Pope Benedict XVI has formally established a new Vatican department dedicated to re-evangelizing the West.
At a press conference at the Vatican this morning to launch the new Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelisation, its first president, Archbishop Rino Fisichella, explained the contents of “Ubicumque et semper”, the Apostolic Letter “Motu Proprio data” by which Benedict XVI has established the new dicastery.
The Italian archbishop said the theme of new evangelisation had been the subject of “deep reflection” by the Church Magisterium “over recent decades”. The challenge of the entire Church, he said, “was to find adequate ways to renew her announcement to many baptised people who no longer understand what it means to belong to the Christian community, and are victims of the subjectivism of our times with its closure in an individualism that often lacks public and social responsibility.”
The ‘Motu Proprio’, he added, directly identifies those Churches of ancient tradition which require a renewed missionary spirit, “one capable of helping them make a forward leap to meet the new requirements which the current historical situation imposes”.
The new evangelisation is “not a mere formula, identical in all circumstances”, the archbishop explained. “Rather, it obliges us to develop well-founded ideas capable of acting as support to a corresponding pastoral activity. Moreover it must be capable of carefully verifying the various traditions and goals that the Churches possess by virtue of the treasure of their centuries-long history: a plurality of forms that does not undermine unity”.
He also stressed that the new evangelisation must not sound like “an abstract formula”. “We must fill it with theological and pastoral content,” he said, “and we will do so with the strong support of the Magisterium of recent decades”. He also said it was important to bear in mind “the many initiatives which, over the course of recent years, have been enacted by individual bishops in their particular Churches, epsicopal conferences and groups of believers”.
Among the tasks entrusted to the Pontifical Council is that of promoting the use of the Catechism of the Universal Church, whose 20th anniversary will be celebrated in two years’ time. “The Catechism is indeed one of the most mature fruits to emerge from the directives of Vatican Council II,” he said. “It is an organic compilation of the entire heritage of the development of dogma and is the most complete instrument to transmit the unchanging faith in the face of the constant changes and questions the world poses to believers”.
Thus the new dicastery will use “all the inventions that progress in communications technology has created, making them positive instruments at the service of new evangelisation”, Archbishop Fisichella concluded.
In follow up questions, the archbishop made assurances that the new dicastery will not be a bureaucratic irrelevance but a means of “committing the Church in a tangible way in the service of believers.” Neither he nor the Pope were “men of bureaucracy,” he said. “I don’t see a danger of bureaucratization or another super structure,” he added.
In response to a question whether this initiative implies problems with the Church’s evangelization in the past, he said that was not the case. “Every historical period lives in a spirit of the times, so it is inevitable that the spirit of the 1950s was experienced differently to the current one.” The benefits the Church can provide to modern society, he said, “is exactly the contribution of building a new anthropology for our times, including a more humane dimension open to the transcendent.”
The new evangelization, he said, “should help believers rediscover the deep significance of their responsibility in providing a consistent testimony to the faith…spreading the Gospel wherever they are.”
Over the coming weeks, cardinals, bishops and experts will be appointed to the new dicastery.
A summary of Ubicumque et semper.
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Pray that holy people get appointed. Otherwise, apathetic pencil-pushers or heterodox empire-builders will just have another opportunity to embarrass the Holy Father and get in his way.
I hope this new evangelization effort will focus on the encounter with the person of Jesus, which B16 so often points to. That means prayer and devotions, and good liturgy, should all play important roles. John Henry Newman knew this very well. He knew that the heart is where a person decides for or against having a relationship with God. One cannot argue another person intellectually into accepting a relationship with God. One needs to have an informed faith, to know the content of doctrine, but first comes the recognition that faith in God is truly a love affair and then the rest will follow.
We are in such despirate need of this evangelization in our culture.
I’ll be praying for the appointment of holy people (as dancingcrane mentioned,) for the success of the effort, and for an open heart for those who will recieve it.
It would be wonderful if the faithful could be taught how to evangelize without fear or hesitation. Today’s society shames religious people into keeping quiet about their faith, and we are told we shouldn’t “impose” (“share?”) our faith on others.
Yet out of sight, out of mind. The devil knows one can only have faith by hearing.
More also needs to be done to educate Catholics about their faith and remind them that one doesn’t cease learning about the faith once they are confirmed or finish CCE. The more I learn about church history, bible study, the lives of the saints, the catechism, etc., the more excited I am to be a Catholic. What a rich and wonderful gift our Catholic faith is!!
Thank you, God, for my Catholic faith!
We in Astoria Oregon at ST. Mary, Star of the Sea Catholic Church are so fortunate to have a wonderful Priest,Father Ken Sampson who has the ability to energize the parish and all who attend.He presents the liturgy in a way that we all get, he excites with his enthusiasm and we are blessed to have him!
I have never been so excited about my faith! Thank God!
