𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐢𝐝 ... 𝐏𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐗𝐕𝐈

Pope Benedict XVI

I'm getting a newfound respect for his clear and wise pastoral message(s).

Particularly on his point that a self-made approach to life — where individuals attempt to create their own meaning, morality, or identity — ultimately results in a lack of true meaning. He maintained that genuine purpose and fulfillment cannot be produced by human effort alone, but must be received as a gift from God. He argued that a life constructed solely by human striving, power, and "self-creation" is ultimately fragile and meaningless. [Source: Internet search "Benedict ... the self made approach to life."]

It may not be fashionable in the secular culture to even speak of God. In any real way, that is. Well, Pilgrim, what do you wanna call That which is the Source of it all? Choose your own word(s).

BTW ... the 47th President of the United States of America has gone on record stating that he is guided by his "own morality" and his "own mind". Donny has apparently made his choice. He sees it in the mirror. Not perhaps the mirror of his own soul; the one on the wall.

So, were does that leave us? As was scratched on nearly every dern public pay telephone in New York City ... "Pray", "Repent".

Further discussion ... Link for more. 

The current President Donald J. Trump has stated for the record that he is guided by his "own mind", and his "own morality". Further asserting, "It's the only thing thing can stop me." What that actually means to him, no one seems to have inquired into that. Quel dommage. But, in our slogan saturated zeitgeist we somehow have been benumbed to take that utterance as meaningfully understood. So, tell me Pilgrim, WTF does he in fact mean by "his own mind" and "his own morality"? Who's steering your ship?

Benedict goes on ... “The theology of littleness is a basic category of Christianity. After all, the tenor of our faith is that God's distinctive greatness is revealed precisely in powerlessness. That in the long run, the strength of history is precisely in those who love, which is to say, in a strength that, properly speaking, cannot be measured according to categories of power. So in order to show who he is, God consciously revealed himself in the powerlessness of Nazareth and Golgotha. Thus, it is not the one who can destroy the most who is the most powerful ... but, on the contrary, the least power of love is already greater than the greatest power of destruction.” — Joseph Ratzinger, Salt of the Earth, Ignatius Press, 1997.

Key aspects of Pope Benedict's perspective include:

Not Self-Created: Benedict argued against the idea that man is entirely his own creator, emphasizing that humans are "not some casual and meaningless product of evolution," but are created and loved by God.

The "Ecology of Man": In a speech to the German Bundestag, he asserted that just as there is an ecology of nature, there is an "ecology of man." He argued that the human will is rightly ordered only when it respects its own nature and accepts itself as it is, rather than trying to manipulate it.

True Freedom: He believed true freedom and, consequently, true happiness are found in acknowledging this, saying, "Man does not create himself. He is intellect and will, but he is also nature, and his will is rightly ordered if he respects his nature".

Finding Meaning in God: He emphasized that life finds its true purpose not through self-invention but through an encounter with the living God.

Beyond Comfort: He famously stated, "The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness".

His teaching highlights that a self-made life often lacks the joy and purpose found in acknowledging one’s existence as a deliberate, loved, and, needed creation.