Verbum Domini

Verbum Domini Masterful, Mystical, and Missionary :

Verbum Domini Masterful, Mystical, and Missionary Verbum Domini: Theologian Pope writes Apostolic Exhortation on the Word of God

Introduction :

Introduction * "Given in Rome, at Saint Peter's, on 30 September, the Memorial of St. Jerome, in the year 2010, the sixth of my Pontificate". * St. Jerome is the Patron of Scripture scholars “Ignorance of scripture is ignorance of Christ“ * "Professor Ratzinger“: a Theologian of the highest order. Masterful, mystical, missionary.

The NT Manuscript Tradition:

The NT Manuscript Tradition 100 A.D. 200 A.D. 300 A.D 400 A.D. NT Written Fragments & major portions of individual NT books Bound Copies of the entire NT Books

THE BIBLE:

THE BIBLE GOD INSPIRES A) THE BOOKS WERE WRITTEN BY EYEWITNESSES, AND RECEIVED & USED IN THE CHURCH: 1st C. B) List of books is written: MURATORIAN CANON (Second Century). C) All books are investigated carefully: c1) harmony with Tradition and c2) apostolic origin.

Masterful:

Masterful Depth in the topics Presented with great vocabulary: showing his faith and his love for the Scriptures: (SYNOD) Together we listened to and celebrated the word of the Lord . We recounted to one another all that the Lord is doing in the midst of the People of God, and we shared our hopes and concerns . All this made us realize that we can deepen our relationship with the word of God only within the “we” of the Church, in mutual listening and acceptance.

Mystical:

Mystical Depth of the interior life and relationship with the Lord which Pope Benedict XVI obviously has. Benedict wants to encourage all the members of the Church to renew our living relationship with Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh . Sharing in God's life is "complete joy." Introduction: "being Christian is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person , which gives life a new horizon and a definitive direction." The Word, who from the beginning is with God, who became flesh and who made his dwelling among us (cf. Jn 1:14). A synthesis of the entire Christian faith.

Mystical like the Eagle John:

Mystical like the Eagle John "From his personal experience of having met and followed Christ, John, whom tradition identifies as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (Jn 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20), "came to a deep certainty: Jesus is the Wisdom of God incarnate, he is his eternal Word who became a mortal man". May John, who "saw and believed" (cf. Jn 20:8) also help us to lean on the breast of Christ (cf. Jn 13:25), … Following the example of the Apostle John and the other inspired authors, may we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit to an ever greater love of the word of God.“ "Verbum Domini"  respond "Laus tibi Christe" (Praise to you Christ).

Mystical like the Eagle John:

Mystical like the Eagle John The Prologue of John’s Gospel leads us to ponder the fact that everything that exists is under the sign of the Word. The Word goes forth from the Father, comes to dwell in our midst and then returns to the Father in order to bring with him the whole of creation which was made in him and for him. The Church now carries out her mission in eager expectation of the eschatological manifestation of the Bridegroom…

A missionary resource:

A missionary resource A manual for the new missionary age and the New Evangelization. This expectation is never passive; rather it is a missionary drive to proclaim the word of God which heals and redeems every man. Today too the Risen Jesus says to us: “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). A Masterful Exhortation on the Living Word of God so that we can become living words, spreading the "aroma of Christ" (2 Cor. 2:15) in a world waiting to be born. Coincidentally, The Word of God is also the topic of the upcoming Mere Anglicanism Conference - January 2011 in Charleston, SC:  http://www.mereanglicanism.com/presentations.htm

Part One, "Verbum Dei" Chapter I: "The God Who Speaks" :

Part One, "Verbum Dei" Chapter I: "The God Who Speaks" The Pope highlights both "the fundamental role of God the Father, source and origin of the Word“. “The Trinitarian dimension of revelation". "God's will to open and maintain a dialogue with man, in which God takes the initiative and reveals Himself in various ways". Inspiration and truth of the Bible.

Chapter II: "Our Response to the God Who Speaks" :

Chapter II: "Our Response to the God Who Speaks" "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" Information produces transformation It’s like the story of the man with the shriveled hand found in Mark 3. Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand, which was something the man couldn’t do.

Chapter III: "The Interpretation of Sacred Scripture in the Church":

Chapter III: "The Interpretation of Sacred Scripture in the Church" "Sacred Scripture should be '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. 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 2: "Verbum in Ecclesia". Chapter I: "The Word of God and the Church" :

PART 2: "Verbum in Ecclesia". Chapter I: "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“.

Chapter II: "The Liturgy, Privileged Setting for the Word of God" :

Chapter II: "The Liturgy, Privileged Setting for the Word of God" “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 .

Chapter III: "The Word of God in the Life of the Church" :

Chapter III: "The Word of God in the Life of the Church" 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 gatherings , and the Word of God in relation to vocations ". Attention is also given to "lectio divina and Marian prayer",

Part Three: "Verbum Mundo". Chapter I: "The Church's Mission to Proclaim the Word of God to the World" :

Part Three: "Verbum Mundo". Chapter I: "The Church's Mission to Proclaim the Word of God to the World" It draws attention to "the duty of Christians to announce the Word of God in the world in which they live and work". 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".

  Chapter II: "The Word of God and Commitment to the World":

Chapter II: "The Word of God and Commitment to the World" " 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". - Practical charity Proclamation to young people To migrants To the suffering To the poor

Chapter III: "The Word of God and Culture".:

Chapter III: "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"

Chapter IV:"The Word of God and Inter-religious Dialogue":

Chapter IV:"The Word of God and Inter-religious Dialogue" "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".

CONCLUSION:

CONCLUSION His exhortation to all Christians "to become increasingly familiar with Sacred Scripture".