Vatican City, Jun 15, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The new letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was issued to help the Church in her mission of providing answers in the face of difficulties, the congregation's head said on Tuesday.“The Church must give answers to the big challenges of the world of today … We have so much isolation in the youth, broken families, and so it is good to have these new movements,” Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the CDF, told EWTN News Nightly June 14.He was speaking following the presentation of Iuvenescit Ecclesia, a letter from the congregation on the relationship between the hierarchal and charismatic gifts in the life and mission of the Church.The document is meant to show the theological and ecclesiological elements that will help groups of the faithful, ecclesial movements, and new communities to participate fruitfully in the Church's mission and communion.Cardinal Müller cit...
Vatican City, Jun 15, 2016 / 06:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- The new letter from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was issued to help the Church in her mission of providing answers in the face of difficulties, the congregation's head said on Tuesday.
“The Church must give answers to the big challenges of the world of today … We have so much isolation in the youth, broken families, and so it is good to have these new movements,” Cardinal Gerhard Müller, prefect of the CDF, told EWTN News Nightly June 14.
He was speaking following the presentation of Iuvenescit Ecclesia, a letter from the congregation on the relationship between the hierarchal and charismatic gifts in the life and mission of the Church.
The document is meant to show the theological and ecclesiological elements that will help groups of the faithful, ecclesial movements, and new communities to participate fruitfully in the Church's mission and communion.
Cardinal Müller cited new forms of communication, social networks, globalization, “the question of peace and freedom,” and a “terrorism that says 'we are sent by God'” as challenges to which “we must give answers.”
The new movements, and their charisms, are good ways of responding to such challenges, he said. Parishes, religious orders, bishops, and priests should all “go together” with these new movements to meet the challenges of today.
Reflecting on the document's title, which means “The Church rejuvenates”, Cardinal Müller said the Church “is always young because we believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and therefore death cannot overcome us.” He added that the grace of the sacraments is necessary “for the renewal of our lives.”
Iuvenescit Ecclesia notes that the Holy Spirit builds up and renews the Church through both hierarchical and charismatic gifts, and focuses on the new realities which “fill the heart of the Church with joy and gratitude and are called to relate positively with all of the other gifts present in ecclesial life.”
It notes that in the New Testament, there is no “opposition between the diverse charisms … The antithesis between an institutional Church of the Judeo-Christian type and a charismatic Church of the Pauline type, affirmed by certain reductive ecclesial interpretations, in reality lacks a foundation in the texts of the New Testament.”
The letter stresses that the hierarchical gifts – Holy Orders, especially that of the episcopacy – and the charismatic gifts – given “so that sacramental grace may be fruitful in Christian life in different ways and at every level” – are both essential for the Church.
The bond between the two kinds of gifts has “its deepest roots … in the relationship between the divine incarnate Logos and the Holy Spirit.”
“The hierarchical and charismatic gifts, therefore, appear united in reference to the intrinsic relationship between Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit,” Iuvenescit Ecclesia notes.
The document notes that while many charisms need no regulation, when “a gift presents itself as a 'founding' or 'originating charism', this requires a specific recognition” which is the task of ecclesial authorities.
This recognition is a process of discernment, which has eight criteria which the document listed – the first of which is the primacy of the vocation of every Christian to holiness.
The relationship between the hierarchical and charismatic gifts must be one of mutual reciprocity, the letter says. This requires that “diverse groups recognize the authority of the pastors in the Church” and that pastors “cordially receive that which the Spirit inspires within the ecclesial communion, being mindful thereof in pastoral activities and esteeming their contribution as an authentic resource for the good of all.”
The CDF's letter took the opportunity to note that “the Church of Christ, as we profess in the Apostolic creed, 'is the universal Church, that is, the worldwide community of the disciples of the Lord, which is present and active amid the particular characteristics and the diversity of persons, groups, times and places'. The particular dimension is, therefore, intrinsic to the universal and vice-versa; there exists a 'mutual interiority' between the particular Churches and the Universal Church.”
It concludes by noting that there must be on the one hand a “respect for the particularity of individual charismatic groups” such that “one avoids the danger that the various charisms might be considered as undistinguished resources within the Church”.
Secondly, there should be a “respect for the fundamental ecclesial regimen, this way favoring the effective insertion of the charismatic gifts into the life of both the particular and universal Church.”
“Thus, any danger that the charismatic entities might be considered in some way as running parallel to the ecclesial life or not ordered in relation to the hierarchical gifts is avoided.”
IMAGE: CNS/Paul HaringBy Junno Arocho EstevesVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Indifference and hostility can blindChristians from recognizing Jesus in those most in need, Pope Francis said. "This indifference and hostility can turn intoaggression" toward people often marginalized by society, the pope saidJune 15 during his weekly general audience."How many times, when we see so many people on thestreet -- people in need, the sick, those with nothing to eat -- wefeel bothered. How many times, when we find before us so many refugees anddisplaced people, we feel bothered. It is a temptation; we all have this,everyone, including myself," he said. The pope reflected on the Gospel reading of a blind beggarin Jericho whose sight was restored after pleading with Jesus to heal him. "The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him tobe silent, but he kept calling out all the more, 'Son of David, have pity onme!'" theGospel reading says. Those who toldthe beggar to be quiet, the pope recalled, repr...
