lumen fidei: reflections
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Lumen Fidei ReflectionsTRANSCRIPT
1 John 1:1
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what
we have looked at and touched with our hands,
concerning the Word of Life.
LUMEN FIDEI, POPE FRANCIS.
1. THE AUTHOR(S) OF THE ENCYCLICAL: BENEDICT AND FRANCIS
2. THE CONTEXT OF THE ENCYCLICAL
3. THE TRAJECTORY OF THE ENCYCLICAL
4. THE “BIG IDEAS” OF THE ENCYCLICAL
5. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL TO CATECHETICAL MINISTRY
THE AUTHOUR(S) OF THE ENCYCLICAL, LUMEN FIDEI
Pope Benedict XVIJoseph Aloisius Ratzinger
▪ Born: 16 April 1927; Age: 86▪ Entered the Seminary – 1939▪ Ordained – 1951▪ At the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Ratzinger
served chief theologian expert to Cardinal Joseph Frings of Cologne, Germany.
▪ Elected Pope: 19 April 2005▪ Resigned: 28 February 2013
Marktl am Inn, Bavaria Germany
Pope FrancisJorge Mario Bergoglio
▪Archbishop of Buenos Aires
▪Born December 17, 1936. Age 76. Entered the Society of Jesus – March 11, 1958 (novitiate). Chemical technician. Jesuit Provincial July 31, 1973.
10 Things Pope Benedict Wants you to know
JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.
1. God is Love
2. Jesus is Lord
3. Truth and
Freedom are Two Sides of
the Same Coin
4. Faith and 4. Faith and Reason Need Reason Need One AnotherOne Another
5. The Eucharist is the 5. The Eucharist is the Heart of the Christian Heart of the Christian
LifeLife
6. 6. Christianity Christianity is a Positive is a Positive MessageMessage
7. The Church forms Consciences but Stays out of Politics
8. The Importan
ce of Catholic Identity
9. Christ and the 9. Christ and the Church are Church are
InseparableInseparable
10. The 10. The Virtue Virtue of of PatiencPatiencee
10 Things 10 Things Pope Francis Pope Francis Wants You to KnowWants You to Know
JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.
““A Poor Church for A Poor Church for the Poor”the Poor”
A Poor Church for the PoorA Poor Church for the Poor
““How I would like a poor Church for poor!”How I would like a poor Church for poor!”
A Poor Church for the PoorA Poor Church for the Poor
Humility Humility (humilitas)(humilitas)
““It is Christ who leads the Church through his Spirit!”It is Christ who leads the Church through his Spirit!”
Humility Humility (humilitas)(humilitas)
Three qualities for the Church of Three qualities for the Church of the 21the 21stst century: century:
1. Humility1. Humility
2. Simplicity2. Simplicity
3. Greater capacity for silence3. Greater capacity for silence
Stay Close to the PeopleStay Close to the People
““To evangelize means meeting people, where they are…”To evangelize means meeting people, where they are…”
Stay Close to the PeopleStay Close to the People
To evangelize means meeting To evangelize means meeting people where they are, being able to people where they are, being able to connect with their doubts and their connect with their doubts and their frustrations, understanding what frustrations, understanding what
they bring to the table. they bring to the table.
Never Give Up On God’s MercyNever Give Up On God’s Mercy
““Miserando atque eligendo” Miserando atque eligendo” (“Seeing through the eyes of mercy, he chose him.”)(“Seeing through the eyes of mercy, he chose him.”)
Never Give Up On God’s MercyNever Give Up On God’s Mercy
“The Lord never gets tired of forgiving. “Never,” Francis
said. We are the ones who get tired of asking him for
forgiveness.”
We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
St. Francis of AssisiSt. Francis of Assisi
We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
When they think about “the Church,” Catholics typically see two faces. There’s the face of the institution, which is about infrastructure and
resources, rules and regulations, and a hierarchical chain of command.
We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
…Then there’s the Church of the spirit, a humble and simple community of
equals with a special love for the least of this world. Ideally the two go together, but in any case they’re
distinct.
We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
By taking the name “Francis,” the pope has essentially said that the second face of the Church must shine through in a new way.
In other words, Francis has offered a whole program of governance, an entire
ecclesiastical vision, in a single word.”
The Faith Must be Proposed, The Faith Must be Proposed, Never ImposedNever Imposed
““The faith must always be proposed, but it must be never be imposed”The faith must always be proposed, but it must be never be imposed”
““I told you that I would give you I told you that I would give you my blessing from my heart. Since my blessing from my heart. Since
many of you don’t belong to the many of you don’t belong to the Catholic Church, and others [of Catholic Church, and others [of you] are nonbelievers, I impart you] are nonbelievers, I impart this blessing from my heart in this blessing from my heart in
silence, to each of you, respecting silence, to each of you, respecting the conscience of every one, but the conscience of every one, but
knowing that each of you is a knowing that each of you is a child of God. child of God.