Sounds like a lot of words that don’t really say anything - at least not anything anyone can concretely decipher. Christ is the same yesterday today and tommorrow. His word does the converting, not us. Some of what is said - especially the part of subjectivism and individualism are the words that make many Christians fear the controlling, loveless, power grabs we see now in society. Dear Lord please watch over us.
Hi Pam,
The words “subjectivism” and “individualism” are used in a specific philosophical context here. What he says is actually a good thing. It indicates he wants a more loving, sharing, and kind culture. He just doesn’t know how to say it using normal words.
-John
The reality in my neck of the woods doesn’t seem to support that. Some priests are very controlling. Everyone is expected to be on the same “page”, whatever that is. There is a peer pressure atmosphere filled with judging and inuendo. Political correctness is replacing Christianity. I hope you are right.
Pam,
I’m just wondering about you exact meaning. When you say Everyone is expected to be on the same “page”, whatever that is what are you meaning? Are you talking about Magesterial teaching?
*IF* that is the case, then that is part of the reason I am excited to hear about this new Council. So much misinformation has entered the Church, it’s hard for your “average Catholic in the pew” to know what’s what, unless they have reliable sources to check information out. AND that they actually take the time to do so.
I am hoping this Council will evangelize in such a way that the “average Catholic in the pew,” will understand the tenets of their Catholic faith clearly. A little sweeping and moping to get the dirt out, so to speak!
to Kathy: No the page I THINK I am being asked to be on is the one that blindly accepts the liberal agenda as a Catholic agenda. Political correctness in CCD instead of calling sin a sin. Avoiding touchy topics in RCIA like the sin of homosexual relations, divorce or adultery. No questioning decisions or comments that are clearly against long held religious teaching. No questions to any authority figure because (this is the logic that is being used) if we were truly humble we’d just do what we were told. Mary did not blindly follow anyone and even she questionned an Archangel and pushed her Son to perform a miracle He was not inclined to perform. This atmosphere has tinges of misogeny and control issues.
Ahh, Ok Pam, now I understand your point. I agree 100% with what you are saying.
I am fervently hoping that the whole point of this Council is to eliminate this liberal garbage going on in our parishes.
To Kathy: That will only happen if people like you and me continue to speak up. The idea that people don’t know what it means to belong to a Catholic community is so vague. I hope you vote.
Does anyone have any creative and concrete ideas, that have worked on a parish basis, to evangelize lapsed Catholics? There are so many that we can work for years just in this area. All the parents who drop off their kids at CCD…who do it because Grandma would be scandalized otherwise. Or those who join the local protestant church because it is ‘easier’, no ‘rules’, just outreach and that makes them feel good.
We have a woman in RCIA who was baptized Catholic but never raised in the faith. Her husband was but doesn’t practice. Their 12 year old son came to them one day and asked why they don’t go to church? He wanted to join the Middleschool CCD program SPYCE at our parish, he wants to be Catholic. Why? Clearly God is in the details but outwardly, because his friends are and they actually enjoy CCD. So his mother decided she would like to go through the process with him. How many others are out there like her, who don’t have children listening to their friends or to God for that matter?
I would love to find a way to reach these people. My kids are grown, so I do not see these people anymore. When I taught CCD, I was asked not to do or say anything that might ‘upset’ parents…might lose parish members and that isn’t good.
So if anyone has any creative things that we could do as a parish because staff has changed and there is more openness to these things, I would appreciate hearing about them.
Why why why do we need another council to sort through this muddle that the Church is in?
We need a holy leader to direct us back on to the path that we were on before Vatican II. Yes there were some issues that needed serious attention. But some of us have lost more than one generation because of the madness that followed the changes. And we are angry.
The Mass is the most important prayer we have. The Mass of all time as it is referred to is not for the elite as some have arrogantly said but it has fed and sustained both prince and peasant for two thousand years, and we want it back. I heard someone lamenting that we have lost the sense of the sacred and that we pray that this council, God willing, will bring it back. We don’t need another council! The sacred is there in the form of the Latin Mass. We need a thorough housecleaning. We need humble bishops. We need priests that are ministers of God not politicians trying to please, and we need them to be on fire for the true Mass not some bland “protestant” service.
The world is in a shabby state, our Catholic church should not be
We live in New Hampshire and we feel here as if we were in exile. Very rarely do we have a Latin Mass and when we do go to our local parishes we do not recognize the Mass at all. Between middle aged women strutting across the “stage” with guitars and all sorts of other inventions we emerge with our heads spinning, and our hearts heavy for the way Our Lord has been treated.
We are sad, we are enraged. we want things to return to sanity.
One last thought.
If we as a catholic church got back on track as we were before “Reformation II” we would witness such a chance in society. We need and demand the Latin Mass in every parish every day around the world and truly
again become the visible universal church that Our Lord left for us to pass down to future generations
I have just had about all that I can stand. Bishops and paish priest dropping trditional rubrics of The Holy Mass, ie: bell being rung at the Coscecration,and elevation of the Blessed Eucharist. Upin question, the response is,” well since V2 when the priest began to face the congregation the bell were no longer needed, people could see the elevation. What kind of tripe is this? Then why candles, aren’t alters lighted with electric lights, also isnt incense irritating and polluting.
