by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Pope Benedict XVI will open the Year of Faith on October 11. October 11 is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council – a universal meeting of Bishops (October 11, 1962 – December 8, 1965); and the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Blessed John Paul II.
Also the Synod of Bishops on the theme: The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith will run from Oct 7-28. The Year of Faith will close on November 24, 2013, Solemnity of Christ the King. Pope Benedict XVI sees the Catechism as “a precious and indispensable tool. It is one of the most important fruits of the Second Vatican Council” (Porta Fidei, 11). He hopes that during the Year of Faith there will be a “concerted effort by every Catholic to rediscover and study the fundamental content of the faith that receives its systematic and organic synthesis in the Catechism of the Catholic Church”.
We are urged to read/study the four Constitutions or “pillars of the Council”: Lumen Gentium – on the Church; Sacrosanctum Concilium – on the Sacred liturgy; Dei Verbum – on Divine Revelation; Gaudium et Spes – on the Church in the Modern World.
See also the nine decrees and three declarations. The declarations are: Gravissimum Educationis – on Christian Education; Nostra Aetate – on the Relation of the Church to non-Christian Religions; Dignitatis Humanae – on Religious Freedom.
The Holy Father encourages us to learn about the great figures of our Faith e.g. Mary, the Apostles, the saints, martyrs, and confessors (Porta Fidei, 13); and to intensify our witness of charity, which is faith in action. He says:
“Intent on gathering the signs of the times in the present of history, faith commits every one of us to become a living sign of the presence of the Risen Lord in the world. What the world is in particular need of today is the credible witness of people enlightened in mind and heart by the word of the Lord, and capable of opening the hearts and minds of many to the desire for God and for true life, life without end.” Porta Fidei, 15.
Two of the gifts I received in Londonare a copy of Barbara Reed Mason’s booklet: The Gift of Faith, and Year of Faith with John Paul II – both published by the Catholic Truth Society. Mason uses “the texts of the Second Vatican Council, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the words of Pope Benedict XVI and Blessed John Paul II, as well as her own insights, to explore this vital area…”
Dioceses inEnglandandWales, like Catholic dioceses around the world, are preparing resources and events for the Year of Faith (see Zenit: Aug 3, “Highlights in the Plan for Year of Faith”). Earlier this year the Bishops’ Conference inEnglandandWalesdistributed to Catholics one million credit-card-sized “Faith Cards.” Next to a picture of a rosary, the wording states: “As a Catholic I, (insert name) am called to:
Share with others the joy of knowing Jesus Christ, Pray, Celebrate the sacraments regularly, Love my neighour as myself, Use the gifts that I’ve been given wisely, Forgive as I have been forgiven. In the event of an emergency please contact a Catholic priest.”
On the other side of the card there are some powerful words by recently beatified Blessed John Henry Newman: “God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. I shall do good and be a preacher of truth in my own place.”
Bishop Kieran Conry, Arundel andBrighton, Chair of the Bishops’ Department for Evangelisation and Catechesis, said: “The card is also designed to give Catholics confidence to share their faith…Faith is a not a private matter. This is something that Pope Benedict reminded the Catholic community in his recent letter announcing a Year of Faith…”
He says every parish will receive five booklets to support preparations for the year, which runs from October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013. The booklets “propose a number of key themes and highlight resources and initiatives that will be offered in support of catechesis and evangelisation.”
Let us deepen our Faith during this year.
