CNS STORY: Spend vacation on life's essentials: the Gospel, pope says at Angelus

Anne Sixte of France wears a garment on her head to stay cool as she waits to attend Pope Benedict XVI's Angelus prayer at the papal villa at Castel Gandolfo, Italy, July 18. (CNS/Paul Haring)

By Catholic News Service

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Take advantage of summer vacation by spending time on the essentials in life: listening to the word of God, Pope Benedict XVI said.

Speaking during his Angelus address at the papal summer residence of Castel Gandolfo July 18, the pope said it is important people "rest from our daily labors, so that we may give time to the one thing that is truly necessary in our lives -- listening to the word of God in attentive stillness."

People need to work and dedicate themselves to their homes and professions, but God must still come first, he said.

God is that "inner light of love and truth" that gives every action meaning, value, and joy, he said.

Without that deeper meaning, everything one does is reduced to "fruitless and disorganized" busyness, said the pope.

He said he hoped the holidays would leave people "truly refreshed in body and spirit so that you may return with renewed vigor to the responsibilities of your daily lives."

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