Cardinal Arinze says faith in Christ 'must be central'

Published: 2006-08-10

FRONT ROYAL, Va. (CNS) -- Nigerian Cardinal Francis Arinze told nearly 400 people attending Christendom College's 17th Summer Institute in Front Royal that it is essential their "faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, be clearly central" in their lives. This can take many forms, he said, such as adoring the Eucharist; respecting and obeying the pope, bishops and priests who represent Christ on earth; remaining devoted to the Scriptures; and caring for the poor and needy. "When God speaks, we are not expected to argue," he said in his homily at a July 29 Mass. "We are expected to listen, to believe and to adore." The theme of Christendom's July 28-29 institute was "Pope Benedict XVI: A New Pontificate." Cardinal Arinze, who is prefect of the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments, spoke about Pope Benedict and the liturgy. The pope "sees the liturgy as at the heart of the life of the church," he said. The focus is on the Eucharist, but it also points to the entire paschal mystery of Christ's suffering, death and resurrection, he said.

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