Baptism, good works not enough for true Christian living, says pope

Published: 2006-11-08

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Baptism and good works are not enough for true Christian living; it requires daily and total giving of oneself to Jesus with humility and adoration, Pope Benedict XVI said. During his Nov. 8 weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict continued a series of talks about important personalities of the early Christian community by focusing on the life of St. Paul. St. Paul had been a pious, even fanatical, observer of God's laws before his conversion from Judaism after meeting the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, the pope said. But, he said, after meeting Christ, St. Paul suddenly realized his piousness had been marked by a search to improve and "build himself" into a righteous person. He had been living for himself and his own justification, the pope said. But with Christ, the apostle Paul came to understand the importance of self-giving and that his life should be dedicated to living for Christ, not for an improved form of himself.

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