Pope Asks: How Do we Proclaim the Gospel today? How Can Faith Become a Reality?

By Deacon Keith Fournier
12/25/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

If faith does not take on new life, deep conviction and real strength from the encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective

'The key theme of this year, and of the years ahead, is this: how do we proclaim the Gospel today? How can faith as a living force become a reality today? The ecclesial events of the outgoing year were all ultimately related to this theme. The essence of the crisis of the Church in Europe is the crisis of faith. If we find no answer to this, if faith does not take on new life, deep conviction and real strength from the encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective.' (Pope Benedict XVI)

Pope Benedict XVI addressing the Roman Curia on December 22, 2011

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VATICAN CITY (Catholic Online) - Since he ascended to the Chair of Peter, Pope Benedict XVI has met with Cardinals, Bishops and other the members of the Roman Curia on December 22. This group includes the leaders of Dicasteries and Institutes who work closely with him in his pastoral care of the whole Church. In these addresses he expresses his gratitude, shares what is in his heart, and offers an alaysis of the state of the Church and the world. He also gives a glimpse into his spirituality and theological depth.

This year the Pope gave an honest assessment of the real challenges the Catholic Church faces as she continues the redemptive mission of the Lord whom she serves. He analyzed the World Youth Days and his pastoral visits - all in light of the overarching mission of the necessary "New Evangelization" of the whole Church.

Finally he gave a prophetic analysis of where we are headed as members of the Catholic Church. This is a profound message. Below we offer excerpts. Please, read it and pray for the pope and for the whole Church as we approach the Nativity of the Lord and a vital New Year in a new missionary age for the Catholic Church.

*****

Dear Cardinals, Brother Bishops and Priests,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,

...The key theme of this year, and of the years ahead, is this: how do we proclaim the Gospel today? How can faith as a living force become a reality today? The ecclesial events of the outgoing year were all ultimately related to this theme. There were the journeys to Croatia, to the World Youth Day in Spain, to my home country of Germany, and finally to Africa - Benin - for the consignment of the Post-Synodal document on justice, peace and reconciliation, which should now lead to concrete results in the various local churches...

The establishment of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization is at the same time a pointer towards next year's Synod on the same theme. The Year of Faith, commemorating the beginning of the Council fifty years ago, also belongs in this context. Each of these events had its own particular characteristics. In Germany, where the Reformation began, the ecumenical question, with all its trials and hopes, naturally assumed particular importance. Intimately linked to this, at the focal point of the debate, the question that arises repeatedly is this: what is reform of the Church? How does it take place? What are its paths and its goals?

Not only faithful believers but also outside observers are noticing with concern that regular churchgoers are growing older all the time and that their number is constantly diminishing; that recruitment of priests is stagnating; that skepticism and unbelief are growing. What, then, are we to do? There are endless debates over what must be done in order to reverse the trend. There is no doubt that a variety of things need to be done. But action alone fails to resolve the matter.

The essence of the crisis of the Church in Europe is the crisis of faith. If we find no answer to this, if faith does not take on new life, deep conviction and real strength from the encounter with Jesus Christ, then all other reforms will remain ineffective.

On this point, the encounter with Africa's joyful passion for faith brought great encouragement. None of the faith fatigue that is so prevalent here, none of the oft-encountered sense of having had enough of Christianity was detectable there. Amid all the problems, sufferings and trials that Africa clearly experiences, one could still sense the people's joy in being Christian, buoyed up by inner happiness at knowing Christ and belonging to his Church.

From this joy comes also the strength to serve Christ in hard-pressed situations of human suffering, the strength to put oneself at his disposal, without looking round for one's own advantage. Encountering this faith that is so ready to sacrifice and so full of happiness is a powerful remedy against fatigue with Christianity such as we are experiencing in Europe today.

A further remedy against faith fatigue was the wonderful experience of World Youth Day in Madrid. This was new evangelization put into practice. Again and again at World Youth Days, a new, more youthful form of Christianity can be seen, something I would describe under five headings.

1. Firstly, there is a new experience of catholicity, of the Church's universality. This is what struck the young people and all the participants quite directly: we come from every continent, but although we have never met one another, we know one another. We speak different languages, we have different ways of life and different cultural backgrounds, yet we are immediately united as one great family. Outward separation and difference is relativized. We are all moved by the one Lord Jesus Christ, in whom true humanity and at the same time the face of God himself ...