IMAGE: CNS/Paul Haring
By Junno Arocho Esteves
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Indifference and hostility can blind
Christians from recognizing Jesus in those most in need, Pope Francis said.
"This indifference and hostility can turn into
aggression" toward people often marginalized by society, the pope said
June 15 during his weekly general audience.
"How many times, when we see so many people on the
street -- people in need, the sick, those with nothing to eat -- we
feel bothered. How many times, when we find before us so many refugees and
displaced people, we feel bothered. It is a temptation; we all have this,
everyone, including myself," he said.
The pope reflected on the Gospel reading of a blind beggar
in Jericho whose sight was restored after pleading with Jesus to heal him.
"The people walking in front rebuked him, telling him to
be silent, but he kept calling out all the more, 'Son of David, have pity on
me!'" the
Gospel reading says.
Those who told
the beggar to be quiet, the pope recalled, reproached him "as if he did
not have a right to cry out." However, despite his blindness, the poor man
"sees with the eyes of faith" and his plea was powerful enough to
attract Jesus' attention.
"Let us
also think this, when we found ourselves in awful situations, even sinful
situations, how it was Jesus who took our hand and took us out from the margins
to the path of salvation," the pope said.
The Gospel
reading, he added, teaches Christians that the good news implies placing those
excluded at the center and that Jesus' merciful presence is an opportunity for
"those in need of help and consolation" to cry out to him.
"Even in
our lives, Jesus passes by. When I notice Jesus passing by, it is an invitation
to come close to him, to be a better person, to be a better Christian, to
follow Jesus," he said.
Christians are
called to follow the path of the blind man who "glorified God" and
followed Jesus after being healed, the pope said.
"We are
all beggars; we are always in need of salvation. And all of us, every day, need
to make this step: from beggars to disciples," he said. "Let us allow
ourselves to be called by Jesus, healed by Jesus, forgiven by Jesus and follow
him, praising God."
LONDON (AP) -- Prince William has appeared on the cover of the U.K. gay magazine, "Attitude" to speak out against bullying people because of their sexuality....
LONDON (AP) -- Prince William has appeared on the cover of the U.K. gay magazine, "Attitude" to speak out against bullying people because of their sexuality....
PARIS (AP) -- Police have been alerted to the possibility that small groups of extremists have left Syria for France and Belgium with plans to stage attacks, but have not raised threat levels, as authorities work to determine how credible the information is....
PARIS (AP) -- Police have been alerted to the possibility that small groups of extremists have left Syria for France and Belgium with plans to stage attacks, but have not raised threat levels, as authorities work to determine how credible the information is....
BRUSSELS (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told NATO allies that the U.S. will take another look at withdrawing thousands of American troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, a British official said....
BRUSSELS (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has told NATO allies that the U.S. will take another look at withdrawing thousands of American troops from Afghanistan by the end of the year, a British official said....
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- Oscar Pistorius removed his prostheses and hobbled on his stumps in front of a judge in a South African courtroom Wednesday, part of his defense team's attempt to show that the double-amputee Olympic athlete, convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is a vulnerable man who deserves leniency when he is sentenced....
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) -- Oscar Pistorius removed his prostheses and hobbled on his stumps in front of a judge in a South African courtroom Wednesday, part of his defense team's attempt to show that the double-amputee Olympic athlete, convicted of murdering girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, is a vulnerable man who deserves leniency when he is sentenced....
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Omar Mateen drove around the Orlando area the night before the nightclub massacre, visiting several places, the mayor said Wednesday as investigators tried to piece together the killer's movements and zeroed in on how much his wife may have known about the plot....
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Omar Mateen drove around the Orlando area the night before the nightclub massacre, visiting several places, the mayor said Wednesday as investigators tried to piece together the killer's movements and zeroed in on how much his wife may have known about the plot....
(Vatican Radio) Authorities in France are dealing with the aftermath of a deadly terror attack in which three people have been detained as well as protests and strikes that turned violent Tuesday, injuring dozens and prompting even more arrests.The incidents have overshadowed the Euro 2016 football championships, which also saw several violent incidents.Listen to Stefan Bos’ report: French security forces face challenges on multiple fronts ranging from terrorism to street violence and the troubled European Football Championships. French police say they have now detained three men following the killing of a French policeman and his partner on Monday in a Paris suburb.Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, who was 42, and his partner, 36-year old Jessica Schnieder were stabbed in their home. Their 3-year-old son was found shocked but unharmed in Monday's incident in Magnanville.After the murders, attacker Larossi Abballa pledged uploaded a video in which he pledged allegiance to the...
(Vatican Radio) Authorities in France are dealing with the aftermath of a deadly terror attack in which three people have been detained as well as protests and strikes that turned violent Tuesday, injuring dozens and prompting even more arrests.
The incidents have overshadowed the Euro 2016 football championships, which also saw several violent incidents.
