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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE
YEAR XXII - N° 82
DATE 26-04-2012
Summary:
- MAY THE FACE OF CHURCH SHINE FORTH WITH CLARITY IN THE MIDST OF THE NOBLE
CHINESE PEOPLE
- AUDIENCES
___________________________________________________________
MAY THE FACE OF CHURCH SHINE FORTH WITH CLARITY IN THE MIDST OF THE NOBLE
CHINESE PEOPLE
Vatican City, 26 April 2012 (VIS) - The Commission for the Catholic Church in
China, established by Benedict XVI in 2007 to study questions of major
importance regarding the life of the Catholic Church in that country, held its
fifth meeting in the
Vatican from 23 to 25 April. At the end of the gathering the commission
released a communique in English and Chinese, the text of which is given below.
"With deep spiritual closeness to all brothers and sisters in the faith living
in China, the Commission recognised the gifts of fidelity and dedication which
the Lord has given to His Church throughout the past year.
"The participants examined the theme of the formation of the lay faithful, in
view also of the “Year of Faith” which the Holy Father has
announced will be held from 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013. The words of
the Gospel, “And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and
man”, set out the task to which the Catholic lay faithful in China are
called.
"In the first place, they must enter ever more deeply into the life of the
Church, nourished by doctrine, conscious of their being part of the Catholic
Church, and consistent with the requirements of life in Christ, which
necessitates hearing the word
of God with faith. From this perspective, a profound knowledge of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church will be a particularly important aid for them.
"In the second place, lay Catholics are called to take part in civic life and
in the world of work, offering their own contribution with full
esponsibility: by loving life and respecting it from conception until natural
death; by loving the family,
promoting values which are also proper to traditional Chinese culture; by
loving their country as honest citizens concerned for the common good. As an
ancient Chinese sage put it, “the way of great learning consists in
illustrating noble virtues,
in renewing and staying close to people, and in reaching the supreme
good”.
"Thirdly, the lay faithful in China must grow in grace before God and men, by
nourishing and perfecting their own spiritual life as active members of the
parish community and by involving themselves in the apostolate, also with the
help of associations
and Church movements which foster their ongoing formation.
"In this regard, the Commission noted with joy that the proclamation of the
Gospel by Catholic communities, which are sometimes poor and without material
resources, encourages many adults to request baptism every year. It was thus
emphasised that the
dioceses in China should promote a serious catechumenate, adopt the rite of
Christian initiation of adults, and care for their formation after Baptism as
well. Pastors, both bishops and priests, should make every effort to
consolidate the lay faithful
in their knowledge of the teachings of Vatican Council II, and in particular
of ecclesiology and the social doctrine of the Church. Moreover, it will be
useful to dedicate special solicitude to the preparation of pastoral workers
dedicated to
evangelisation, catechesis and works of charity. The integral formation of lay
Catholics, above all in those places where rapid social evolution and
significant economic development are occurring, is part of a commitment to
make the local Churc
h
vibrant and thriving. Finally, an adequate response to the phenomenon of
internal migration and urbanisation is to be hoped for.
"Practical indications, which the Holy See has proposed and will propose to
the universal Church for a fruitful celebration of the “Year of
Faith”, will undoubtedly be heeded with enthusiasm and with a creative
spirit also in China. These
suggestions will stimulate the Catholic community to find adequate initiatives
to put into practice what Pope Benedict XVI has written regarding the lay
faithful and the family in his Letter of 27 May 2007 to the Catholic Church in
the People’s
Republic of China.
"The lay faithful, therefore, are called to participate with apostolic zeal in
the evangelisation of the Chinese people. By virtue of their Baptism and
Confirmation, they receive from Christ the grace and the task to build up the
Church.
"In the course of the meeting, attention then focused on the pastors, in
particular on bishops and priests who are detained or who are suffering unjust
limitations on the performance of their mission. Admiration was expressed for
the strength of their
faith and for their union with the Holy Father. They need the Church’s
prayer in a special way so as to face their difficulties with serenity and in
fidelity to Christ.
"The Church needs good bishops. They are a gift of God to His people, for the
benefit of whom they exercise the office of teaching, sanctifying and
governing. They are also called to provide reasons for life and hope to all
whom they meet. They receive
from Christ, through the Church, their task and authority, which they exercise
in union with the Roman Pontiff and with all the bishops throughout the world.
"Concerning the particular situation of the Church in China, it was noted that
the claim of the entities, called “One Association and One
Conference”, to place themselves above the bishops and to guide the life
of the ecclesial community,
persists. In this regard, the instructions given in the Letter of Pope
Benedict XVI, remain current and provide direction. It is important to observe
them so that the face of the Church may shine forth with clarity in the midst
of the noble Chinese
people.
"This clarity has been obfuscated by those clerics who have illegitimately
received episcopal ordination and by those illegitimate bishops who have
carried out acts of jurisdiction or who have administered the Sacraments. In
so doing, they usurp a power
which the Church has not conferred upon them. In recent days, some of them
have participated in episcopal ordinations which were authorised by the
Church. The behaviour of these bishops, in addition to aggravating their
canonical status, has disturbed
the faithful and often has violated the consciences of the priests and lay
faithful who were involved.
