Prefer Nothing to the Love of Christ

April 24, 2008

A wonderful reflection by Pope Benedict XVI on St. Benedict of Nursia. You can find the full article in this page.

One thing that caught my heart is this:

There is a particular aspect of his spirituality, which today I would particularly like to underline. Benedict did not found a monastic institution oriented primarily to the evangelization of barbarian peoples, as other great missionary monks of the time, but indicated to his followers that the fundamental, and even more, the sole objective of existence is the search for God: “Quaerere Deum.”

He knew, however, that when the believer enters into a profound relationship with God he cannot be content with living in a mediocre way, with a minimalist ethic and superficial religiosity. In this light, one understands better the expression that Benedict took from St. Cyprian and that is summarized in his Rule (IV, 21) — the monks’ program of life: “Nihil amori Christi praeponere.” “Prefer nothing to the love of Christ.”