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The Pontifical
Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas The Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, founded by
Pope Leo XIII, following the Encyclical Aeterni Patris of the year
1879, and erected on 8 May, 1880, having over the span of 120 years rendered
service in the field of doctrine following in the footsteps of Aquinas, begins
a second phase, in which it has conserved the original idea and at the same
time renews and updates itself so as to be able to respond to the new problems
of contemporary culture. The point of departure of this second phase is found
in the Motu proprio Inter Academiarum munera of 28 June, 1999. This
renewal of the Pontifical Academies, that of St. Thomas and that of Theology,
responds to the doctrinal needs and problems of the rapport between philosophy
and theology highlighted in the Encylical Fides et Ratio. The task of
the Academy since its inception, its very raison d’être, was and is
the care and diffusion of the doctrine of Saint Thomas, Doctor communis,
of the Church, because of the perennial truths and novelties that it contains.
The Motu proprio was completed with new Statues, in which the
ends, the structures, and the ordering of the life of Academy in the future
are laid out. The news more forthcoming are, the greater number of the
academicians, the appointment of the President and Secretary done directly by
the Pope, and the appointments of the ordinary academicians done by the Holy
See. From 23 to 25 of the month of June, the first Assembly of
the members was held under the direction of the President Fr. Abelardo Lobato
O.P., and the Prelate-Secretary Mons. Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo. The members of
the Academy, both new and old, coming from different parts of the world, had
the occasion to know one another, to dialogue and to reflect together during
the sessions of this Assembly. In the day’s schedule the first part was
devoted to speeches, and the second to the programming of activities. The
Assembly began its workings with the speech of the President, which dealt with
the theme: The new phase of the Academy, which was followed by that of
Prof. B. Mondinon entitled The Historic Memory of the Academy. The
novelty researched in this second phase was seen as an "updating" of
the long Thomist tradition of the Academy. The second session, with Fr. George
Cottier, the Theologian of the Pontifical Household, as moderator, examined
the role assigned to St. Thomas in Fides et Ratio. Prof. Eudaldo
Forment, of the University of Barcelona, exposed the convergences and
differences of the role assigned to St. Thomas in the two encyclicals Aeterni
Patris and Fides et Ratio. Prof. Inos Biffi was questioned on the
meaning of Being Thomists today. On her part, Prof. Zofia Zbydicka, of
Lublin, spoke to us on Saint Thomas in Fides et Ratio, and Prof. A.
Krapieç offered a synthesis of Thomistic anthropology. The third session,
moderated by Prof. Mons. Lluis Clavell, Rector of the University of the Holy
Cross, studied the central theme of dialogue in Saint Thomas and in the
philosophy and theology of today. Prof. Leo Elders of the Groot Seminary of
Rolduc, expounded the theme Dialogue in St. Thomas. All the conferences
were followed by an ample and fruitful discussion, in which all the
academicians took an active part, gathered in the room next to the courtyard
of the little Palace of Pio IV in the midst of the Vatican gardens. The fourth session under the guidance of the Secretary
Mons. Sánchez Sorondo was devoted to the planning of the various activities
that the Academy ought to assume. Following its tradition the Academy of St.
Thomas resumes the periodic celebrations of International Congresses on themes
of relevance and dialogue with the culture of our time. Our predecessors,
Mons. A. Piolanti e Fr. Luigi Bogliolo have left us an example of fruitful and
exemplary activity. Usually, these Congresses were celebrated at the beginning
of every decade. In the year 2000 this was not possible due to a lack of time
and a superabundance of Congresses. The next will take place in 2002, in
collaboration with the International Society of St. Thomas (SITA). Every year
the Academy will celebrate its Assembly of ordinary members. For the following
year, to be held also in the month of June, it has chosen the theme: The
contemporary debate on truth. Besides, among the members of the Academy,
working groups on concrete themes have also been planned. The first workship
will be on the relationship between Thomism and the present studies on the
Mediaeval age. The Academy will also resume its review Doctor communis,
in which it will publish both the conferences as well as the discussions of
the Assembly, starting with this first, as well as articles and studies
pertinent to its goal. It will also look after the continuation of the series
of Thomistic Studies, which were well received under the direction of
Mons. Piolanti. The academicians of Saint Thomas will be more numerous in the
future. There will be new honorary members, and a more notable number
of "correspondents", whose nomination will be made by the
Council of the Academy, with the proposal of the ordinary academicians. Prof.
