The document is meant as a stimulus for Catholics, parishes, organisations and the church hierarchy
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Vatican is exploring ways to implement the proposals in Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis that created waves across the world for its bold and fervent approach.
On April 1, Pope Francis presided over a meeting of the heads of the Roman curial departments in Vatican to discuss about the persipicacious document which is meant as a stimulus for Catholics, parishes, organizations and the church hierarchy itself to follow a path of deepening conversion and to recognize it "cannot leave things as they presently are.
A statement from the Press Office of the Holy See explains that "the purpose of the meeting was to share responses to the Holy Father’s apostolic exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, and to discuss ideas for implementing the document in the different dicasteries and throughout the Roman Curia." The pope wanted the group to talk about how the papal document, which calls on Catholics to be living examples of joy, love and charity, "can influence the work of the Curia."
In "The Joy of the Gospel," released in November 2013, Pope Francis laid out his hopes for a truly missionary church -- driven by "a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the church's customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today's world rather than for her self-preservation."
In an effort to help the church and her ministers be more faithful to Jesus and his teachings, "I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities," the pope wrote. Pope asks everyone to be evangelizers and makes it clear that “Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone.. I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities.” The emphasis is on words “bold and creative”.
Though it’s now four months since the apostolic exhortation was brought out, it’s yet to reach the Christian community across the world. It remains a mystery that this document has not yet come into the public limelight.
These are some of the gems from the document:
DON’T MAKE CHURCH A MUSEUM PIECE: In some people we see an ostentatious preoccupation for the liturgy, for doctrine and for the Church’s prestige, but without any concern that the Gospel have a real impact on God’s faithful people and the concrete needs of the present time. In this way, the life of the Church turns into a museum piece or something which is the property of a select few.
CHURCH NOT FOR CLIMBING SOCIAL LADDER: A spiritual worldliness lurks behind a fascination with social and political gain, or pride in their ability to manage practical affairs, or an obsession with programmes of self-help and self-realization.
It can also translate into a concern to be seen, into a social life full of appearances, meetings, dinners and receptions. It can also lead to a business mentality, caught up with management, statistics, plans and evaluations whose principal beneficiary is not God’s people but the Church as an institution.
CHURCH NOT FOR CHOSEN FEW: The church should be in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few. The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.
WHY CHURCH IS NOT CLOSER TO PEOPLE? We must admit, though, that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented.
PRIVATISED LIFESTYLE: We must reject the temptation to offer a privatized and individualistic spirituality which ill accords with the demands of charity, to say nothing of the implications of the incarnation. There is always the risk that some moments of prayer can become an excuse for not offering one’s life in mission; a privatized lifestyle can lead Christians to take refuge in some false forms of spirituality.
WEB OF OBSESSIONS & PROCEDURES: I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life.
NOT A TORTURE CHAMBER: I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. A small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties.
NOT ARIBTERS OF GRACE: The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness. Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators.
CHURCH IS NOT A TOLL HOUSE: The Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.
Pope exhorts that each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. “This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid. A mere glance at the Scriptures is enough to make us see how our gracious Father wants to hear the cry of the poor,” he says.
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Vatican is exploring ways to implement the proposals in Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel), the apostolic exhortation of Pope Francis that created waves across the world for its bold and fervent approach.
On April 1, Pope Francis presided over a meeting of the heads of the Roman curial departments in Vatican to discuss about the persipicacious document which is meant as a stimulus for Catholics, parishes, organizations and the church hierarchy itself to follow a path of deepening conversion and to recognize it "cannot leave things as they presently are.
A statement from the Press Office of the Holy See explains that "the purpose of the meeting was to share responses to the Holy Father’s apostolic exhortation, Evangelii gaudium, and to discuss ideas for implementing the document in the different dicasteries and throughout the Roman Curia." The pope wanted the group to talk about how the papal document, which calls on Catholics to be living examples of joy, love and charity, "can influence the work of the Curia."
In "The Joy of the Gospel," released in November 2013, Pope Francis laid out his hopes for a truly missionary church -- driven by "a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the church's customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today's world rather than for her self-preservation."
In an effort to help the church and her ministers be more faithful to Jesus and his teachings, "I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities," the pope wrote. Pope asks everyone to be evangelizers and makes it clear that “Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone.. I invite everyone to be bold and creative in this task of rethinking the goals, structures, style and methods of evangelization in their respective communities.” The emphasis is on words “bold and creative”.
Though it’s now four months since the apostolic exhortation was brought out, it’s yet to reach the Christian community across the world. It remains a mystery that this document has not yet come into the public limelight.
These are some of the gems from the document:
DON’T MAKE CHURCH A MUSEUM PIECE: In some people we see an ostentatious preoccupation for the liturgy, for doctrine and for the Church’s prestige, but without any concern that the Gospel have a real impact on God’s faithful people and the concrete needs of the present time. In this way, the life of the Church turns into a museum piece or something which is the property of a select few.
CHURCH NOT FOR CLIMBING SOCIAL LADDER: A spiritual worldliness lurks behind a fascination with social and political gain, or pride in their ability to manage practical affairs, or an obsession with programmes of self-help and self-realization.
It can also translate into a concern to be seen, into a social life full of appearances, meetings, dinners and receptions. It can also lead to a business mentality, caught up with management, statistics, plans and evaluations whose principal beneficiary is not God’s people but the Church as an institution.
CHURCH NOT FOR CHOSEN FEW: The church should be in contact with the homes and the lives of its people, and does not become a useless structure out of touch with people or a self-absorbed group made up of a chosen few. The parish is the presence of the Church in a given territory, an environment for hearing God’s word, for growth in the Christian life, for dialogue, proclamation, charitable outreach, worship and celebration.
WHY CHURCH IS NOT CLOSER TO PEOPLE? We must admit, though, that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented.
PRIVATISED LIFESTYLE: We must reject the temptation to offer a privatized and individualistic spirituality which ill accords with the demands of charity, to say nothing of the implications of the incarnation. There is always the risk that some moments of prayer can become an excuse for not offering one’s life in mission; a privatized lifestyle can lead Christians to take refuge in some false forms of spirituality.
WEB OF OBSESSIONS & PROCEDURES: I do not want a Church concerned with being at the centre and which then ends by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them, without meaning and a goal in life.
NOT A TORTURE CHAMBER: I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber but rather an encounter with the Lord’s mercy which spurs us on to do our best. A small step, in the midst of great human limitations, can be more pleasing to God than a life which appears outwardly in order but moves through the day without confronting great difficulties.
NOT ARIBTERS OF GRACE: The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness. Frequently, we act as arbiters of grace rather than its facilitators.
CHURCH IS NOT A TOLL HOUSE: The Church is not a tollhouse; it is the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all their problems.
Pope exhorts that each individual Christian and every community is called to be an instrument of God for the liberation and promotion of the poor, and for enabling them to be fully a part of society. “This demands that we be docile and attentive to the cry of the poor and to come to their aid. A mere glance at the Scriptures is enough to make us see how our gracious Father wants to hear the cry of the poor,” he says.
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