Péter Erdő: Everything that strengthens must be handed down from generation to generation

Learning is preparation for a life's vocation, but life itself, and even the history of the whole of humanity, is waiting, preparation - said Cardinal Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, on Friday in Budapest, in the square in front of the Saint Stephen's Basilica, to thousands of students studying in Catholic schools.

At the joint Veni Sancté of the Catholic schools in Budapest, the cardinal spoke about the fact that learning is preparation for a vocation, to "use our work to be useful members of our family, our people and the whole of humanity".

At the same time, it is also important to "find joy" in this work, this profession, he added.

Explaining the parable of the wise and foolish virgins waiting for the bridegroom, the cardinal emphasized: Jesus will come in everyone's life, but those who think they are sufficiently prepared, that they have nothing else to do but to wait for him with joy, can easily run out of reserves.

"We run out of illusions, we run out of faith, we run out of love and goodness, and when it's our turn to settle, we stand empty-handed."

The coming of Christ is not a matter of weeks or a year or two. The wait lasts a lifetime, even generations. Therefore, with "generous love", everything that strengthens and gives strength to this expectation must be handed down from generation to generation: faith, love, joy, culture, "our sweet mother tongue, which we received as a gift and a vocation", the cardinal listed.

At the end of the Mass, Péter Erdő handed over the letters of credence to the newly appointed and re-appointed heads of institutions of the Archdiocese of Esztergom-Budapest.

Among others, Miklós Soltész, the State Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office responsible for church and ethnic relations, took part in the holy mass.

MTI

Featured image: MTI/Zsolt Szigetváry