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Pope explains man's quest to be like God 

Vatican, Sep. 5, 2007 (CWNews.com)

Pope Benedict XVI (bio - news) continued his reflections on the work of St. Gregory of Nyssa during his regular public audience on September 5.

Speaking to about 16,000 people in St. Peter's Square, the Holy Father resumed his discussion of the 4th-century bishop whose theological writings he had discussed at his previous weekly audience. St. Gregory of Nyssa, he observed, saw the ultimate goal of man's life as a drive "to make himself like God."

That quest, the Pope continued, entails "a permanent journey, a constant commitment," in which the believer struggles constantly to practice the virtues and acquire greater grace-- a process in which "God continually expands the possibilities for the soul." St. Gregory, he told his Wednesday audience, instructed his followers to imitate Christ, "the perfect image of the Father, is our model and teacher."

Pope Benedict-- who had reached the Vatican by a helicopter flight from Castel Gandolfo in time for the audience-- apologized to his listeners for speaking in a hoarse voice. He earned good-natured applause from the crowd when he said that his voice was "somewhat damaged."

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Posted by: Maximus - Today 12:23 PM ET USA

Bless our Pope. He often reminds us that we have the Saints - who have gone before us, showing us great examples of man & women following Chirst.