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26 - 17.10.2008
SUMMARY
- WORKING
GROUPS: SECOND AND THIRD SESSIONS
-
EIGHTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2008 (MORNING)
WORKING GROUPS: SECOND AND THIRD SESSIONS
Yesterday, Thursday 16 2008, the Working Groups continued their
discussions.. There were 237 Fathers present during the Second
Session and 224 during the Third.
The first phase of the discussions of the Working Groups (with the
discussion on the main points needing further in-depth study,
offered by the Report after the discussion) concluded with the
approval of the Reports of the Working Groups, which the Relators of
the Working Groups presented in the Eighteenth General Congregation
of this morning 17 October 2008.
EIGHTEENTH GENERAL CONGREGATION (FRIDAY, 17 OCTOBER 2008 - MORNING)
- REPORTS OF THE WORKING
GROUPS
- AUDITION OF THE AUDITORS
(IV)
At 9.00 a.m., in remembrance of St. Ignatius, Bishop and Martyr, in
the presence of the Holy Father, after the chanting of the Hour of
Terce, the Eighteenth General Congregation began, with the reading
in the Hall of the Reports of the Working Groups.
The President Delegate on duty was H.Em. Card.William Joseph LEVADA,
Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (VATICAN
CITY).
During the break, the Holy Father Benedict XVI received the Italian
Group A and the Spanish Group A in audience.
This General Congregation ended at 12:30 a.m. with the prayer
Angelus Domini. 234 Fathers were present.
REPORTS OF THE WORKING
GROUPS
Fruit of the discussion of the Working Groups are the Reports
compiled as a collection of opinions of the majority and minority,
who transparently express the converging and non converging opinions,
if any. These reports which have been submitted for the approval of
the Working Groups to collect all the suggestions and reflections of
the members of each Group thus form a faithful projection of the
opinions of the majority as well as any minority. These reports are
very important since they are the most evident expression of the
thought of the Synodal Fathers involved in the discussion of the
Groups and also contain on a life line the elements for the general
consensus of the Synod itself. All the reports considered on as a
whole represent in some way the first summary of the synodal work.
In the Eighteenth General Congregation of this morning, the Reports
of the Working Groups, prepared by the Relators of the Working
Groups, were read, in the order of their request for intervention:
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP GERMANICUS: H.E. Most. Rev. Friedhelm HOFMANN,
Bishop of Würzburg (GERMANY)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS C: H.E. Most. Rev. Pierre-Marie CARRÉ,
Archbishop of Albi (FRANCE)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Patrick Altham
KELLY, Archbishop of Liverpool (GREAT BRITAIN)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS A: Rev. Julián CARRÓN, President of
Communion and Liberation (SPAIN)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP ITALICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Salvatore
FISICHELLA, Titular Bishop of Voghenza, President of the Pontifical
Academy for Life; Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University
(VATICAN CITY)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS C: H.E. Most. Rev. Víctor Hugo PALMA
PAÚL, Bishop of Escuintla (GUATEMALA)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Mark Benedict
COLERIDGE, Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn (AUSTRALIA)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Gerald Frederick
KICANAS, Bishop of Tucson, Assistant President of Episcopal
Conference (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Freddy Antonio de
Jesús BRETÓN MARTÍNEZ, Bishop of Baní (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Joseph Luc André
BOUCHARD, Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta (CANADA)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP ITALICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Vincenzo PAGLIA,
Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, President of the Catholic Biblical
Federation (ITALY)
-RELATION
OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Fidèle AGBATCHI,
Archbishop of Parakou (BENIN)
The summaries of the Reports of the Working Groups presented during
the Eighteenth General Congregation are published below:
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP GERMANICUS: H.E. Most. Rev. Friedhelm
HOFMANN, Bishop of Würzburg (GERMANY)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS C: H.E. Most. Rev.
Pierre-Marie CARRÉ, Archbishop of Albi (FRANCE)
Biblical renewal in the Catholic Church is still recent. We
rediscover the Word of God and we need to go back to the long
tradition of interpretation that goes back to the Fathers of the
Church. Of course, the context is not the same. Dei Verbum, based on
Biblical renewal, gave keys for interpretation that are not known
well enough yet. We must work harder to make this great text better
known. Simple propositions are necessary so that the Bible becomes
the spiritual nourishment of all the members of the Church.
