“Prefer Nothing to Christ” – this part of the rule of St. Benedict was a guiding light of Cardinal Paul Meyer, who died on Friday at the age of 98.The oldest cardinal was laid to rest on Monday in a Mass celebrated by the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Angelo Sodano.
After the liturgy, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the congregation about the man who was his friend and fellow Bavarian.
The Holy Father remarked on how the Church, and especially those in the monastic community, it a precursor to the hope of eternal life.
He mentioned the motto of Cardinal Meyer – the Love of Christ has gathered us as one.
The Pope also spoke about Cardinal Meyer’s service to the Church – his work as a teacher and later rector at the Pontifical Athenaeum of St. Anselm, where he founded the Pontifical Liturgical Institute.
He spoke of how he was made Secretary of the Congregation for the Religious, and later headed the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
Later, he was appointed first President of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei", where he was given the delicate task of trying to heal the division caused by the Society of St. Pius X.
Pope Benedict ended his reflections by returning to the Marian shrine close to the birthplace of both Cardinal Mayer and the Pope himself, Our Lady of Grace of Altotting.
He said he was born at the shrine, confirmed his life according to the rule of St. Benedict, and died in the shadow of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Therefore, the Pope asked Our Lady, St. Peter and St. Benedict to accompany the Lord’s faithful disciple to the his Kingdom of Light and Peace.
SIC: VR