I cannot express much about the relationship between eros and agape given my lack of past, present and probably future experience in the subject.
I have, however, some experience in some charitable activity of the Church, which was given voluntarily and free for the glory of the Lord.
I am pleased to read some reference to the laity, being convinced as I am that it is in actual fact the majority of Catholicism.
It is also, in my opinion, the one whose role is less defined, and, in my experience, less respected by the clergy.
Not everybody is called to the service of the Word and Sacraments, and spending more time in those activities does not mean having more opportunities to become saint.
In a world in which Love has become the most disrespected of weaknesses, lay people bear an heavy Cross, having to face the strongest of the oppositions.
Yet such testimony is important: while clergy has the responsibility of the incarnation of the Spirit, it is the laity who has the responsibility to look after Him so that He can grow up and make in this sad reality a suitable place in which Jesus will be able to inhabit when He will return.
The laity has to face the painstaking inertia and slow daily routine of completing the creation, in places and times where it is not possible to withdraw.
I like the style that Pope Benedict uses, it's clear, logical, cathechetical. I'll be looking forward to reading more documents written by him.