Here are our propositions:
1. A reading of the Scripture that starts in the family and
continues in Biblical evenings in the parish. The celebration of
Bible weeks in the dioceses will prolong this effort.
3. Teach a living listening of the Word of God.
Each believer needs to be able to transform the heart into a library
of the Word. Thus the Bible can become a living source of catechesis
(memorizing in the following of Mary, putting certain texts into
music). To proclaim the Word to the poor is the first objective of
the mission of the Church. The notion of poverty must be taught to
perceive its different aspects.
5. Pedagogical means, online support (internet) to simplify the
understanding of the more difficult Biblical passages.
6. We hope for a revision of the lectionary.7. We could recognize -
institute - extraordinary ministers of the Word. These ministers -
catechists, readers, animators of base communities, men and women -
would be specially prepared for this mission and officially
delegated by the bishop.
8. Intrinsic tie between Eucharist and Word
Dei Verbum stated that the Church takes the bread from the table of
the Word and Eucharist to nourish her children. The Word, this is
Christ Jesus; the Eucharist, this is Christ Jesus. It would be
worthwhile to give more to the roles of the servants of the Word (readers,
chanters, preachers, etc...) Christ Jesus gives Himself through the
servants of the Word and those celebrating the Eucharist.
9. Spreading the Bible
Everything must be done to ensure the greatest number of languages
for translations and for the spreading of the Bible . The world
Biblical foundations should create a fund for financial support of
Biblical projects, thanks to a sharing between dioceses.
10. How to heal the relationships between exegetes and theologians?
The true exegete must be the humble servant of the Word and be open
to the Spirit of God. In the formation of priests, there should be
several approaches to the Scripture: Lectio Divina, exegesis.
12. World Congress on the Word of God
The world Eucharistic congresses must give the proper space to the
Word of God, the presence of Christ among us.
13. Dialogue with the Jews
A holy Jewish reading of the Scripture, attentive to the critical
editions and the dating of the Jewish texts, could complete the
search of the environment of life in the Biblical text, done with a
historical-critical approach.
17. The Holy Land, the Fifth Gospel
A pilgrimage on the footsteps of Christ and His Apostles allows a
renewal in Faith.
20. Woman, “passer” of the Word
We hope that women, and especially mothers, may receive a formation
appropriate to this condition as the “passer” of the Word.
[00301-02.02] [CM002] [Original text: French]
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Patrick
Altham KELLY, Archbishop of Liverpool (GREAT BRITAIN)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS A: Rev. Julián CARRÓN,
President of Communion and Liberation (SPAIN)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ITALICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Salvatore
FISICHELLA, Titular Bishop of Voghenza, President of the Pontifical
Academy for Life; Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University
(VATICAN CITY)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS C: H.E. Most. Rev. Víctor
Hugo PALMA PAÚL, Bishop of Escuintla (GUATEMALA)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Mark
Benedict COLERIDGE, Archbishop of Canberra-Goulburn (AUSTRALIA)
In the course of the discussion, certain overarching themes have
emerged and from which Propositions will come. Here I list these
themes as needs which have been identified:
1) There is a need for an inclusive and comprehensive pastoral plan
which is based upon the Word of God and looks in all its elements to
the Word of God.
2) There is a need to develop small communities - even within larger
communities - in order to foster a sense of belonging, a programme
of sharing the Word of God in Scripture, a formation in faith and an
empowerment for mission.
3) There is a need to provide the poor with what is their most basic
right and need - the Word of God for which they have a special
openness just as God has for them a special love. That is why it is
vital that the Bible be translated into as many languages as
possible.
4) There is a need to lead young people to know and love the Word of
God so that they may assume their role as agents of mission,
especially among their peers.
5) There is a need to stress the essential evangelising mission of
the laity by virtue of their Baptism. In particular, there is a need
to focus on the family as the domestic church.
