In a meeting with 20,000 members of the Renewal in the Holy Spirit movement, Benedict XVI said that in today's society, "characterised by the insecurity and fragmentation of choices, where valid points of reference to inspire one's existence are often missing, it becomes ever more important to build life and social relations on the stable rock of the Word of God, allowing oneself to be guided by the Magisterium of the Church."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "Today believers are called to bear witness to their faith in a convincing, sincere and credible manner, in close association with a commitment to charity. Through charity, even people who are distant or indifferent to the Gospel Message can come closer to the truth and convert to the merciful love of the celestial Father," Benedict XVI said today in St Peter's Square as he spoke to 20,000 members of Renewal in the Holy Spirit who are attending a meeting marking the 40^th anniversary of the movement.

"In today's society, where we live in a precarious situation, characterised by the insecurity and fragmentation of choices, where valid points of reference to inspire one's existence are often missing, it becomes ever more important to build life and social relations on the stable rock of the Word of God, allowing oneself to be guided by the Magisterium of the Church. Thus, we can understand Jesus more and more when he said, "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock.

"The Lord is with us and works through the power of his Spirit. He invites us to entrust and abandon ourselves more and more to his will, faithful to our vocation and commitment to become adults in faith, hope and charity. According to the Gospel, an adult is not someone who is subject to no one and in need of no one. An adult, i.e. someone who is mature and responsible, can only be someone who becomes small, humble and a servant before God. It is therefore necessary to shape minds in the light of the Word of God, which gives meaning and force to every ecclesiastical and human project, including the building of the terrestrial city. We need to renew the soul of institutions and fertilise history with the seeds of new life."

"Dear friends," Benedict XVI told those present as he concluded his address, "continue to bear witness to the joy of the faith in Christ, the beauty of being Jesus' disciples, the power his Gospel unleashed in history, as well as the incomparable grace each believer can experience in the Church through the sanctifying practice of the Sacraments and the humble and disinterested exercise of charisms, which, as Saint Paul said, must be used for the common good."

"Do not give in to the temptation of mediocrity or habit! Cultivate in yourself, lofty and generous desires! Make the thoughts, sentiments and actions of Jesus your own! Yes, the Lord calls on each of you to be a tireless collaborator in his plan of salvation, which changes hearts. He also needs you to turn your families, communities and cities into places of love and hope."

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