When some festival of the martyrs falls due, perhaps, and some holy place is named at which all are to assemble to celebrate the solemn rites, remember how the throngs incite one another, how people encourage each other, saying, “Come on, let’s go!” Others ask, “Where are we going?” And they are told, “To that place, to the holy site.” People talk to each other and catch fire with enthusiasm, and all the separate flames unite into a single flame. This one flame that springs up from the conversation of many people who enkindle one another seizes them all and sweeps them along to the holy place. Their devout resolve sanctifies them. If, then, holy love energizes people and tugs them to a material place, what kind of love must it be that tugs persons united in heart toward heaven, as they say to each other, We are going to the Lord’s house? Let’s run, let’s run fast, they say, for we are going to the Lord’s house! Let’s run and not weary, because we shall reach a place where fatigue will never touch us. Let’s run to the Lord’s house, and let our soul be gladdened by those who tell us these things; for those who cheer us on have seen out homeland before we have, and they shout from afar to us latecomers, “We are going to the Lord’s house! Walk! Run!” The apostles have seen it, and they exhort us, “Run, walk, follow: we are going to the Lord’s house!” And what do we reply, every one of us? “I rejoice over those who told me, We are going to the Lord’s house. I rejoiced over the prophets and I rejoiced over the apostles, for all of them have told us, We are going to the Lord’s house.” - AUGUSTINE, Bishop of Hippo (En. ps. 121.2)
The Holy Father Benedict XVI will be transferring for the summer to the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday afternoon, July 7. Private audiences are suspended during this time. The Wednesday General Audiences will not be held in the month of July, but will resume on August 1 in Castel Gandolfo. On Sundays and religious holidays during the summer season, the Holy Father will lead the mid-day Angelus from the Apostolic Palace in Castel Gandolfo.