Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
June 6, 2001
Scripture, sacraments assist growth
Pope's apostolic letter outlines pastoral plan for new millennium
By Marco Roman
Marco Roman is secretary for Evangelization and Catechesis for the Archdiocese of Denver. What follows is the final column in a series of three on the Holy Father's recent apostolic letter Novo Millennio Inuente.
Pope John Paul II's vision for the new millennium is presented in several specific pastoral initiatives, which have a clear priority in the work of the "New Evangelization." Our universal pastor describes this pastoral plan as nothing other than a "new impetus in Christian living."
The first two initiatives the Holy Father describes in Novo Millenio Inuente were outlined in this column last week. To recap, they are: 1)Realization of the "universal call to holiness" as found in "Lumen Gentium" and 2) The art of prayer. The final three initiatives the Holy Father includes in the apostolic letter follow:
"There is no doubt that this primacy of holiness and prayer is inconceivable without a renewed listening to the word of God" (no. 39). The Holy Father sees clearly that the work of evangelization and catecheis must draw new life from direct contact and attentiveness to the "living and active word of God" handed down in the lived tradition of the Church (no. 39). The Sacred Scriptures become that place of encounter with Christ, which gives clear direction and discernment to our lives as disciples of the master.
Authentic dialogue and communion with Jesus occurs in a most concrete and objective manner through constant contact with that unique and living word of God found in Sacred Scripture. Various efforts should be supported and initiated in parishes that encourage individuals, groups and families to study, reflect and pray the Sacred Scriptures, particularly the Gospels, in preparation for the Sunday Eucharistic Liturgy.
"The celebration of the Sunday Eucharist is to be distinguished and set apart as the "heart of Sunday for every baptized person" (no. 35). The natural and authentic consequences of genuine conversion is witnessed by a transforming awareness and realization that the Eucharistic celebration is seen not as "something to be fulfilled as an observed precept but as something felt as essential to a truly informed and consistent Christian life" (no. 36).
The Holy Father continues to reiterate the need for renewed pastoral courage in ensuring that the day-to-day life of the Christian communities are persuasively and effectively presented with renewed instruction and explicit invitations to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation (no 37).
He expresses convincingly that the measure of a "fruitful, living and explicit faith community" can be observed by the frequent celebration of this sacrament by its members. He sees the evidence for this assertion realized during the Jubilee year, among the young people who have experienced the spiritual healing and a deep conversion through participating in this sacrament of mercy. He concludes by encouraging and supporting creative pastoral efforts to reach many that have not experienced the great gift of Divine mercy received through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
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