Mons. Lluis Clavell, Battista Mondin, Edward Kaczynski and Serge Bonino have
been nominated new member Counsellors. During these days the members of the Academy were received
by Pope John Paul II, in audience on 24 June, and have had the opportunity of
viewing on stage The great theatre of the world, by Calderón de la
Barca, in Paul VI Hall, as well as of participating in the closure of the
International Eucharistic Congress in the final liturgy with the Pope, in the
Piazza of St. Peter. * * * Pontifical Academy of
Theology In the second half of the year 1999 the state of the Pontifical
Academy of Theology was characterised by the "patient and
trustful" waiting on the part of the President and the Secretary, that
those events which had been entrusted to the Academy be completed so that it
could begin its activities: the first and fundamental consisted of the
"appointment of the new academicians", to complete the number forty,
given the renouncing by someone, of the death of others, of the expiry due to
the limits of age (80) of still others. Since the President, although being
with the Secretary, appointed by the Pope, cannot say: "I am the
Academy" or "we are", without the Academicians, these
appointments were necessary to meet the principal statutory norms. Another need was the Holy See. But to this proposal, the
visit of the Monsignor Secretary to the ancient premises of the Roman Academy,
situated at the Palazzo della Cancelleria, revealed what was the substance of
the heredity received by the Roman Academy of Theology: a deposit of broken
chairs! Another event awaited was that with regard to a minimum budget to meet
at least the postal expenses and the more necessary furnishings, the cleaning
up and the tidying up of the premises. With the coming of the jubilee year which records how the
eternal divine designs became historical and dated by time, the awaited hopes
were fulfilled for a new promising beginning of the Academy of Theology: the
appointments of new academicians, and a bank cheque with a sum of 25 million
lire for the initial expenses. Following this, the capable and active
Monsignor Secretary gave himself to the updating of the list of academicians,
of whom 21 are residents of Rome, while the number of those
Below is given the updated list as of 6 June, 2000 (the asterisk indicates a recent appointment): Ordinary Academicians residing in Rome (21) Rev. Fr. Angelo Amato, SDB, Italy, Prelate Secretary of the
Academy Ordinary Academicians residing outside Rome (16) Rev. Fr. Tomás Alvarez de la Cruz, O.C.D., Spain At this juncture, immediately the first consultation of vote of the members of the Academy, by post, was held to constitute the "Academic Council" according to the statutory norms. On 14th March, 2000, at 8.15 a.m. at the Pontifical Council for Culture, the counting of the votes of the Pontifical Academy of Theology (PAT) took place. Present were Fr. Bernard Ardura O.Praem., Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Culture, Fr. Pasquale Iacobone, Official of the same Council, Mons. Marcello Bordoni, President of PAT and the Prelate Secretary of the same Academy, Fr. Don Angelo Amato. The ballot slips had been sent to all the Academicians on 4 February, 2000. Thirty slips reached on time for the voting (another two unfortunately reached late). From the counting of the votes here is the result of the those elected as members of the Council: Fr. George Cottier, Fr. Enrico dal Covolo, Sr. Marcella Farina and Fr. Manlio Sodi. Soon after the election, the convocation of the Council on a sufficiently regular basis began: the first meeting took place on 4 April, 2000, at the Pontifical Lateran University, which kindly offered a provisional but spacious venue. The Council proceeded with the discharging of the statutory norms recalling first the ends of the Pontifical Academy of Theology (PAT) indicated in art. 2 of the new Statutes: "the end of the Academy is to take care of and promote theological studies and the dialogue between theological and philosophical disciplines so as to be like "centre" of formation richer and providing knowledge of the new advances useful in this field for the lovers of the sacred disciplines. In order to better attain this goal, the Academy was linked with a particular bond to the Congregation for Catholic Education". The Council at its first session underlined the opportuneness of also linking the Academy