6) There is a need to stress that the life of the Church is mission
and to empower as many people as possible to undertake mission
without excessive fear as to whether they are fully equipped or not.
7) There is a need for solid ongoing formation in the Word of God
for all agents of mission, including the Bishops.
8) The need to focus upon the mission ad extra and ad gentes rather
than simply upon the internal life of the Church implies in general
the need for dialogue with cultures.
9) There is a need to examine and explain what is meant by “salvation”.
10) There is a need to stress the inseparability of contemplation
and mission.
11) There is a need to focus upon the life-giving power of the Holy
Spirit.
It was suggested at our first meeting was that it may be better if
the small groups were to meet in continental rather than linguistic
groupings, since then they would have more in common as the basis
for discussion. Our discussion since then has shown that it can be
difficult and frustrating at times to work through complex issues in
such a large and diverse group united by language rather than
geography. But it has shown as well that we are united not only by
the accident of language but also and more deeply by the bond of
faith.
[00302-02.04] [CM007] [Original text: English]
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ANGLICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Gerald
Frederick KICANAS, Bishop of Tucson, Assistant President of
Episcopal Conference (UNITED STATES OF AMERICA)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP HISPANICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Freddy
Antonio de Jesús BRETÓN MARTÍNEZ, Bishop of Baní (DOMINICAN
REPUBLIC)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Joseph
Luc André BOUCHARD, Bishop of Saint Paul in Alberta (CANADA)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ITALICUS B: H.E. Most. Rev. Vincenzo
PAGLIA, Bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia, President of the Catholic
Biblical Federation (ITALY)
-RELATION OF THE WORKING GROUP GALLICUS A: H.E. Most. Rev. Fidèle
AGBATCHI, Archbishop of Parakou (BENIN)
Then free interventions were presented.
AUDITION OF THE AUDITORS
(IV)
Following this, the following Auditors intervened:
-
Most. Rev. Ab. Michel JORROT, O.S.B., Abbot of the Benedictinw Abbey
of Clervaux (LUXEMBOURG)
-
Sr. Janice SOLUK, S.A.M.I., Superior General of the Handmaids of the
Blessed Virgin Mary the Immaculate, Rome (ITALY)
-
Sr. Apollinaris SHIMURA YURIKO, C.S.M., Superior General of the
Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki (JAPAN)
-
Sr. Marija Ana KUSTURA, S.M.I., Superior General of the Handmaidens
of Baby Jesus, President of the Union of Superiors Mjor of Croatia
(CROATIA)
-
Mr. Francisco José GÓMEZ ARGÜELLO WIRTZ, Co-Founder of the
Neo-Catechumenal Way (SPAIN)
-
Dr. Ponpuzhakottayil Cherian ANIYANKUNJU, Public Relation Officer of
the Archdiocese of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (INDIA)
The summaries of the interventions is published below:
- Most. Rev. Ab. Michel JORROT, O.S.B., Abbot of the Benedictinw
Abbey of Clervaux (LUXEMBOURG)
Most Holy Father, Fathers of the Synod, Brothers and Sisters,
My gratitude is immense for being able to participate in this Synod.
I owe this to your taking into account the sixty years dedicated to
the critical edition of the Vulgate elaborated by the Benedictine
monks of Clairvaux (among others), at the Abbey of Saint Jerome,
founded by Pius XI in 1933.
I would also like to add my thanks to you on behalf of my community,
because you quoted four times Dom Jean Leclercq (+ 1993), a monk of
Clairvaux, in your speech to the Bernardins in Paris. The title of
his book on the monastic culture and spirituality in the Middle Ages
is significant: “The Love of Learning and the Desire for God”. Thank
you Holy Father “gratia Benedictus et nomine” St. Gregory the Great.
Receiving the Word of God
“The Love of Learning and the Desire for God”” is inscribed in the
Rule of Saint Benedict. This is realized with a main recommendation
to the Cenobite monks: “do not prefer anything over the work of God”,
that is to say: liturgical prayer.
IL no. 34: “We are what we hear!”
A considerable assertion in relationship to the attitude of hearing.