Holy heck. Whats next!
Chuck
The Mass does not need a traditional renovation, but rather a youthful inspiration that can attract the non-practicing Catholics and new members seeking a life with God. It is time for something new that can rejuvenate the energy and fire which the Mass once burned with. I was raised Catholic, went to Catholic elementary, middle, and high schools, and attended Mass every Sunday until I started college. As a current college student I admit that I do not make it to Sunday Mass anymore, but that is because the Sunday service has remained the same traditional celebration that I attended as a child. I still experience an intimate bond with God during Mass but surprisingly enough I feel closer to him when friendly debates and class discussions arise and I can defend my own faith. I believe a significant number of young Catholics would agree that the Church needs to seek some refreshing ideas to relate to our lives. I am not advocating that the Catholic Church replicate the “shows” of pastors like Joel Osteen, I am just stating that youths are finding it increasingly difficult to practice our faith, because we feel as if we are scrutinized for our mistakes rather than sympathized with. It takes a passion infused with strong motivation to achieve this but from my own experience, I have had professors and friends, some non-Catholic, build a stronger religious bond with me than any priest has.
To Dan: I would ask you to learn more about your faith before you try to do something new with the Mass. Perhaps start with dvd’s of the lives of some saints. Ignatius Press has alot online or a Catholic bookstore should have some. Talk to a priest about what the actions are and symbolize or get a book. There is SO MUCH to catch your attention you just don’t recognize it yet. The Mass is the liturgy of the Word (of GOD)- how AWESOME when you think about THAT! and the liturgy of the Eucharist - ordinary bread(but specially prepared by nuns or those entrusted to it) and wine BECOME THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST right before your EYES! The same JESUS that healed the sick and gave the sermon on the mount and raised the dead and cast out demons! AND HEW LOVES YOU!!!! and says DO this in rememberance of me! So get to Mass Sunday (and Mon-Sat.if you can) and bug the priest till it comes together for you and GOD BLESS!
The criticisms I have with the Mass aren’t related to the Transubstantiation celebration of the Eucharist, or the scripture readings. Rather, they exist in the sermons and slower parts of the mass. A lot of churches today are modernizing themselves in response to the evangelization movement. While some of the practices these revenue-generating communities have are misguided in my opinion, their attendences and number of communual members reflect that they are doing something right. The attendences clearly show that the messages of these churches are resonating on a personal level with the members and that is something I believe the Catholic church is falling behind in. It is difficult to grow and attract new believers when our Mass celebration is not as stimulating to the foreign mind. While Mass for traditional Catholics like yourself remains a powerful experience, in the future when the younger generation comes of age I think the Catholic faith may struggle unless we are able adapt to changing times. I realize that Catholicism is one of the most traditional religions and in most respects that has translated to our popularity. However, times are changing and with increased technology and media stimulation, religion MUST react to keep up. In regards to furhter educating myself on Catholicsim, I attended Catholic schools for 12 years and was raised in a Catholic family so I am already well educated about our beliefs and lives of saints, in fact I’ve visited a number of churches in Europe and received Eucharist at the Vatican. I have already completed a self-introspection of my faith and my opinions here are the results.
Dear Dan -
If you don’t go to Mass, then what are you defending? If you feel an intimate bond with God in Mass, how could you stay away? If Jesus in the Eucharist Who is Present for you, isn’t worth making yourself present to Him, then you have a pile of facts, but not the faith. I used to be where you are now, and now I know the most important truth: Faith goes where the Loved One Is.
You don’t need new. What you need is ever Ancient, ever New. Find an Eastern Catholic Church that offers the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, or the Maronite Antiochene liturgy. That could help. Sometimes you just have to go back, way back, to really move forward.
Dan you are buying into a concept that is very untrue - because more people are attracted to it, they must be doing something right. Unfortunately Jesus did EVERYTHING right and everyone walked away when He said His Body was real food and His Blood was real drink. Human nature wants alot of things God is not going to give into. Entertain me. Let me have my sexual sins and love You too. Make heaven the wide path where I can serve You and money. Give us control, not You. He demands FAITH. and faith is a gift. He wants us to take the narrow road and that will never be the big hit with the crowds. Do you understand the concept of offering up sacrifices? Offer up the homilies and feel blessed that God has chosen you. Pray for others and invite them, but don’t think caving into their desires will be the same as bringing them to Christ. God bless.
To Chris: Our parish suggested having parents have catechesis at the same time their kids attended. But staffing issues interfered. Still, a large group meeting at the same time the kids are having ccd might work. How about having parents learn through the kids, by supplying Christian coloring books and sticker books and childrens books for Mass. Kids will have questions and mom and dad will need to know their faith to answer them.
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