with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In this regard, Fr. Cottier, recalling the experience of the International Theological Commission stated that, though in the collaboration, the proper autonomy of the Academy be nevertheless guaranteed. Others observe that the bond with the Congregation for Catholic Education may highlight also the rapport between "theological sciences and the sciences of education". Obviously, the link of the Academy with the Pontifical Council for Culture remains firm. Besides the appointments of the Archivist-Librarian (art. 8) in the person of Fr. Manlio Sodi and that of the Treasurer or Administrator in the person of Fr. Enrico dal Covolo, who accepted this office, there was talk of the necessity of a new Review and of other proposals to be planned: these took on definite shape in the second session of the Council that took place as always at the Lateran University on 10 May, 2000. The decisions concern a first meeting of the Academicians residing in Rome planned for the 14 December, 2000: this will take place as always at the Pontifical Lateran University and will be introduced by a conference by Fr. George Cottier on the more important theological questions raised by the Great Jubilee. Thus the Academy will openly begin its activity of promoting theological studies in the present context of the life of the Church in the world. A second important decision is the beginning of the practical matters of the new review which will be called PATH, initials of the latin name of the Pontifical Theological Academy, with the intention of suggesting, in the English sense of the word "path", the indication of its journey as a "path of research" for a universal, inculturated and Christian theology. The review will be international and published every semester: the languages accepted will be Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Latin. Also foreseen is the alternation of monographic and miscellaneous fascicles. As regards the economic aspect of the Academy, not having inherited anything, apart from the premises, the Council has decided to open an account with the IOR. It has also approved of the presentation of names to complete the number of Academicians still vacant. Further, a page has been sent to all the Academicians requesting them to suggest important theological and topical questions on theological themes keeping in view a future international convention promoted by the same Academy. One can only wish a happy journey in the promotion of theological studies on the "path" of research. * * * Pontifical Academy of
the Immaculate Virgin This year too our Academy took particular care to participate in the great religious events, especially those that concern the Blessed Virgin. Our President, Card. A. Deskur, has given spiritually and materially his notable contribution to this extraordinary event, which preceded the Great Jubilee, the consecration of the Basilica of the Immaculate Virgin, on 12 December, 1999. Being unable to be personally present, he sent four priests of our Academy, guests of the Administrator Mons. Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. Similarly, some members of the Academy had been guests of the Legionaries of Christ at the end of January, 2000, for the promulgation at Guadalupe of the post-synodal Exhortation, and at Bucharest for the ecumenical meeting with the orthodox Romanian brethren, making the long Polish journey up to the familiar return to Wadowice. Also the world meeting of priests of Jerusalem had a delegation of priests from the Academy. The Academy celebrated solemnly the 75th anniversary of the baptism of its President (6 March, 2000). And during the pilgrimage to Lourdes for his 25th anniversary of the episcopate (18-22 May, 1999), he was awarded by the Bishop, Mons. Perrier, the honorary title of Chaplain of Lourdes. A strong delegation was sent also to Maribor, Slovenia, to participate with the Holy Father in the beatification of Anton Martin Slomek. Besides the participation of our Secretariat in the meetings of the Pontifical Academies at the Pontifical Council for Culture, many members also took part in the Fourth Public Session held at the Vatican on 3 November, 1999. The Secretary of the Academy, Fr. Alfonso Pompei, participated in the international Symposium organised by the Pontifical International Marian Academy (8-9 November, 1999) in memory of the illustrious Mariologist and Scotist Fr. Carlo Balic’, for the centenary of his birth, and delivered a conference on the theme The Blessed John Duns Scotus and the Immaculate Conception. Similarly, as beginning from almost 1938, it is to our Secretariat that the planning and organising of the annual Floral Tribute to the Immaculate Virgin is entrusted which lasts the whole of 8 December at Piazza di Spagna, in which, since 1958, all the Supreme Pontiffs have taken part. * * * Pontifical