Listen to Stefan Bos’ report:
French security forces face challenges on multiple fronts ranging from terrorism to street violence and the troubled European Football Championships. French police say they have now detained three men following the killing of a French policeman and his partner on Monday in a Paris suburb.
Jean-Baptiste Salvaing, who was 42, and his partner, 36-year old Jessica Schnieder were stabbed in their home. Their 3-year-old son was found shocked but unharmed in Monday's incident in Magnanville.
After the murders, attacker Larossi Abballa pledged uploaded a video in which he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group. In the video, posted on his Facebook website page, he threatens what he calls "the non-believing French authorities" and suggests there will more violent surprises during Euro 2016 championships while also threatening President Francois Hollande.
Abballa, 25, was later shot dead by police following a standoff.
MORE TARGETS
The family had not been the only targets, police suggested. Investigators said a list was found inside the house which included rap singers, journalists, police and public personalities. In Abballa’s car, parked beside the house, police reportedly found a Koran, deemed a holy book by Muslims, a white robe and three religious books.
Yet as the detentions were underway police also had to deal with massive protests. Masked individuals could be seen among those throwing objects at riot police shortly after Tuesday's march against labor reforms began south of Paris. Dozens of people, including police and protesters, were injured.
French police reportedly detained some 60 people in Paris alone.
Student groups and unions once again marched against contested labour reforms that will make it easier for companies to hire and fire employees and increase working hours. Tens of thousands of people rallied in the French capital and across the country as unions and students remain angry.
French unions said 1 million protesters had converged in Paris, while police offered a much lower estimate for participation of up to 80,000 people.
Between the riots and terrorism, authorities still try to organize the Euro 2016 games. But even they face challenges. Europe's governing football body UEFA has even threatened to disqualify Russia in case of new clashes between Russian and other fans, which already saw several injuries. UEFA also fined the Russian Football Union some 150,000 euro.
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis encouraged believers on Wednesday to open their eyes and hearts to God’s love for the poor and to the gift of healing that he offers to all who turn to him in faith.His words came during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s square as he continued his catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy.The Pope reflected on Jesus’ miracle of restoring sight to a blind man on the way to Jericho as recounted in the Gospel of Luke.He said that the blind man was sitting on the roadside begging and pointed out that, until not long ago, a person with disability had no choice but to live on charity.“That blind man, Francis said, represents the many people who, even today, are marginalized because of a disadvantage,” be it physical or of other kind.The Pope said the man is separated from the crowd that goes about its business as usual. “The street, which can be a place of encounter, for him is a place of solitude” he sai...
(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis encouraged believers on Wednesday to open their eyes and hearts to God’s love for the poor and to the gift of healing that he offers to all who turn to him in faith.
His words came during the weekly General Audience in St. Peter’s square as he continued his catechesis for this Holy Year of Mercy.
The Pope reflected on Jesus’ miracle of restoring sight to a blind man on the way to Jericho as recounted in the Gospel of Luke.
He said that the blind man was sitting on the roadside begging and pointed out that, until not long ago, a person with disability had no choice but to live on charity.
“That blind man, Francis said, represents the many people who, even today, are marginalized because of a disadvantage,” be it physical or of other kind.
The Pope said the man is separated from the crowd that goes about its business as usual. “The street, which can be a place of encounter, for him is a place of solitude” he said.
He said the image of the marginalized person is especially sad against the backdrop provided by the splendid city of Jericho, and he pointed out that Jericho, the place where the people of Israel arrived in after the Exodus from Egypt represents the Promised Land.
The Pope recalled the words uttered by Moses on that occasion: “If one of your kindred is in need in any community in the land which the Lord is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kin who is in need. For the land will never lack for needy persons; that is why I command you: “Open your hand freely to your poor and to your needy kin in your land”.
“How often do we feel annoyed when we see people in the streets who are sick or hungry? How often are we annoyed by the sight of refugees and migrants?” he said.
That’s why – Francis continued: “God’s Word teaches us that indifference and hostility make us blind and deaf, stopping us from seeing our brothers, preventing us from recognizing the Lord in them”.
Unlike the crowd, the Pope said, Jesus does not ignore the blind man or try to silence his cries. And he points out that when Jesus comes by “there is always liberation, there is always salvation”.
In the Gospel reading the blind man is the only one who recognizes Jesus who turns the eyes of all to the blind man, and, acknowledging his faith, restores his sight.
In this way, the Pope pointed out, Jesus takes the blind man away from the edge of the street and places him at the center of the attention of the crowd and of his disciples.
Thus, not only does the man, now healed, became a disciple of Jesus, but the crowd too now sees; their eyes are opened to the meaning of this encounter of mercy, and they give praise to God.
“Let us remember the times in which we have found ourselves in bad situations, even situations in which we sinned. It was Jesus who took us by the hand and removed us from the margins putting us on the road of salvation” the Pope said.
And he highlighted the fact that the Lord’s passage is an encounter of mercy that brings us together and permits us to recognize our brothers who are in need of help and consolation.
During this Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis concluded: “may we too open our eyes and hearts to God’s love for the poor and to the gift of healing that he offers to all who turn to him in faith”.