The listener allows himself to be modeled internally by the thoughts
of God. This attitude to listening could be considered as an a
priori acceptance of all that comes from God, as opposed to the
recrimination if presented in the Gospel. Allow me to summarize in
the four letters of the word “amen” this a priori acceptance.
4 points of reflection
A as in Abba (IL no. 9). With this new name for God, Jesus wanted to
tell us all about His Father and about Himself. This Abba is the one
who wishes that all men be saved in making them one family of sons
and daughters in His only Son. This Father constantly acts through .foreseeing
(?)grace coming from the heart of all men to make him able to
welcome His Word made flesh. The Immaculate Conception is the most
foreseeing grace And the most sanctifying at the same time, allowing
the Virgin Mary to say “Fiat”. Amen.M (2nd letter)as in Memorial.
The sacramentality of the Word has been stated. The proclamation
gives back the force of something said to Scripture. Also, Scripture
is often written under the form oriented towards memorization.
Through memory the Word penetrates and acts in persons. Like Mary,
we must retain what we don’t even understand and meditate upon it in
her heart.
E (3rd letter) as in Explanation. The Word addresses the
intelligence in faith. It must be explained. This explanation is
necessary for all ages and is based on the characteristic of
dialogue which is revelation. Should not this explanation of the
Word be given gradually just as LG speaks about a hierarchical
presentation of the dogma themselves?
N (4th letter) as in Nourishment (Especially IL no. 38). The lectio
divina is not reserved for monks alone. This nourishment effectively
allows “becoming what we hear” which is the evangelical radicalism
of monastic life. Also, he who prays already accomplishes the Word
which is the calling to prayer. When this prayer is chanted it
penetrates and fills the soul because singing (especially Gregorian
Chant) expands the words of the Word of God to the point of becoming
an immense space where listening becomes one with the center of
one’s life.
The Reading of Saint Paul by Saint Theresa of the Baby Jesus shows
up to what point she became what she had read: “At the heart of the
Church I will be love”. She writes: “O luminous beacon of love, I
know how to reach you. I found the secret in appropriating your
flame”. Amen.
Thank you very much.
[00289-02.03] [UD033] [Original text: French]
- Sr. Janice SOLUK, S.A.M.I., Superior General of the Handmaids of
the Blessed Virgin Mary the Immaculate, Rome (ITALY)
Our congregation founded in Ukraine in 1892 is of Pontifical rite,
the first Apostolic Congregation in the Eastern Byzantine Tradition,
the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. Being a Ukrainian Catholic
congregation we are very close to the heart of our people. Even
during the Communist era the sisters never abandoned our people. As
an underground church and at great risk to themselves, the sisters
continued to catechize, encourage and strengthen believers as well
as to arrange for priests to visit the sick and dying in the
hospitals. The Eastern mentality is one of the heart rather than of
intellect and as such the 5 senses are very much involved and are
central to our celebrations. The reading of Holy Scripture in all
services is very important. Before Vatican II, we did not have any
Bibles available in the vernacular, -Ukrainian, they were only in
old Slavonic which most did not understand. If one did have a Bible,
it was placed in a special place, kissed and shown great reverence,
but not read for daily nourishment. In Ukraine under Communism the
Bibles taken away and prohibited. Only since 1990 have Bibles and
spiritual books began to appear, to be hungered for and to have an
impact. Today Sacred Scripture is the Sisters most important rule of
life.
3 traditions show the importance and value the people have placed on
the reading of the Bible from earlier times until today.
1 )Individuals kneel under the Gospel Book as the scripture is being
read. They then kiss the book and return to their places.
2) During the Gospel reading adults, families or children are called
to the front, and hold candles -a great privilege. All kiss the
Scriptures at the end.
3) Local women beautify the altar, icons, and pulpit from which the
Gospel is read by intricately embroidering linens on which the Bible
rests. In Ukraine our sisters are again teaching children, youth and
adults how to use scripture, to read and pray them so as to meet
Jesus the living word.
We as women religious, a Congregation dedicated to Mary the Mother
of God take her as our model. We try to incarnate the Word of God in
ourselves, in order to continue to transmit the Jesus life within us
to others in our ministry, so that Christ may ever be the light of
the world to all.
