"..LIKE A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN LAND..."

The Vicar of Christ bids us to renew our commitment to Christ.

PORTA FIDEI - OVERVIEW

We have initially looked at the rationale behind the title of the Motu Proprio and it seems appropriate before going further into an in detail examination, to get a general overview of the document, so that we know where we are going and we can get a better understanding of the detail.

CHRISTIAN LIFE

The question asked of Jesus in the Gospels : "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" remains valid for every Christian in every Age. So does Jesus' response : " Believe in Him Whom He has sent." So we see that Faith is the great fundamental. Nothing could be more fitting for the Catholic than to celebrate a Year of Faith-and particularly in these troubled times.

SIGNIFICANT DATES

Two momentous Anniversaries coincide on the day the Year of Faith commences - it is the 50th Anniversary of the opening of the Second Council of the Vatican and it is the 20th Anniversary of  the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which the Holy Father points out, is an authentic fruit of the Council.

                                                          The Servant of God Pope Paul VI

Pope Benedict reminds us that his predecessor, Pope Paul VI chose the 1,900 th Anniversary of the deaths of Saint Peter and Saint Paul to launch the 1967 Year of Faith and that it came on the eve of the global upheaval of 1968. Pope Paul saw that Year of Faith as a consequence of the Council, and Pope Benedict sees the Year of Faith he is launching as equally a consequence of the Council.

In his hopes for the true development of Faith, Pope Benedict sees as fundamental the proper understanding, interpretation and implementation of the Council. As the Holy Father has demonstrated on several occasions, this has not happened yet because the post Conciliar Church has frequently been side-tracked by the false " spirit of the Council" propounding a "hermeneutic of Rupture". This was, and had to be, alien to the reality of the Council which operated on a "hermeneutic of Continuity". The Holy Father sees this proper appreciation of the Council and realization of its intentions as essential for the flourishing of the Faith.The renewal it proposed has to be lived in the lives of the faithful.

"..A STRANGER IN A FOREIGN LAND.."

The Holy Father reminds us that the Church, properly following Our Lord, will always be "like a stranger in a foreign land" . The faithful who make up the Mystical Body of Christ are in the World but not of the World. The Year of Faith he says, summons us to a renewed conversion to the Lord.

An important aspect of that renewal flows from the inspired writings of Saint Paul and Saint James and the ancient writings of Saint Augustine the great Doctor of the Church. Saint Paul proclaims "caritas Christi urget nos"- " the love of Christ impels us" and Saint James reminds us that Faith without works is dead. Saint Augustine for his part reminds us of a great reality when he prays "our hearts were made for Thee O Lord, and they will not rest until they rest in Thee". In the knowledge of  the relationship between these realities, Saint Augustine takes us a step further as the Holy Father reminds us, when he says :" disciples strengthen themselves by believing". Pope Benedict stresses the importance of self-abandonment as fundamental to growth in our relationship with Christ.

PUBLIC WITNESS

The Holy Father emphasizes the great importance of public profession of the Credo the profession of Faith, and the celebration of the Faith in the Sacred Liturgy-the source and summit of our Catholic Faith, this profession and ultimate celebration of Faith is reflected in the importance the Christians(Catholics) of early centuries placed in the learning of the Creed by heart.

PATH OF FAITH

Pope Benedict traces the path to be followed for growth in Faith - knowledge of the content of the Faith, followed by trust in God, leading to knowledge and understanding of what is proclaimed in Sacred Scripture.

In this way we come to stand , through testimony and commitment, with Christ.

The Church, Pope Benedict says, is the primary subject of Faith for she is the Mystical Body of Christ in the world. Knowledge of the Faith opens the door to the mystery of the plan of salvation God has for us.

This path is also open to non-believers of good intention honestly seeking to do what is right and good, so our public witness becomes essential if they are to discover the Truth.

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

The Holy Father is fulsome in his praise for this"authentic fruit of the Council".He makes the point that it is not merely a theoretical work, rather, it provides an authentic encounter with Christ Himself by providing the fullness of His teaching.

He makes the point that, whereas the modern secular world makes science and technology the ultimate in belief, the Church embraces Truth in the Person of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

HISTORY OF THE FAITH

Pope Benedict asks us to give a framework to the Year of Faith by reflecting in depth on the history of the Faith. That history might be examined as follows, he says:

Study of Jesus Himself through Sacred Scripture,

Reflection upon the Blessed Virgin and Saint Joseph - their Faith and it's results in action,

The study of the Apostles, their Faith and Sacrifice for it,

The study of the disciples , their Faith and the foundation of the Church,

The study of the martyrs, their Faith and witness and their blood the seed of the Church,

The study of the lives of consecrated persons and their heroic Faith,

The study of the ordinary faithful throughout the history of the Church and reflection on the beauty of following Christ,

And finally reflection on our own Faith and the extent to which it has been allowed to affect our lives.

CHARITY

The realization of our Faith through good works is essential as we can see from the writings of Saints Paul and James. And, at the end of his life Saint Paul is still urging Saint Timothy to "aim at Faith" (2 Tim.2:22)with the same constancy as when he was a boy (cf. 2 Tim 3:15).The Holy Father sees the same exhortation as being made to each of us. The world needs credible witnesses to Faith "That the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph" (2 Th. 3:1)

The Vicar of Christ  "Take up your cross daily, and follow Me." 

The Holy Father draws his letter toward its conclusion by reflecting upon the joy of Faith and it's marvelous support through all the inevitable trials of life. He notes Saint Paul's consequential statement: "When I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor.12:10) 

He concludes saying that the Church, the visible community of God's Mercy, abides in Him as a sign of definitive reconciliation with the Father.

Finally, he asks that the Year of Faith be entrusted to the Mother of God, who was proclaimed " Blessed because she believed."(Lk 1:45)

OUR TASK HERE

 There is as you see a great deal in the Motu Proprio to be absorbed and reflected upon as we move toward the Year of Faith, if we are to realize its immense potential for our own good and the good of our families,communities, country and the world.We hope you will join us as we take up the task in future posts.