The of Christian Revelation, Silence Appears As an to Understand Sacred Scripture" (N
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The priest, too, should "approach the word with Me Church must be missionary: "In no way can the Church a docile and prayerful heart so that it may deeply penetrate his thoughts and feelings and bring restrict her pastoral work to the 'ordinary maintenance' of about a new outlook in him —'the mind of Christ"' those who already know the Gospel of Christ. Missionary 'WORM (1 Cor 2:16; n. 80). Deacons and candidates for the priesthood should be well versed in the outreach is a clear sign of the maturity of an ecclesial faith & life matters Scriptures, as should those in consecrated life community" (n. 95). and the lay faithful. He recommends that °every household have its Bible, to be kept in a worthy place and used for reading and prayer" (nn. 80- peace, especially in the face of violent hostilities Conclusion 85). that seem to take on the appearance of interreligious conflict. He says in strong words: In the Conclusion the Pope encourages all in the The Pope d edi cates a long section to e ncou ragi ng "Here I wish to affirm once more that religion can Church to become increasingly familiar with the the prayerful reading of sacred Scripture through never justify intolerance or war. We cannot kill in sacred Scriptures so that they can 'proclaim the fectio divine, and he outlines the basic steps: first God's name!" (nn. 99-102) Gospel to the whole creation" (Mk 16:15; n, 121), (echo, the reading of the text, asking what it says The Blessed Virgin Mary 'Mater Verb, el Mater in itself; then meditatio, asking what the text says Christians should also be characterised by living laetitiae", Mother of the Word and Mother of joy, to us; then oratio, asking what we say to the Lord out the message of Scripture through their love is our model. She heard and welcomed the Word in response; and finally contemplatio, during for others. The Pope quotes St Augustine: "It The into her life and then brought joy into the lives of which we ask what conversion of life the Lord is essential to realise that love is the fullness others. The Pope makes an appeal to everyone, is asking of us. But the process is not concluded of the Law, as it is of all the divine Scriptures including those who have fallen away from the until it arrives at actin, action, where we give our ... Whoever claims to have understood the Church or have never heard the word, to heed life as a gift to others in charity. Mary, who "kept Scriptures, or any part of them, without striving the Lord, who stands at the door and knocks (cf. all these things, pondering them in her heart (Lk as a result to grow in this twofold love of God Rev 3:20). "Let us be silent in order to hear the 2:19) is "the supreme synthesis and fulfilment of and neighbour, makes it clear that he has not Lord's word and to meditate upon it, so that by yet understood them" (De Doctrine Christiana, I, of God this process' (nn. 86-87), the working of the Holy Spirit it may remain in our 35, 39 — 36, 40; n. 103). The Pope applies this hearts and speak to us all the days of our lives. Part Three - `Verbuni teaching to different groups of people: the young, In this way the Church will always be renewed migrants, the suffering and the poor, all of whom and rejuvenated, thanks to the word of the Lord Mundo', the Word for (lie can be involved in the work of evangelisation which remains for ever' (cf. 1 Pet 1:25; is 40:8; In the Life and Mission of the Church World (nn. 104-107). n. 124). The Church's mission: to The word of God and culture proclaim the word of God to the Speaking of how the Word became incarnate, world the Pope says that God's word always takes Questions for discussion root in the different cultures, and that every Just as Christ came to reveal the Father to culture "has to be open to transcendence and, 1. What ideas struck you most in this mankind, so the Church has the mission of in the end, to God" (n. 109). Especially important Apostolic Exhortation? proclaiming the word of God to the world. "We in the spread of the Gospel is the world of cannot keep to ourselves the words of eternal mass-communications, especially the internet. 