Christianity is not a moral code or a philosophy, but an encounter with a person, says Benedict XVI.VATICAN CITY, SEPT. 3, 2008 (Zenit.org).
St Paul's conversion was not an intellectual one but rather a meeting with the Risen Lord which transformed him.
This has been very well expressed by the Holy Father in his message at the General Audience with pilgrims yesterday as reported by Zenit.
This has been very well expressed by the Holy Father in his message at the General Audience with pilgrims yesterday as reported by Zenit.
The Holy Father continued by saying that for us too Christianity is not a new philosophy but a meeting with Christ not necessarily in the 'luminous' way in which he showed himself to St Paul but through our encounter with Christ in the reading of Holy Scripture, in prayer and in the liturgical life of the Church.
"We can touch Christ's heart and feel him touch ours. Only in this personal relationship with Christ, only in this encounter with the Risen One do we really become Christians. And in this way, our reason opens, the whole of Christ's wisdom opens and all the richness of the truth. Therefore, let us pray to the Lord to enlighten us, so that, in our world, he will grant us the encounter with his presence, and thus give us a lively faith, an open heart, and great charity for all, capable of renewing the world."
