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   APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION "VERBUM DOMINI"   
      
   VATICAN CITY, 11 NOV 2010 (VIS) - At midday today in the Holy See Press Office,   
   the presentation took place of the Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation "Verbum   
   Domini" of Benedict XVI, on the Word of God in the life and mission of the   
   Church.   
      
   Today's press conference was presented by Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S., prefect   
   of the Congregation for Bishops; Archbishop Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the   
   Pontifical Council for Culture, and Archbishop Nikola Eterovic and Msgr.   
   Fortunato Frizza, respectively secretary general and under secretary of the   
   Synod of Bishops.   
      
   The Apostolic Exhortation, which is dated 30 September, Memorial of St. Jerome,   
   is the fruit of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,   
   which was held in Rome from 5 to 26 October 2008. The document, which has been   
   published in Latin, Italian, English, French., Spanish, German, Portuguese and   
   Polish, is made up of an introduction, three parts and a conclusion.   
      
   Archbishop Eterovic explained how in part one, entitled "Verbum Dei", the Pope   
   highlights both "the fundamental role of God the Father, source and origin of   
   the Word", and "the Trinitarian dimension of revelation". Chapter one - "The   
   God Who Speaks" - underscores "God's will to open and maintain a dialogue with   
   man, in which God takes the initiative and reveals Himself in various ways". It   
   also dwells on "the Christological aspect of the Word, while at the same time   
   underlining the pneumatological dimension". This section of the document also   
   focuses on the relationship between the Eucharist and Tradition, and on the   
   theme of the inspiration and truth of the Bible.   
      
   "Our Response to the God Who Speaks" is the title of chapter two of part one.   
   "Man is called to enter into the Alliance with his God, Who listens to him and   
   responds to his questions. To God Who speaks, man responds with the faith. The   
   most suitable prayer is that made using the words which were revealed by God   
   and are conserved and written in the Bible", said Archbishop Eterovic.   
      
   Chapter three has as its title "The Interpretation of Sacred Scripture in the   
   Church". The secretary general of the Synod of Bishops explained how "Sacred   
   Scripture should be, as the Dogmatic Constitution 'Dei Verbum' says, 'the soul   
   of sacred theology'. ... The biblical hermeneutics of Vatican Council II must   
   be rediscovered, also in order to avoid a certain dualism evident in   
   secularised interpretations which could give rise to a fundamentalist and   
   spiritualist interpretation of Holy Scripture. Correct interpretation requires   
   complementarity in a literal and spiritual sense, a harmony between faith and   
   reason". This chapter also examines relations between Christians and Jews,   
   noting that they enjoy "a very special relationship ... because they share a   
   large part of the Scriptures".   
      
   Part two of the document is entitled "Verbum in Ecclesia". Chapter one - "The   
   Word of God and the Church" - underlines how it is thanks to the Word of God   
   and the effect of the Sacraments "that Jesus remains contemporary to mankind in   
   the life of the Church", said the archbishop.   
      
   "The Liturgy, Privileged Setting for the Word of God" is the title of chapter   
   two, in which the focus turns to "the vital link between Sacred Scripture and   
   the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist". The importance of the Lectionary is   
   mentioned, as is that of the proclamation of the Word and the ministry of   
   reader, with particular emphasis being laid on the preparation of the homily, a   
   theme of great importance in this Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.   
      
   Chapter three of part two concerns "The Word of God in the Life of the Church"   
   and highlights "the importance of biblical inspiration for pastoral activity,   
   the biblical dimension of catechesis, the biblical formation of Christians, the   
   use of Sacred Scripture in great ecclesial gahterings, and the Word of God in   
   relation to vocations". Attention is also given to "lectio divina and Marian   
   prayer", said the archbishop.   
      
   Part three of the document published today has as its title "Verbum Mundo". It   
   draws attention to "the duty of Christians to announce the Word of God in the   
   world in which they live and work". Chapter one - "The Church's Mission to   
   Proclaim the Word of God to the World" - explains how the Church "is oriented   
   towards the announcement 'ad gentes', to people who do not yet know the Word,   
   ... but also to those who have already been baptised ... but need new   
   evangelisation in order to rediscover the Word of God".   
      
   "The Word of God and Commitment to the World" is the title of chapter two,   
   which recalls how "Christians are called to serve the Word of God in their most   
   needy brothers and sisters and, hence, to commit themselves in society for   
   reconciliation, justice and peace among peoples".   
      
   Chapter three of part three is dedicated to "The Word of God and Culture". It   
   expresses the hope "that the Bible may become better known in schools and   
   universities and that better use may be made of the social communications   
   media, exploiting all the modern possibilities of technology. The theme of the   
   inculturation of Sacred Scripture is also linked to the translation and   
   diffusion of the Bible, which must be increased", said Archbishop Eterovic.   
      
   "The Word of God and Inter-religious Dialogue" is the title of chapter four.   
   "Having established the value and topicality of inter-religious dialogue,   
   'Verbum Domini' ... supplies some important guidelines concerning dialogue   
   between Christians and Muslims, and with members of other non-Christian   
   religions, within the framework of a religious liberty which involves not only   
   the freedom to profess one's faith in private and in public, but also freedom   
   of conscience; in other words, of choosing one's religion".   
      
   In the conclusion, Archbishop Eterovic concluded his explanations, the Holy   
   Father reiterates his exhortation to all Christians "to become increasingly   
   familiar with Sacred Scripture".   
   EXOR/VIS 20101111 (970)   
      
   SUMMARY   
      
   --- MPost/386 v1.21   
    * Origin: Sursum Corda! BBS =Meridian, MS= bbs.sursum-corda.com (1:396/45)