May God bless you.”May God bless you.”
The Faith Must be Proposed, The Faith Must be Proposed, Never ImposedNever Imposed
“We have to avoid the spiritual sickness of a self-referential church,”
he said in a 2012 interview. “When you get out into the street, as happens to every man and woman, there can be
accidents.”
The Faith Must be Proposed, The Faith Must be Proposed, Never ImposedNever Imposed
…However, if the Church remains closed in on itself, self-referential, it gets old.
Between a Church that suffers accidents in the street and a Church that’s sick because it’s self-referential, I have no doubts about
preferring the former.”
The Faith Must be Proposed, The Faith Must be Proposed, Never ImposedNever Imposed
One has the sense that this will be a pope relentless about proposing the
faith to the world, but deeply respectful of those who chose not to
take him up on the offer.
We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
““If we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong.”If we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong.”
We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
In an homily during a March 14 Mass with the cardinals who elected him, Francis pointedly said that “if
we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong.”
We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
We may become a charitable NGO (nongovernmental
organization),” he said, “but not the Church, the Bride of the
Lord.”
Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
““the fruit of hope is, the fruit of hope is, apostolic courageapostolic courage, meaning the willingness to transmit the , meaning the willingness to transmit the Gospel everywhere and always.”Gospel everywhere and always.”
Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
“Let us never yield to pessimism…let us not yield to pessimism or
discouragement,” he said.
Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
“Let us be quite certain that the Holy Spirit bestow upon the Church, with his powerful breath, the courage to persevere and also to seek new methods of evangelization, so as to bring the gospel to the uttermost ends of
the earth.”
Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
““Let us pass on this wisdom to the young…”Let us pass on this wisdom to the young…”
Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
In other words, Francis wants to be an evangelizing pope, someone who can reach out beyond the confines
of the already convinced and represent Christianity to the wider
world.
Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
He knows that doing that with a smile rather than a frown is likely to be a more
winning missionary strategy, and he’s comfortable enough in his own skin to
break the formal mode of the papacy and come off the cuff with some humor.
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
““In order to dialogue, it is necessary to know how to lower the In order to dialogue, it is necessary to know how to lower the defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth.”defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth.”
The Holy Spirit is also the one “who creates unity from these differences, not in ‘equality,’ but in harmony. I remember the Father of the Church
who described him thus: Ipse harmonia est.
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
The Paraclete, who gives different charisms to each of us, unites us in
this community of the Church, which worships the Father, the Son,
and him, the Holy Spirit.”
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
Those words suggest that Francis is likely to be a pope who stresses the
value of unity, trying to push Catholics beyond their internal differences as
well as toward greater cooperation with other Christian denominations.
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
Article 7.
these considerations on faith – in continuity with all that the church’s magisterium has pronounced on
this theological virtue are meant to supplement what Benedict XVI had written in his encyclical letters on charity and hope.
his fine work and added a few contributions of my own…..
He himself had almost completed a first draft of an encyclical on faith. For this I am deeply grateful to him and as his brother in Christ I have taken up
CONTEXT OF THE ENCYCLICAL
WHAT IS SECULARISM?WHAT IS SECULARISM?
"Secular" "Secular" today stands in today stands in
opposition to opposition to "religious". "religious".
According to this usage, something is secular when it can be categorized withthe worldly, civil, non-religious sphere of human life.
According to this usage, something is secular when it is not worshipped,
when it is not venerated, and when it is open for critique, judgment, and replacement.
In English, the term
“secularism” was coined by George Jacob
Holyoake in 1841.
Three essential principles
(1) The improvement of this life by material
means.
Three essential principles
(2) That science is the available Providence of
man.
Three essential principles
(3) That it is good to do good. Whether there be other good or not, the good of the present life is good, and it is good to seek
that good.”
Characteristics of Secularism:
1. It can indicate the autonomy of earthly realities and the
separation between the Kingdom of God and the
kingdom of Caesar.
Characteristics of Secularism:
2. Secularism supports the individual against the pressure of
the group and the individual conscience against the dogma of
the group. In this sense it promotes individualism.
Characteristics of Secularism:
3. According to Virgilius Ferm in his Encyclopedia of Religion secularism is
“a variety of utilitarian social ethic which seeks human improvement without reference to religion and
exclusively by means of human reason, science and social organization.
Characteristics of Secularism:
…It has developed into a positive and widely adopted outlook which
aims to direct all activities and institutions by a non-religious concern for the goods of the
present life and for social well-being.”
Characteristics of Secularism:
…Secularism brings in its train relativism. Nothing is absolute. No truth or morality is valid for
all and for all time.
