Knexy Nepomuceno

AEC1 Mr. Arnold Donozo

Fulgens Radiatur
(1st Reading)
Summary:
This encyclical letter is written by Pope Pius XII during St. Benedict’s feast and at the
same time, the start of the pandemic. He said that St. Benedict was sent to Rome to study Liberal
Science but because of the rapid decline in terms of political and moral, he went to live in a cave
called Subiaco for three years. He let go of his comfortable life then spent his next years in a
heavenly manner, seeking God’s wisdom. He did endless prayers and reflections trying to find
God’s spirit within him. His reputation as holy man then spread, resulting to not only monks but
also a huge number of townsfolks started to come to him just to hear him lay out the words of the
Lord. Hence, because of that, he built twelve monasteries with twelve monks assigned in each.
As everything started to come in his favour, people will always have ways to ruin it. He
let God guide him, and so he left Subiaco, together with some monks and found themselves at
the land of Cassino in Italy where the Abbey at Monte Cassino is located, a holy monastery.
This is where the battle of World War II took place in which 55,000 of people were grievously
affected. St. Benedict brought the Abbey of Monte Cassino back to its foundation and holiness,
not only the monastery but also the whole country. Pope Pius XII implies that no matter drastic
the violence and cruelty in one’s place is, with an endless hope, St. Benedict was able to build a
harmonious unity with the people and the country.
Critique:
Pope Pius XII wrote this letter to tell us about St. Benedict’s story of bravery and
eagerness to take the path towards the Lord. St. Benedict is a strong-willed person who never lost
hope in disastrous situations instead, he was even willing to help. This letter is inspiring
especially in this time of pandemic where people are starting to lose hope. Throughout the past
two years of quarantine, where death and sickness dominated the world, it is saddening and
lonely to see the world crumble apart. But since Pope Pius XII wrote this encyclical letter, this
letter stood as our support and pillar to continue and live forth. Many had died and strived to
survive, just like the World War II that hunted the people from before, this letter has influenced
many people to stand back on their feet. Now, we are slowly bringing back our stand in this
world and someday, if we keep believing, this world might finally heal.
Reflection:
St. Benedict of Nursia was already living a comfortable life before he secluded himself in
the cave of Subiaco. He has the freedom to choose and be blinded by wealth and power, but he
chose to live a simple life and adapt from the holiness of God. This world has now become a
place full of greed and violence. It is now a world where people started mistaking the difference
between right from wrong. It is now dark, and cruel, and lonely. This place has now lost its hope,
it has lost its unity. The government, the politics, the society, most especially the economy, it’s
starting to be Rome, the place where St. Benedict was sent to study but later left. It became even
worst when the pandemic came where people are obliged to stay in their homes. I realized that
maybe this is the reason why Pope Pius XII wrote this letter, it is to give hope just like how St.
Knexy Nepomuceno
AEC1 Mr. Arnold Donozo

Benedict did to the victims of the World War II. It is so draining to live in a world where only
pain and misery are present, especially that our world is now falling apart. This letter of the Pope
wants us to reach his words that this world may be vicious, as long as we find our way towards
the Lord, then we will be able to see the beauty of this world. In that case, we could not only
save the people but the country itself. Our situation right now may be scary but seek for God and
follow his words the same way St. Benedict did in his situation.