International Marian Academy The first activities that have kept our Academy busy at the beginning of the academic year which is coming to an end were those centred on the preparation of the famous Conference and Concert, on 7 October, with this Pontifical Council for Culture, the Pontifical Institute for Sacred Music and the national Academy of St. Cecilia, with the theme The Most Holy Mary perennial source of inspiration for music. As far as our direct participation is concerned in the Convention, those who spoke were the President, Gaspar Calvo, with an introductory greeting, and professors Angelo Gila OSM and Salvatore M. Perrella, OSM, with their conferences: The Holy Mary our kettledrummer (St. Augustine) modulatrix of sweet harmony (St. Bernard) she herself like a musical poem (A. Veradi) and Holy Mary woman of sorrow, mother of the living, Hail! In history, piety and theology. On 8-9 November, with the patronage of the Pontifical Council for Culture, our Pontifical Academy organised, together with the Pontifical University Antonianum and the Scotist Commission (for the critical edition of the works of the blessed John Duns Scotus), a commemorative Symposium of the first centenary of the birth of the late Fr. Carlo Balic’ OFM, the founder of our Marian Academy and of the Scotist Commission. Thus, we wanted to remember the person of this eminent Mariologist, who took part in the preparation of the definition of the dogma of the Assumption and in Vatican Council II, particularly in the drafting of Chapter VIII of the dogmatic Constitution Lumen Gentium. A Mediaevalist and scientific researcher, he set up the Commission for the critical edition of the works of Blessed John Duns Scotus. During these days his meritorious work and the notable contribution made to Catholic culture was reflected on and studied. With the beginning of the Academic Year in the Pontifical University Antonianum the courses of the new Blessed John Duns Scotus Chair of Mariological Studies were begun. This Chair was created by the Academy last year with a programme of biennial courses. As a sign of the collaboration between specialists of Mariology and the promoters of the cult and marian devotion in sanctuaries, together with the Faculty of Theology of the Marianum and the Interdisciplinary Italian Mariological Association, we celebrated at Lecco, in the sanctuary of Our Lady of Victory, on 27-28 May last year, some days to promote Marian devotion in which the entire city was involved. The interest aroused in numerous participants testified to the positive value of this new experience which we began, with the prospects of continuing it in other places as well. After this let us review our ordinary activities: we continued to maintain our contacts with the Mariological Societies of various countries through their presidents, mainly in the preparation of the conferences of their members at the forthcoming International Marian Mariological Congress which will be celebrated in Rome, at the Sanctuary of Divino Amore in the month of September in this Jubilee Year. The programme in collaboration with the diocesan Committee, with the number of themes and speakers of the general Sessions and of the 10 language-based sessions with a total of 177 speakers has been finalised; we worked hard with positive results so that two new sections may be present: African and Asian with their representatives of the Mariological thought of those churches. The preparation of the daily liturgical celebrations of the Congress, and in particular the concluding Mass in the piazza of St. Peter with the participation of the Holy Father and the jubilee of the sanctuaries of the whole world, as well as the planning of the cultural activities planned for every day, and in particular the concert Maria mater mundi of 16 September in the Paul VI Hall, has meant considerable work which has found us getting in touch with the Muslim world and the small Jewish-Christian community of the Holy Land. The coincidence of 2000 with the