[00273-02.02] [UD031] [Original text: English]
- Sr. Apollinaris SHIMURA YURIKO, C.S.M., Superior General of the
Sisters of Charity of Miyazaki (JAPAN)
My home land is Japan, where only 0,4% of the 120 million
inhabitants are Catholic. However, Japan is also a country where the
Bible is one of the books most read and appreciated also by non
Christians and especially among cultured people. For the children
Bible is available in cartoons (MANGA) and for the lovers of sacred
music a vast repertory of excellent music is available.
Despite so much admiration and sympathy for Christian culture and
ethics, Japan remains a “Land of Mission” where many people have
never heard the Gospel and are awaiting it to be proclaimed a first
time.” (instr. Lab. N. 43).
The first task of religious persons who live and work in Japan, is
to make the First Proclamation of the Word of God. This is done
through the witness of life, different works of charity, among which
teaching is particularly useful. For example, it always moving to
see the impact that Nursery School children have on their parents
when they tell the story of Jesus they have learned in school.
However, the first evangelization implies walking slowly, waiting
patiently awaiting and the certainty that God makes His Kingdom grow
in silence, without our knowledge and despite our limitations.
In these 60 years since World War II Japanese society has begun an
un restrained rush towards economic development. But this has also
provoked grave harm, including the fact that Japan has the tenth
highest suicide rate in the world, especially among young people.
“If we listen, we can hear from the families, and from the workplace,
the cry of people in continual pain, because they are crushed by the
utilitarian structure of a society that looks exclusively at
economic well-being (Message by Japanese Bishops 2001)
Face with the challenges posed by such societies, we religious men
and women feel weak and inadequate, but we cannot close our ears to
the cries of suffering or to God’s call to proclaim to our people
the Gospel of life and of universal brotherhood to oppose the
violence, which as well as destroying natural resources also causes
discrimination and death.
As noted in Instrumentum laboris no. 43, there are many obstacles to
proclaiming the Gospel. In Asia and Japan, in order to follow Christ
as true disciples, we feel the need to open ourselves more and more
to His Friendship through the interiorization of the Word of God.
On the 24th of next month (November) at Nagazaki in Japan 188
Japanese martyrs will be beatified. The Church in Japan, as in other
Asian nations, has as the foundation of its faith the testimony of
many martyrs. By following their example and with their intercession,
we too will be able to face the difficulties without discouragement
and we will be able to complete the mission of prophecy with which
we have been entrusted. For this, I would ask all of you to take
part in a special prayer. .
[00281-02.08] [UD032] [Original text: Italian]
- Sr. Marija Ana KUSTURA, S.M.I., Superior General of the
Handmaidens of Baby Jesus, President of the Union of Superiors Mjor
of Croatia (CROATIA)
From the Instrumentum laboris (III, chapter 7), I will only refer to
apostolic consecrated life. Too often in the lives of our
communities and congregations, the Word of God is not sufficiently
the Word of Life, which must be translated into a commitment in the
concrete life of the Church. Often, we first think about the
communities, constitutions, congregations, without keeping in mind
the concrete needs and problems of the local Churches. The general
tendency is turning in on oneself, blocking us from hearing the
needs of the Church. Sectarian drifting can come from this, blocking
us from hearing the Word of God and different calls from the
Magisterium of the Church. The Word of God should lead us to keep in
mind the teachings of the Holy Father in his different interventions,
of the Magisterium as well as the pastors of our local Churches who
for us, religious persons, should be a guide and a reference in our
life as consecrated persons. It is up to the Superiors who are
responsible to watch over this, so that this dimension of the tie is
lived correctly in a spirit of charity.
In this month of October, Saint Theresa of Avila can introduce us
into this mystic life of communication with Jesus and his teaching
through the Word and his love towards the Church.
And the Little Theresa of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face
teaches us how we, the consecrated persons, can be missionary at the
same time as being his example, the love in the heart of the Church
our Mother.