Characteristics of Secularism:
4. It is a morality that is based on rational considerations regarding
human well-being in this world, to the exclusion of considerations relating to God or the afterlife.
Characteristics of Secularism:
5. Indifference to religion is presupposed. Religion is not
seen necessary or even useful.
Secularism brings along with it individualism,
relativism, materialism and agnosticism.
Fundamentalism as found in all religious persuasion is characterized by:
1. Extreme conservatism in doctrine, deriving from
literalist interpretations of their holy books or/and
sacred customs.
Fundamentalism as found in all religious persuasion is characterized by:
2. Intolerance of others, both co-religionists not belonging
to their group and much more of other religions.
Fundamentalism as found in all religious persuasion is characterized by:
3. Inability to see any good from others outside of their
group, therefore very inward looking.
Fundamentalism as found in all religious persuasion is characterized by:
4. There is no openness to dialogue and working
together.
Fundamentalism as found in all religious persuasion is characterized by:
5. There is great effort to proselytize.
We can view the rise of We can view the rise of fundamentalism as a reaction fundamentalism as a reaction of groups who are threatened of groups who are threatened
by the rapid changes by the rapid changes happening around them. It is happening around them. It is the refusal to understand and the refusal to understand and
adjust to new reality.adjust to new reality.
TRAJECTORY OF THE ENCYCLICAL
The first encyclical
sets the tone of the
papacy.
Lumen Fidei is to be understood in the church’s mission of the new evangelization. New evangelization startedwith John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council – “aggiornamento”
Lumen Fidei is part of the Lumen Fidei is part of the renewal brought about by the renewal brought about by the papacy of Benedict. 50papacy of Benedict. 50thth anniversary of Vatican II.anniversary of Vatican II.
Benedict XVI underlines Benedict XVI underlines the renewal of Vatican II – the renewal of Vatican II – Deus Caritas EstDeus Caritas Est, , Spe Spe
SalviSalvi and now and now Lumen Lumen FideiFidei. Two documents . Two documents
were produced: were produced: Sacramentum Caritatis Sacramentum Caritatis
and and Verbum Domini.Verbum Domini. And a social encyclical – And a social encyclical –
Caritas in VeritateCaritas in Veritate..
The first chapter first chapter (Salvation History)(Salvation History) takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the Old and
New Testaments, from Abraham, who first hears God’s call, through the Israelites
traveling towards the light of the Promised Land, to Jesus’ death on the Cross, the
ultimate act of God’s love for humanity.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
▪Abraham's Faith▪Israel's Faith▪The Fullness of Christian Faith▪Salvation of Faith▪The Ecclesial of Faith
Chapter two Chapter two (Faith & Truth)(Faith & Truth) insists on the link between Faith insists on the link between Faith and Truth, without love in our and Truth, without love in our
hearts, truth becomes cold, hearts, truth becomes cold, impersonal, oppressive, unable impersonal, oppressive, unable to transform the lives of other. to transform the lives of other.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
But by listening, seeing and But by listening, seeing and believing in Christ’s presence believing in Christ’s presence
in our lives today, we can in our lives today, we can broaden our horizons and find broaden our horizons and find
better ways of serving the better ways of serving the common good.common good.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
▪Faith and Truth
▪Knowledge of the Truth and Love
▪Faith as Hearing and Sight
▪The Dialogue between Faith and Reason
▪Faith and the Search for God
▪Faith and Theology
TheThe third chapter third chapter (Church) (Church) of the encyclical centers of the encyclical centers on the Church as the place where the light on the Church as the place where the light
of faith is safeguarded and transmitted of faith is safeguarded and transmitted from one generation to the next.from one generation to the next.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
I delivered to you what I also received (1 Cor 15:3).
The The final chapter final chapter focuses on focuses on
Faith and the common Faith and the common goodgood and shows how the light and shows how the light of faith can promote peace and of faith can promote peace and
reconciliation, and teach respect reconciliation, and teach respect for God’s creation.for God’s creation.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
# 55 Faith by revealing the love of God the Creator, enables us to respect nature all the more, and
to discern in it a gram mar written by the hand of God and a dwelling place entrusted to our
protection and care.
Suffering reminds us that faith’s service to the
common good is always one of hope
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
i. i. (Fides Quae) (Fides Quae) Faith is Faith is knowing the truth knowing the truth (Chapter2) (Chapter2) “Faith without truth does not “Faith without truth does not
grow” grow”
Meaning:-A catechist must have a personal relationship with God- “Contemplation and Action well united”- Great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament (Holy Hour)- Love of the Eucharistic Celebration-Must be close to the people- Bearers of joy
A Catechist must be solidly grounded on the truths of our
faith, in touch with the teachings of the magisterium and faithful to
the Church and our God.
