HOLY FATHER
FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL
IN TODAY’S WORLD
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION EVANGELII GAUDIUM
Devotion to the souls in Purgatory contains in itself all the works of mercy, which supernaturalized by a spirit of faith, should merit us Heaven. de Sales
It took me a while to get through the 300 paragraphs of Evangelii Gaudium, which is longer than many Encyclicals but it is also less dense.
It is an impressive document, obviously meant to clarify his positions. Much of this is gleaned from the homilies, journals and meditations of a lifetime of patoral ministry, much of it in the challenging political and economic arena of Argentina.
It is an exhortation focussed on a practical proclamation of Gospel and is not meant to be programmatic or doctrinal. It does not aspire to the concision and formality of an Encyclical.
Francis intends to synthesize his statements within a consistent underlying theological framework and i think does that well. In fact much of it eloquently phrased. That framework allows for his often disparate and spontaneous comments to be contextualized within a comprehensive system completely consistent with the dogma and traditions of the Church.
Much of this is about the praxis of the Faith, and opening of the soul to its potential, which is as much a matter of attitude as dogma.
The Holy Father deals with the many internal and external challenges facing the Church, especially that of secularism and the moral principles that should drive society and the response to the challenges of modern life, and especially the isolating character of modern urban life.
Two passages stood out as being representative of his message.
Much of the controversy i've seen to Evangelii Gaudium surrounds his economic statements in paragraphs 53 and 54, but all hold basically to the necessity of society to provide fairly compensated and meaningful work, sufficient to form and sustain families and consistent with the dignity of the person.
The topic is dealt with in general and abstract way on the basis of outcomes way rather than recommending concrete methods, and seem to me to criticizing all ideologies, left or right, that do not place their outcomes in achieving a just society as the measure of their validity.
They seem completely consistent with the major Social Encyclicals of the modern rra...
Leo XIII - Rerum Novarum
Pius XI - Quadragesimo Anno
JP II - Centiimus Anno
- Sollicitudo Rei Socialis
There is great understanding and formality to his comments on catechesis, kerygma and Christian development and especially through the Adoration of the Eucharist as the source of the Churches mission.. The document should go a long way to settle concerns that his ministry is not founded on a cohesive and organized exegesis.
He posits Mary as the the Star of the New Evangelization to sustain the faithful amongst the "aridity, darkness and fatigue" that will accompany any authentic Evangelical mission.
It is an impressive document, obviously meant to clarify his positions. Much of this is gleaned from the homilies, journals and meditations of a lifetime of patoral ministry, much of it in the challenging political and economic arena of Argentina.
It is an exhortation focussed on a practical proclamation of Gospel and is not meant to be programmatic or doctrinal. It does not aspire to the concision and formality of an Encyclical.
Francis intends to synthesize his statements within a consistent underlying theological framework and i think does that well. In fact much of it eloquently phrased. That framework allows for his often disparate and spontaneous comments to be contextualized within a comprehensive system completely consistent with the dogma and traditions of the Church.
Much of this is about the praxis of the Faith, and opening of the soul to its potential, which is as much a matter of attitude as dogma.
The Holy Father deals with the many internal and external challenges facing the Church, especially that of secularism and the moral principles that should drive society and the response to the challenges of modern life, and especially the isolating character of modern urban life.
Two passages stood out as being representative of his message.
35. Pastoral ministry in a missionary style is not obsessed with the disjointed transmission of a multitude of doctrines to be insistently imposed. When we adopt a pastoral goal and a missionary style which would actually reach everyone without exception or exclusion, the message has to concentrate on the essentials, on what is most beautiful, most grand, most appealing and at the same time most necessary. The message is simplified, while losing none of its depth and truth, and thus becomes all the more forceful and convincing.
He is true to his goal of simplifying and making more accessible the Catholic Faith.92. There indeed we find true healing, since the way to relate to others which truly heals instead of dbilitating us, is a mystical fraternity, a contemplative fraternity. It is a fraternal love capable of seeing the sacred grandeur of our neighbour, of finding God in every human being, of tolerating the nuisances of life in common by clinging to the love of God, of opening the heart to divine love and seeking the happiness of others just as their heavenly Father does. Here and now, especially where we are a “little flock” (Lk 12:32), the Lord’s disciples are called to live as a community which is the salt of the earth and the light of the world (cf. Mt 5:13-16). We are called to bear witness to a constantly new way of living together in fidelity to the Gospel. Let us not allow ourselves to be robbed of community!
Much of the controversy i've seen to Evangelii Gaudium surrounds his economic statements in paragraphs 53 and 54, but all hold basically to the necessity of society to provide fairly compensated and meaningful work, sufficient to form and sustain families and consistent with the dignity of the person.
The topic is dealt with in general and abstract way on the basis of outcomes way rather than recommending concrete methods, and seem to me to criticizing all ideologies, left or right, that do not place their outcomes in achieving a just society as the measure of their validity.
They seem completely consistent with the major Social Encyclicals of the modern rra...
Leo XIII - Rerum Novarum
Pius XI - Quadragesimo Anno
JP II - Centiimus Anno
- Sollicitudo Rei Socialis
There is great understanding and formality to his comments on catechesis, kerygma and Christian development and especially through the Adoration of the Eucharist as the source of the Churches mission.. The document should go a long way to settle concerns that his ministry is not founded on a cohesive and organized exegesis.
He posits Mary as the the Star of the New Evangelization to sustain the faithful amongst the "aridity, darkness and fatigue" that will accompany any authentic Evangelical mission.
pax lux,
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
karl
Remember that thou hast made me of clay; and wilt thou turn me to dust again? Job10:9
Thanks Karl