Benedict XVI Celebrates Mass with the Ratzinger Schülerkreis

Celebration formed the conclusion of the traditional meeting of the Ratzinger Schülerkreis- Schönborn is the spiritual leader of the circle

Vatican City (kath.net/KAP) Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI. celebrated Mass with his students . The celebration on Sunday in the church of the Campo Teutonico next to St. Peter's Basilica was the conclusion of the traditional meeting of the Ratzinger student circle. Theologians had since Thursday met at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence of the site south of Rome. The theme was "How to speak of God - The crisis of faith in Europe". The Spiritual Director was the Vienna Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, who together with Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council, concelebrated at the Mass with Benedict XVI.

After the Eucharistic celebration, the emeritus pope consecrated the lecture hall, "Aula Benedict XVI - Joseph Ratzinger." According to Vatican Radio, he said: "Bless this auditorium at Campo Teutonico, fill all with love and justice, who will gather here. Grant that everything that happens in this auditorium, will be for the spiritual growth of your Church."

In his acceptance speech, the Rector of the house, Hans Peter Fischer, mentioned inauguration of the "the Rome library Joseph Ratzinger" expected in a few weeks. The joint project of the housed in the Collegio Teutonico, Goerres society and the Priest Colleges as well as the Pope Benedict Institute in Regensburg will be inaugurated on 18 November with a lecture by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi on the topic "From the Bible to the library: Benedict XVI and the culture of word."

Following the blessing of the new auditorium, which was attended by the entire student circle. Pope Benedict XVI. individually greeted the around forty participants, including the head of Ratzinger student circle, Professor Stefan Horn.

Link...

++Schönborn Triumphant at Pope Benedict's Schülerkreis

‘Ratzinger Schülerkreis’ Is Now in Session

Edit: Vienna's Pornography Cardinal practically gloats as he describes Cardinal Ratzinger's programme for the American Neoconservative Catholic Register. In his interview with Vatican Radio on 30 August, he dissembled:

“The fact that the Holy Father has chosen this theme for the meeting this year is a sign that the ecumenical question is of primary importance for him” 

After years of frustrating the Pope's initiatives in Austria and undermining his authority by giving in to dissidents, promoting Medjugorje, and slyly promoting homosexuality by overturning a pastor's decision when he tried to reject a parish council member who was an active homosexual earlier this year.

All of that is forgotten, as the Cardinal waxes sensitively about the very close relationship between himself and the Holy Father, and yet there is not one word of criticism from NCR.

“It is an academic circle, and this means that what counts are the arguments,” said Cardinal Schönborn. “Of course there is the question of friendships that have been built up after so many years, we have met for over 30 years, every year, and now we are almost at the point of retirement!”

A key component of the annual get together is, of course, the involvement of Pope Benedict himself. Cardinal Schönborn said the Pope’s disposition throughout is not merely academic but also “paternal” and “fraternal” towards his former students. “What strikes us is how the Holy Father always knows his pupils, he always asks about their family, children, and when there is suffering in a family he knows about it, he cares deeply,” the Austrian cardinal said.

The basis for much of the group’s studies this week will be Cardinal Walter Kasper’s 2009 book Harvesting the Fruits, which explores Catholic relations with Anglicanism and Lutheranism.

The discussion on Lutheranism will be led by the German Lutheran Bishop-Emeritus Ulrich Wilckens, while the Swiss Catholic Bishop Charles Morerod of Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg will lead the discussion on Anglicanism.

“With the Holy Father, we expect a dialogue in truth and charity: in the truth that does not conceal the drama of division among Christians in Europe and, as a consequence, all over the world, but also the great issue of what is the reform of the Church, a theme of utmost importance to the Holy Father,” Cardinal Schönborn remarked.

Pope Benedict’s 26-year academic career involved him teaching at universities in Bonn, Munster, Tubingen and Regensburg. He was appointed archbishop of Munich and Freising in 1977.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/ratzinger-schuelerkreis-is-now-in-session/#ixzz25AqztrNj

Habbemus Abbatem -- Heiligenkreuz Elects New Abbot P. Maximilian Heim

Editor: mentioned earlier because of the large number of vocations literally storming the place.

What is perhaps the most famous Monastery in the German speaking world has a new Abbot, P. Maximilian Heim, Professor for Fundamental Theology and member of the increasing Schülerkreis von Joseph Ratzinger.

P. Maximilian Heim is the new Abbot of Abbey Heiligenkreuz as kath.net has learned. Heim is the Professor for Fundamental Theology at the Phil.-Theol University of Benedict XVI. Heiligenkreuz and also a member of the Schülerkreis von Joseph Ratzinger.

P. Maximilian was born in Kronach [Bavaria] in 1961. He completed his degree in theology at Augsburg and in Abbey Heiligenkreuz. There he entered the Monastery in 1983. In 1988 he was delegated in the founding of a new Monastery in the Ruhr region. In 1996 he was called back to Heiligenkreuz and took over the office of Master of Novices and Cantors.

In 1998 to 2002 he concluded his Doctorate with Bernhard Korner at the Institute for Moral Theology and Dogmatics at the University of Graz, and in 2004 presented the dissertation theme on the Theology and Teaching of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger at the University of Holy Cross in Vienna. 2007 saw his following appointment as the full Professor of Fundmantal Theology and Dogmatics [Ecclesiology] in the Phil-Theol institute of Benedict XVI in Holy Cross. In September of 2004 he was made the prior in the recently established [1989] Priory of Stiepel in Bochum. In 2009 P. Maximilian was invited to participate in the growing Schülerkreis von Joseph Ratzinger/ Benedict XVI. On 10. February 2011, he was chosen as the new Abbot of Heiligenkreuz. With the selection of the new Abbot, the approved Catholic course is assured for the coming years.

Link to kreuz.net...

Video of leading a youth pilgrimage to Bocum, here. It's in German, but there are a lot of pictures.