"Furthermore, this clarity has been obfuscated by legitimate bishops who have
participated in illegitimate episcopal ordinations. Many of these bishops have
since clarified their position and have requested pardon; the Holy Father has
benevolently
forgiven them. Others, however, who also took part in these illegitimate
ordinations, have not yet made this clarification, and thus are encouraged to
do so as soon as possible.
"The participants in the plenary meeting follow these painful events with
attention and in a spirit of charity. Though they are aware of the particular
difficulties of the present situation, they recall that evangelisation cannot
be achieved by
sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic faith and discipline. Obedience
to Christ and to the Successor of Peter is the presupposition of every true
renewal and this applies to every category within the People of God. Lay
people themselves are
sensitive to the clear ecclesial fidelity of their own pastors.
"With regard to priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, the commission
reflected once again on the importance of their formation, rejoicing in the
sincere and praiseworthy commitment to provide not only suitable programmes of
human, intellectual,
spiritual and pastoral formation for the seminarians, but also times of
ongoing formation for priests. In addition, appreciative mention was made of
the initiatives which are being undertaken by various female religious
institutes to coordinate
formation activities for consecrated persons.
"It was noted, on the other hand, that the number of vocations to the priestly
and religious life has noticeably declined in recent years. The challenges of
the situation impel the faithful to invoke the Lord of the harvest and to
strengthen the
awareness that each priest and woman religious, faithful and luminous in their
evangelical witness, are the primary sign still capable of encouraging
today’s young men and women to follow Christ with undivided heart.
"Finally, the Commission recalls that this upcoming 24 May, the liturgical
memorial of the “Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians” and the
Day of Prayer for the Church in China, will provide a particularly auspicious
opportunity for the
entire Church to ask for energy and consolation, mercy and courage, for the
Catholic community in China".
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 26 April 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in audience:
- Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for
Promoting New Evangelisation.
- Archbishop Francois Bacque, apostolic nuncio.
- Six prelates of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, on their
"ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop John George Vianzy of Portland in Oregon.
- Bishop-elect Liam Stephen Carey of Baker, accompanied by Bishop William
Stephen Skylstad, emeritus of Spokane and apostolic administrator of Baker.
- Bishop Michael Patrick Driscoll of Boise City.
- Bishop Michael William Warfel of Great Falls-Billings.
- Bishop George Leo Thomas of Helena.
___________________________________________________________
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va
Il servizio del VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta
elettronica che ne hanno fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo
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dinizio:
http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/vis/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
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VISnews120426
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 82DATE 26-04-2012
Summary: - MAY THE FACE OF CHURCH SHINE
FORTH WITH CLARITY IN THE MIDST
OF THE NOBLE CHINESE PEOPLE - AUDIENCES
MAY THE FACE OF CHURCH SHINE FORTH WITH CLARITY IN THE MIDST OF THE NOBLE
CHINESE PEOPLE
Vatican City, 26 April 2012 (VIS) - The Commission for the Catholic Church
in China, established by Benedict XVI in 2007 to study questions of major
importance regarding the life of the Catholic Church in that country, held its
fifth meeting in the
Vatican from 23 to 25 April. At the end of the gathering the commission
released a communique in English and Chinese, the text of which is given
below.
"With deep spiritual closeness to all brothers and sisters in the faith
living in China, the Commission recognised the gifts of fidelity and
dedication which the Lord has given to His Church throughout the past year.
"The participants examined the theme of the formation of the lay faithful,
in view also of the “Year of Faith” which the Holy Father has
announced will be held from 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013. The words of
the Gospel, “And
Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favour with God and
man”, set out the task to which the Catholic lay faithful in China are
called.
"In the first place, they must enter ever more deeply into the life of the
Church, nourished by doctrine, conscious of their being part of the Catholic
Church, and consistent with the requirements of life in Christ, which
necessitates hearing the
word of God with faith. From this perspective, a profound knowledge of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church will be a particularly important aid for
them.
"In the second place, lay Catholics are called to take part in civic life
and in the world of work, offering their own contribution with full
responsibility: by loving life and respecting it from conception until natural
death; by loving the family,
promoting values which are also proper to traditional Chinese culture; by
loving their country as honest citizens concerned for the common good. As an
ancient Chinese sage put it, “the way of great learning consists in
illustrating noble virtues,
in renewing and staying close to people, and in reaching the supreme
good”.
"Thirdly, the lay faithful in China must grow in grace before God and men,
by nourishing and perfecting their own spiritual life as active members of the
parish community and by involving themselves in the apostolate, also with the
help of
associations and Church movements which foster their ongoing formation.
"In this regard, the Commission noted with joy that the proclamation of the
Gospel by Catholic communities, which are sometimes poor and without material
resources, encourages many adults to request baptism every year. It was thus
emphasised that the
dioceses in China should promote a serious catechumenate, adopt the rite of
Christian initiation of adults, and care for their formation after Baptism as
well. Pastors, both bishops and priests, should make every effort to
consolidate the lay faithful
in their knowledge of the teachings of Vatican Council II, and in particular
of ecclesiology and the social doctrine of the Church. Moreover, it will be
useful to dedicate special solicitude to the preparation of pastoral workers
dedicated to
evangelisation, catechesis and works of charity. The integral formation of lay
Catholics, above all in those places where rapid social evolution and
significant economic development are occurring, is part of a commitment to
make the
local Church vibrant and thriving. Finally, an adequate response to the
phenomenon of internal migration and urbanisation is to be hoped for.