fiftieth anniversary of the solemn definition of the Dogma of the Assumption of Mary (1 November 1950) has involved our Academy in the organisation, together with the Pontifical Theological Faculty Marianum and the Italian Mariological Association, under the patronage of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee, of an International Forum of Mariology on 30 and 31 October, followed by a vigil celebration in the Piazza of St. Peter and the Holy Mass of 1 November presided over by the Holy Father. The Forum intends studying the present Catholic positions and those of the other churches with regard to this dogma and its repercussion in the life of the Church and the piety of the faithful. All the Roman theological faculties have been invited to this Forum. With a sense of satisfaction in this Jubilee Year we have seen the intensification of the rapport and the request of scientific consultation on the part of the Central Committee of the Great Jubilee for the organisation of the Marian events. To conclude, the editing of the Acts of the previous two Congresses continues, that of Huelva-Spain (1192) and Czestochowa-Poland (1996) with 11 volumes, have taken up much of our time. Four volumes have already been published, an analytical index of five more is being worked on, as also the final proofs of the last two volumes. At the same time, on hand are the publication of other important works of Mariology like the new Italian translation of Mistica Città di Dio of the venerable M. Maria di Gesù d’Agreda and the translation of the first two treatises on Marian Slavery of Fra. Juan de los Angeles and of Fra. Melchor de Cetina, as well as the new critical second edition of the voluminous work Maria nel consiglio dell’Eterno of Fr. Ludovico da Castelplanio. * * * Pontifical Academy of In the year 1999-2000 the Pontifical Academy dei Virtuosi at the Pantheon carried out the following activity:
March-April 1999: Rome. Centre of St. Louis of France. Exhibition of the works of art of the Academicians of the Society, with a catalogue, edited by the President, of works exhibited; in association with the Centre Saint Louis of France, the Embassy of France at the Holy See and the Pontifical Council for Culture. January 2000: Rome. The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi. Concert of the Academician J.P. Lécot organised by the Centre Saint-Louis de France and the Embassy of France at the Holy See with the association of the Academy and the Pontifical Council for Culture. March 2000: Rome. Pantheon. Holy Mass presided over by Cardinal Paul Poupard with the participation of the Schola Cantorum of the Pantheon. Reading of the poetry of the Academician Luciano Luisi; in association with the Pontifical Council for Culture and the Chapter of the Pantheon. March 2000: Rome. Palazzo Barberini. Presentation of the volume written by the President of the Academy, Vitaliano Tiberia, La Compagnia de San Giuseppe di Terrasanta nel XVI secolo. The book, presented by Cardinal Paul Poupard, by the Superintendent Claudio Strinati and by the Academicians Luciano Luisi and Sandro Benedetti, gives an account, through a critical re-reading of the minutes of the meetings, of the first ten years of the life of the Society of the Pantheon, born in 1542, illustrating in such a manner also the life in Rome in those times. April 2000: Rome. Pontifical Urban University. Conference of the Academician Guglielmo De Giovanni Centelles on the theme Parola e Creazione (The Word and Creation), organised by the Pontifical Council for Culture. May 2000: Rome. Appointment of 12 new Odinary and Honorary Academicians. June 2000: Gattinara (VC). International Convention on the figure of Cardinal Mercurino Arborio da Gattinara, Grand Chancellor of Charles V. The official commemoration was held by the President of the Academy, V. Tiberia; in association with the Municipality of Gattinara and other Authorities, the Gran Commendatore of the SMOM, the Pontifical Legate, Cardinal Xavier Ortas, the Ambassadors of Austria, Spain, Belgium, Germany and Italy to the Holy See and the Senator Nicolò Sella di Monteluce. The President was accompanied by the Academician Guglielmo de Giovanni Centelles who was part of the Organising Committee of the Meeting. June 2000: Rome. Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli. Public entry of the new and Ordinary and Honorary Academicians. Concert of the Academician Jean-Paul Lécot.