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1 - 10 of 10 Comments

Marian
1 year ago
We need to protect children and learn to influence them and guide them, but we must also be intent upon protecting nature and the animal kingdom. Robert Burford mentioned a mustard seed.
vance
1 year ago
Judy, You are right on the money when your husband said, It's too bad we don't hear homilies like Pope Benedict XVI. You are easy on your local priests when you say they do their best. That maybe true but I can't be as charitable. Faith can be a reality if we actively express it in our homes and experience leadership from the pulpit. Bishops and priests are our Spiritual Leaders and Teachers. That is the role of a Spiritual Shepard. "Feed the Lambs". The Lambs are unfortunately starving. This comes at a price when Liberals run the show.
Rob
1 year ago
abey, your post is spot on. I believe it's Archbishop Chaput that says we have a sort of functional athesim in our ranks as evidences by the manner that Catholic's live. How we lead our day to day lives is virtually no different than the pagans. It's almost like we are all in the same materialistic rat race with a little sacaraments sprinkled on top.
Judy
1 year ago
Excellent posts! All hit the nail on the head. Did anyone hear Pope Benedict's homily at Mid-night Mass? Beautiful. Perfect. Connected all the dots. Kept one's attention. My husband said," If we had more such homilies we would all grow in Faith". I said, "Well, look who was speaking"! Our priests and deacons I know do their best....we have to do ours too. Blessings...
julie d
1 year ago
The Holy Father so well articulates the faith crisis that permeates the Western world today. In my opinion, it started in the 1960s with "free love", attacking authority, and a general lack of moral standards which sustained our civilization for centuries was allowed to flourish unabated, until now we find ourselves where we are today...immoral acts being played 24/7 on television for our young people to see, the selfishness and greed, the quest for power...ALL glorified by our western society. At the same time, the Catholic Church, which once was the life force of civilization, has been marginalized. Jesus Christ Himself is regularly blasphemed and ridiculed in the public forum...as if He did not give enough of Himself already!!!
I am so fortunate that my local parish is full of the Holy Spirit, fresh, and growing. But we must not rest and must forever work for Christ, do His work, and represent Him to the world, if it is to be saved at all. We must also not only make reparation for our own sins, but the sins of the world. God help us.
joe
1 year ago
For young people the Church has become like their grandparents. Fun to vist if you don't stay to long. We used to stand for more than pro life. When I was growing up being a Catholic was exciting. The nuns were strict, but you knew they were training you to live in ever changing dynamic world. You were going to be successful if they had to beat you to death. Take chances. stand up and be counted. You were going to make a difference. We prayed for the dead, but fought like hell for the living. The living. The living.The living.
Johnny
1 year ago
We must have the JOY of the Holy Spirit in us, so that our youth can see we are happy at Mass for a reason,but instead we have too many people that look way to serious or mad at the masses. Pentecost was not just some event that happened in the history of our Church it's meant to be on going experience everyday in our lives and all the way into eternity.Let's do it Catholics.
abey
1 year ago
Worldly indulgences is the invisible force which pulls man away from faith, seen & increasing by the day. In one word it is called "Sorcery". Pagan philosophy is a testimony to it. Comparative living, not contend with what one has, excessive desires ,trying to govern others for the sake of governing instead of for the sake of serving others due to the absence of concern & love for others, all this amounts to a non sacrificial form of life which happens when the gifts of the spirit is not present in the person, which again occurs due lack of Faith. The bible clearly tells us our priority to look for salvation which this world cannot give, for everything of mammon is short lived. This cannot be understood if man does not realize that he is in a fallen state due sin, which sin is disobedience/corrupting the word of GOD, of which gay compromise is chiefly one such. For the tree of life which being Spiritual is out of bounds for sin & thank GOD for it, that is why man has not the Knowledge of what happens to him after his death. But the bible does tell us & how many believe it ? God still has given a chance for us to get out of our sins through Christ by Faith, against indulgences.- The Sorcerer..
Robert Burford
1 year ago
Notice all the comments were directed at the youth with an emphasis at education. The faith that the Pope speaks applys to any age group. The faith of a mustard seed is what we need to install in our youth and should be encouraged by the rest of our faith community. However, that faith must come from within us. the youth will not accept this unless they see it in us.??
Elijah
1 year ago
Its more of a question. Of the seven churches mentioned in Revelation, which one do you believe you are.

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