"Practical indications, which the Holy See has proposed and will propose to
the universal Church for a fruitful celebration of the “Year of
Faith”, will undoubtedly be heeded with enthusiasm and with a creative
spirit also in China. These
suggestions will stimulate the Catholic community to find adequate initiatives
to put into practice what Pope Benedict XVI has written regarding the lay
faithful and the family in his Letter of 27 May 2007 to the Catholic Church in
the People’s
Republic of China.
"The lay faithful, therefore, are called to participate with apostolic zeal
in the evangelisation of the Chinese people. By virtue of their Baptism and
Confirmation, they receive from Christ the grace and the task to build up the
Church.
"In the course of the meeting, attention then focused on the pastors, in
particular on bishops and priests who are detained or who are suffering unjust
limitations on the performance of their mission. Admiration was expressed for
the strength of
their faith and for their union with the Holy Father. They need the
Church’s prayer in a special way so as to face their difficulties with
serenity and in fidelity to Christ.
"The Church needs good bishops. They are a gift of God to His people, for
the benefit of whom they exercise the office of teaching, sanctifying and
governing. They are also called to provide reasons for life and hope to all
whom they meet. They
receive from Christ, through the Church, their task and authority, which they
exercise in union with the Roman Pontiff and with all the bishops throughout
the world.
"Concerning the particular situation of the Church in China, it was noted
that the claim of the entities, called “One Association and One
Conference”, to place themselves above the bishops and to guide the life
of the ecclesial community,
persists. In this regard, the instructions given in the Letter of Pope
Benedict XVI, remain current and provide direction. It is important to observe
them so that the face of the Church may shine forth with clarity in the midst
of the noble Chinese
people.
"This clarity has been obfuscated by those clerics who have illegitimately
received episcopal ordination and by those illegitimate bishops who have
carried out acts of jurisdiction or who have administered the Sacraments. In
so doing, they usurp a
power which the Church has not conferred upon them. In recent days, some of
them have participated in episcopal ordinations which were authorised by the
Church. The behaviour of these bishops, in addition to aggravating their
canonical status, has
disturbed the faithful and often has violated the consciences of the priests
and lay faithful who were involved.
"Furthermore, this clarity has been obfuscated by legitimate bishops who
have participated in illegitimate episcopal ordinations. Many of these bishops
have since clarified their position and have requested pardon; the Holy Father
has benevolently
forgiven them. Others, however, who also took part in these illegitimate
ordinations, have not yet made this clarification, and thus are encouraged to
do so as soon as possible.
"The participants in the plenary meeting follow these painful events with
attention and in a spirit of charity. Though they are aware of the particular
difficulties of the present situation, they recall that evangelisation cannot
be achieved by
sacrificing essential elements of the Catholic faith and discipline. Obedience
to Christ and to the Successor of Peter is the presupposition of every true
renewal and this applies to every category within the People of God. Lay
people themselves are
sensitive to the clear ecclesial fidelity of their own pastors.
"With regard to priests, consecrated persons and seminarians, the
commission reflected once again on the importance of their formation,
rejoicing in the sincere and praiseworthy commitment to provide not only
suitable programmes of human,
intellectual, spiritual and pastoral formation for the seminarians, but also
times of ongoing formation for priests. In addition, appreciative mention was
made of the initiatives which are being undertaken by various female religious
institutes to
coordinate formation activities for consecrated persons.
"It was noted, on the other hand, that the number of vocations to the
priestly and religious life has noticeably declined in recent years. The
challenges of the situation impel the faithful to invoke the Lord of the
harvest and to strengthen the
awareness that each priest and woman religious, faithful and luminous in their
evangelical witness, are the primary sign still capable of encouraging
today’s young men and women to follow Christ with undivided heart.
"Finally, the Commission recalls that this upcoming 24 May, the liturgical
memorial of the “Blessed Virgin Mary, Help of Christians” and the
Day of Prayer for the Church in China, will provide a particularly auspicious
opportunity for the
entire Church to ask for energy and consolation, mercy and courage, for the
Catholic community in China".
Per ulteriori informazioni e per la ricerca di documenti consultare il
sito: www.wisnews.org e www.vatican.va Il servizio
del VIS viene inviato soltanto agli indirizzi di posta elettronica che
ne hanno
fatto richiesta. Se per qualunque motivo non si desidera continuare a
riceverlo, si prega di visitare nostra pagina dinizio: http://212.77.1.245/news_services/press/v
s/italinde.php
Copyright (VIS): Le notizie contenute nei servizi del Vatican
Information Service possono essere riprodotte parzialmente o totalmente
citando la fonte: V.I.S. - Vatican Information Service.
--Boundary_(ID_KpEdTI2TrGyZspOB5EkBsQ)--
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