2. What are some ways in which the laity can life given to us in our encounter with Jesus Quoting Pope John Paul II, he states that true grow in their knowledge and love for Scripture, Christ: they are meant for everyone, for every inculturation of the Gospel takes place "when as suggested in this document? man and woman" (nn. 90.91). This is "the task of a culture, transformed and regenerated by the Summary of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI all of the disciples of Jesus Christ based on their Gospel, brings forth from its own living tradition 3. What can a parish do to help the faithful Baptism" (n. 94). original expressions of Christian life, celebration appreciate more the word of God, both in The Church must be missionary: 'In no way and thought' (Address to the Bishops of Kenya, the Mass and in the celebration of the other can the Church restrict her pastoral work to the 6; nn, 111-114). sacraments? 'ordinary maintenance' of those who already know the Gospel of Christ. Missionary outreach The word of God and 4. How can we take the word of God to the is a clear sign of the maturity of an ecclesial interreligious dialogue many people around us who do not know it or community' (n. 95). This includes the ''new who do not believe in it? What specific ways The quickened pace of globalisation helps evangelisation', taking the Gospel to those who can we do this on a personal and parish level? people of different religions to see "Almighty have already heard it but who have lost their God as the foundation of all good, the Christian identity in a secularised culture (n. inexhaustible source of the moral life, and 96). In all of this work, the witness of our lives is the bulwark of a profound sense of universal essential, lest the word of God "appear merely brotherhood" (n. 117). The Pope encourages THE MUSTARD SEED as a beautiful philosophy or utopia, rather than a dialogue with Muslims, leading to a respect for BOOKSHOP reality that can be lived and itself give life" (n. 97). 'the inalienable rights of men and women and The Pope raises to God "a hymn of praise for the their equal dignity" (n. 118). He mentions too witness of our many faithful brothers and sisters the Church's respect for the values of ancient Purchase 'Verbum Domini' who, even in our day, have given their lives to VERBUM religions and spiritual traditions, among them DoMINI online at communicate the truth of God's love revealed to The w,,,J Of Gal Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. In a 41.111r 1.kre And www, mu sta rd seed.o rg .au htukn Of7hr aunt us in the crucified and risen Christ" (n. 98). very important concluding paragraph, he points or visit The word of God and out 'the need for the freedom to profess one's The Mustard Seed Bookshop religion, privately and publicly, and freedom of 3 Keating Street, Lidcombe 2141 commitment in the world conscience to be effectively guaranteed to all Ph 9646 9000 [email protected] The word of God commits us all to work for a believers" (n. 120). better world, to promote reconciliation and CAEC Postal Locked Bag 888 Silverwater DC NSW 1811 Street 3 Keating St Lidcombe 2141 CA HOLIC Email [email protected] Phone (02) 9646 9010 Fax (02) 9646 9090 Web www.caec.com.au MKT EDUCATION CE NICE INFORM - 50c per copy. Single subscription $10 per year within Australia, 6 issues annually, Single copy of every back issue of INFORM still © Photocopying Prohibited in print - $40 per sel. Contact us on the details above for orders and details. Published with ecclesiastical approval /02011 CAEC I EDITOR Thomas Waugh / DESIGN Natalie Marguritta T. The Pope discusses what he calls the "dark" passages of the Bible, which describe violence Verbum Domini is Pope Benedict's Apostolic Pope says that the and immorality without explicitly denouncing them. He says we must understand these Exhortation written in response to the Twelfth Word of God took flesh Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of and became a man, passages in their historical context, which is very different from our own, and in terms of Bishops meeting in Rome in October 2008 on "the definitive word God patiently guiding and educating his people over time (n. 42) The Pope rejects the the theme "The Word of God in the Life and which God speaks to Mission of the Church". This is the second such humanity" (n. 11). fundamentalist interpretation of Scripture which treats the text "as if it had been dictated document of Pope Benedict, the first having In an expressive word for word by the Spirit" (n. 44). been Sacramentum Caritatis, which followed the passage the Pope 2005 Synod on the Eucharist. Verbum Domini quotes Isaiah and St is dated 30 September 2010, Memorial of St The interpretation of Sacred and can begin confession by reading or listening Paul who said, "The Part Two - 'Verb= in Jerome.