The ordinary activity entailed carrying out a study of the documents of the archives of the Pantheon in view of the publication of the second volume of the history of the Society, which will include the pontificates of Clement VIII, Paul V and Gregory XVI and will be presented in December 2000. Visits to the historic sites of the Pantheon by scholars of Cultural Institutions (American Academy, Centre Saint-Louis of France) guided by the President were undertaken. * * * Pontifical Roman
Academy of Archaeology The activity, which has made the Academy famous and worthy of merit, was carried out with regularity also during the academic year 1998-99, the hundred and eighty-ninth year since its foundation. The public meetings, during which dissertations are read, all of a high level and often of notable scientific interest, were held on the last Thursday of every month, from November to June, in the Sala dei Cento Giorni, in the Palazzo della Cancelleria Apostolica, the seat of the same Academy. The conferences, delivered by members and outside scholars, which are indicated according to the dates on which they were held, have been the following:
The Academy, together with the Pontifical Academy "Cultorum Martyrum", undertook also the task that was entrusted to it by the Council for Coordination among the Pontifical Academies carrying out all the necessary practicalities for the choice of a candidate to be proposed for assigning the Award of the Pontifical Academies. The theme decided for the conferring of the award for 1999 was: La Storia, l’Archelogia e tutto ciò che concerne il Culto dei Martiri. The said award was conferred on doctor Lucrezia Spera for a work entitled: Ad limina apostolorum: santuari e pellegrini a Roma tra la Tarda Antichità e l’Alto Medioevo. In the month of November, after the inauguration of the academic year, in the church of St. Lorenzo a Damaso a mass was celebrated in suffrage for the deceased members, in particular for those who had passed away during the academic year that was over. On 25 January, 1999, Prof. Amanda Claridge, the geometrician Carlo Buzzetti, Prof. Andre Vauchez, Prof. Margherita Cecchelli Trinci, Prof. Werner Eck, Prof. Arnold Esch, Prof. Otto Mazzucato, Prof. Maria Grazia Granino Cecere, Dr. Gaetano Messineo were elected correspondent members and on 24 June, 1999, Prof. Paul Zanker and Prof. Mara Bonfioli Panciera were elected effective members. The publication of the Academy were enriched this year with vol. LXVII (1994-1995) of Reports and with the XLVI fascicle of The Year Book which contains the academic calendar and the list of reviews in the reading room of the Library of the Academy. The Academy in June 2000 begins to be part of the International Union of Academies. * * * The Pontifical Academy
"Cultorum Martyrum" The meeting of our activity with that of the Jubilee Year comprising functions analogous to ours, was something that made itself felt; less, however than what was foreseen. The point that could have been felt even more, the organisation of the Lenten Stations, suffered little from it: only in three cases in the great Basilicas there was a development different from the traditional one of the Stations and were more than justified in dealing with a monastic profession and with the two big pilgrimages of foreigners. There was noted a certain reduction in the number of those frequenting, and truly, on some days, when even the Parishes, other Confraternities, etc. had their own functions for which they sought the presence of their members. This was a thing foreseen. Perhaps, an adequate use of the great institution of the station was missing, in the jubilee activity, but we think only what movements, what variations in schedule ought to have been sought in order to adapt these stations to the organisations that were so diverse and numerous. It must be said that things did go well still and the station series, with the three variations indicated above, was fully realised. First of all, a series of parallel celebrations is being developed: the North American College "used to celebrate the Station" in the morning, not being able to insert our evening service in their particular schedule. Other institutions and many persons who found the morning celebration more convenient joined them: all the good that one does is of benefit to all (Cf. Mk. 9:38). For the rest, when the Stations were restored, there were two moments of worship: one in the morning with the celebration of the Eucharist and the other in the afternoon. Even in the manual of the Abbot Lugano, which carries the imprimatur of 1960, the Holy Mass, almost always sung, was celebrated according to the various churches, from 8.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. while the "Station Prayers" joined to the singing of "Vespers" or of "Compline" used to be celebrated between 3.30 p.m. and 6.00 p.m. The other traditional celebrations of our Academy, the "Commemorations" in the City and outside, etc. were held regularly, even if one tried as less as possible to interfere with the other functions. The visit of the little "Suburban Catacombs" continued, so to say, given also the great historical interest that they are assuming. We have visited by now a good number of them. The last visit, some weeks back, was that of "Santa Vittoria", which has a splendid little basilica in roman style at Monteleone Reatino. Our most competent illustrator was our Curator, Prof. Fiocchi Nicolai who had carried out the restoration of the monument. The other notable commemoration was that of "nostro Martire", the Blessed Cardinal Stepinac and we were always united also to others which celebrated this Martyr: for us it is a great thing! We shall continue, as much as we can, to offer our little service to the knowledge and cult of the Martyrs of all times, with the collaboration (which is on the increase, and this gives us great pleasure!) also of persons outside our Academy, but who share ideals with us. - - - [Español] [Français] [Italiano] |
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