all through love, knowledge and the practice of the virtues."
Benedict XVI referred to Gregory's teaching that "perfection is a permanent journey, a constant commitment to progress, because complete likeness to God can never be achieved; we are always on the path."
He added: "The story of each soul is that of a love which is totally fulfilled, and at the same time open to new horizons, because God continually expands the possibilities of the soul, so as to make it capable of ever greater good.
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"Gregory is careful to clarify: 'It is not the result of our efforts, neither is it the result of human strength to become like the Deity, but it is the result of God's generosity.'"
The Pope said that for man to ascend to God, he must first be purified.
"In this journey of spiritual ascent, Christ is the model and the master, who shows us the beautiful image of God," he said. "Therefore, if man is considered worthy of Christ's name, how must he act?
"Gregory responds in this way: '[He must] always examine his inner thoughts, his words and actions, to see if they are focused on Christ or if they are far from him.'"
"With great clarity Gregory reminds us that we are all dependent on God, and therefore he exclaims: 'Do not think that everything is yours! There must also be something for the poor, the friends of God. The truth, in fact, is that everything comes from God, the universal Father, and that we are brothers, and we belong to the same progeny.'"
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