[00233-02.02] [UD010] [Original text: French]
- Mr. Francisco José GÓMEZ ARGÜELLO WIRTZ, Co-Founder of the
Neo-Catechumenal Way (SPAIN)
I am grateful to the Holy Father for the invitation to participate
in this Synod, and, above all, we are profoundly grateful for the
definitive approval of the Statute of the Neocatechumenal Way, that
recognizes it as a fruit of the Council, defines it as a way of
diocesan realization of Christian initiation and permanent education
in the faith, that grants it a public legal personality and offers
it to the Bishops as an instrument at the service of their
evangelical mission.
The announcing of kerygma: that God raised Jesus from the dead and
made of Him Kyrios so that He might announce to all men conversion
and eternal life: God allowed us to live and experience this in a
spirit of surprise and wonder amidst the poor in the slums of
Palomeros Altas in Madrid, where we discovered the tripod on which
to base Christian life: the Word of God, liturgy and community.
Thus one of the three pillars of the way is the Word of God,
celebrated in small communities. In early catechesis, the
neocatechumenates listen to the preaching of the Kerygma and receive
the hermeneutic keys that are necessary to listen to the Word: to
see in Jesus Christ the center and the completion of the Scriptures
and to examine the facts of their own lives under the light of His
Word. This Scriptural initiation is sealed in a celebration of the
Word in which the participants receive the Bible from the hands of
the Bishop, the guarantor of its authentic interpretation. This is
how the path to the rediscovery of faith in the light of the Word
that illuminates its own history as the history of salvation.
The Neocatechumenal Way, that has now been definitively approved by
the Holy See, is thus an instrument offered to the pastors of the
Church to carry out the New Evangelization, that opens a path for
Christian initiation for the distant in the parishes.
[00263-02.05] [UD019] [Original text: Italian]
- Dr. Ponpuzhakottayil Cherian ANIYANKUNJU, Public Relation Officer
of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (INDIA)
Many fathers referred to a spiritual hunger in the midst of
plentiness of food. Is it not the problem with the ways we serve it?
Every proclamation whether through silence, words or deeds finds
fruit to the extent of the awareness, readiness and preparation of
the preacher to incarnate. We address a person with his or her
particular context of life, feelings etc. For the Gospel message to
be received well we should take the pain of' going down' to the
level of the listener. A genuine 'going down' involves suffering in
its true sense, like putting aside our ego and laboring hard to
understand the people. It adds to our credibility as a servant of
the Word of God.
Incarnatin also means, as I understand, 'going up' to the level of
the target group.
Sometimes we underestimate people when we preach. This also affects
the extent of reception. We have to update ourselves in matters of
different but related areas of knowledge of the theme taken. This is
of special importance in the case of homily.
The principle of incarnation equally applies to parents and teachers.
The Christian sense of humility springs from it. The Council teaches
that parents are the prime teachers of faith to their children (AA.11
). It is they who are to introduce the Word of God to their children.
The first and foremost thing is to develop a sense of reverence
towards the Word of God. The Council in the very opening sentence of
the Constitution (DV.l) exhorts to approach the Word of God with
reverence. This is to be taught at the stage of infancy which only
the parents can do. Their prime duty is to transmit this sense
through their ways of handling the Bible. They have to cook the Word
of God for their children so that they can digest it. As children
grow they attach themselves to the Book. In fact, our Lord dwells in
the family through the Holy Scriptures and helps the couples to live
the sacrament of marriage. Do the parents try to witness the Word of
God in the family and in the profession? For this, proper
orientation should be given to the faithful such that the passive
majority become the active majority in proclaiming the Word of God.
From my personal experience as the head of a family, the Liturgy of
Hours is an effective way to familiarize with the Scriptures and an
easy means to pray using the Word of God. When a child is reluctant
to take milk, its mother often mixes it with other items and see
that it goes to the stomach of the child. Church, our mother through
the Liturgy of the Hours do the same thing in the case of the Word
of God. Here again special theological, liturgical and biblical
training given to the laity is very important (AA.28). In India
certain dioceses have taken initiatives in establishing Theological
centers for the Laity.
[00264-02.02] [UD022] [Original text: English]
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