Meaning:-Mastery of Content-Know the Sources of the Faith- must not get weary of On Going Formation (updating)
A Catechist is one who has a good memory. It’s not that one must have a great mind and
photographic memory. We mean here, is someone who has a sense of gratitude, a
grateful heart. Someone who never forgets what the Lord has done and is continuously
doing in his life.
A Catechist believes with the heart. This blending of faith and love we come to see the kind of knowledge which faith entails, its power to
convince and its ability to illumine our steps. Faith knows because it is tied to love, because
love itself brings enlightenment. (Art. 26)
Meaning:
-Love is a verb not a noun
- Faith is a gift that we need to share
- Faith is performative not informative
- witnessing: “simple living”
As a Catechist, s/he is called to be faithful to the one who called him
and see in all God's presence. Someone who is very much in love
with the Lord and radiates and illumines this love experience to
others.
Meaning:-Fidelity to God-Fidelity to the Human Person and Creation- Fidelity to the Church “Fidelity to the Gospel… Fidelity to Christ.”
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
ii. ii. (Confessio et caritas) (Confessio et caritas) Faith is Faith is personal and Lovingpersonal and Loving (# 20)(# 20)
A Catechist is one who has a personal relationship with the
Lord, leading others to the encounter of this loving God.
A Catechist realizes that s/he is nothing without God and that everything that s/he has and is comes from God our Father.
Meaning:
- Catechist must be humble, simple, and has a greater capacity for silence…
A Catechist believes that God is a living God making himself available for all and that each one is being called by him to a
relationship.
A Catechist realizes that he is nothing without God and that everything that s/he has and is comes from God our Father.
A Catechist is one who journeys with people entrusted
to him/her is willing to sacrifice and give time to lead
others to God.
A Catechist is mindful of God’s manifestation at all
times
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
iii. iii. Faith is Communal Faith is Communal (Chapter 1 #22)(Chapter 1 #22)
A catechist is called to be a man or woman of the church. His/her love for the church is “unquestioned”.
He/she brings people to an understanding and appreciation of
the church – universal, local, diocesan and even parish.
Meaning:
-Faithful to the teachings of the Church… (for we are the “echoes of Christ”)
- would not engage or involve oneself to gossips and intrigues destroying the Church
Church involvement is a most important program of the
catechetical office. As an active member of the diocese and the
parish, he promotes the programs and activities of the parish
among the faith communities.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
iv. iv. Faith is developmentalFaith is developmental
Meaning:A Catechist grows in faith – matures in faith. Faith is a gift to be nurtured..“Catechist for Life”- “Katekistas Oradores”
iv. iv. Faith is developmentalFaith is developmental
A catechist is able to create developmentally appropriate programs for children and
young people. A good articulation of the
religious education/catechetical
program with the campus ministry can weave a
“seamless garment” of Christian formation in the
school.
Big Challenge: Catechists should come together and
review the K – 10 Catechetical Program with a
view to: a. articulate Grs. 11 – 12 and and Tertiary level
RelEd/Theology
Big Challenge: Catechists should come together and review the K – 10 Catechetical Program with a
view to: b. integration of programs and structures of catechetical
instruction, campus ministry and extension program/pastoral
program in a Catholic school
OrthodoxyOrthopraxis
Scripture/TraditionHuman Experience
Ideological Activism (No prayer)
WORSHIP (Sacraments)[Ritualism]
MORALS
[Activism]DOCT
RINE
[Dog
mati
sm]
Idealistic A
ctivism
(No doctr
inal base)Pious Dogmatism
(No Praxis)
DIAGRAM OF CATHOLIC FAITH (NCDP 200)
Catechesis/ Religious Education
Pastoral Ministry/Extension Ministry
Campus Ministry
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
v. v. Faith is Missionary Faith is Missionary (reaches out to others) (reaches out to others)
(Chapter 3)(Chapter 3)
A catechist is aware that missio “ad gentes, ad extra, ad vitam” is the church’s pastoral priority. He/she helps create a “sense of
mission” through involvement in the Pontifical Mission Societies.
October is highlighted as “Mission Month” – the
school is called to awareness and assistance of foreign missions, especially
in Asia and Africa.
IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
vi. vi. Faith is Inculturation Faith is Inculturation ((Chapter 4)Chapter 4)
A catechist is called to help “de – privatize” the faith. That faith has
social and cultural implications is a concern of the catechetical ministry.
Conscious of Catholic Social Teachings, a catechist works in
coordination with the social services and social development office of the diocese and works in the BECs/MSK
Meaning:
- Is Involved in the concerns of society
-Able to articulate the “burning issues” of the day and integrate them in catechesis
-Knows how to integrate faith and culture: “faith shapes culture”