New Catholics remind us to take faith seriously, archbishop notes

Last updated on: November 22, 2013 at 7:01 am by CNA Daily News

New Catholics remind us to take faith seriously, archbishop notes 2013-11-22T07:01:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Nov 22, 2013 / 12:01 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Reflecting on the end of the Year of Faith, a Vatican official says the witness of those joining the Church under difficult circumstances should prompt others to commit more fully to their faith.

Archbishop Rino Fisichella, the head of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, reflected that catechumens, “prior to receiving baptism…have had a long journey to make, but they are animated by a desire to become part of the Church.”

“So I think that for all of us Christians who are already baptized, the presence of catechumens tells us that we need to take the faith seriously,” he told CNA in a Nov. 18 interview.

“We don't always live the faith with courage,” the archbishop explained, and “frequently we hide it and many times in public places we prefer to keep silent about that which expresses our identity.”

In order to become Catholic, many catechumens “risk their own lives, but they make this decision. I think that we too must reflect seriously on this,” he emphasized, adding that they offer an example of “the courage that we must have to live the faith.”

This weekend during the close of the Year of Faith, more than 550 people from 47 different countries have gathered as part of their path to join the Catholic Church.

Benedict XVI instituted the Year of Faith – running from Oct. 11, 2012 until Nov. 24, 2013 – during his pontificate with the aim of fostering a fresh momentum in the New Evangelization.

“It will be a moment of grace and commitment to a more complete conversion to God, to strengthen our faith in Him and proclaim Him with joy to the people of our time,” the retired pontiff stated in the fall of 2011 upon the announcement of the event.

The archbishop noted that “although the Year of Faith ends, faith is a journey that continues throughout all of life.”

This past year, he reflected, “has been extremely positive, especially because we’ve experienced how God’s grace works (and) in what way we’re called to live the faith, abandoning ourselves more and more to the action of his grace.”

One particular aspect has been that of pilgrimage: more than 8.5 million persons have come to Rome “to profess the faith.” Many more “have been able to celebrate their faith in their communities and dioceses, in their parishes.”

Archbishop Fisichella says that the Year of Faith has also brought about a sense of hope.

“We normally underscore the aspects of crisis and other negative aspects, this year has told us also that we have to look at the positive signs that are given to us, to that capacity of true signs of the times that the Lord places before us and asks us to live with intensity.”

“It has been a moment in which we have touched with our hands the great vitality of the Church in living out the faith,” he added, explaining that it is “the Lord, the Spirit that guides us, so He changes our hearts, transforms us and we are converted.”

The president of the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization hopes that one fruit of the Year of Faith with be the realization of the baptismal call to share the Gospel, so that “all the people who are Christians in diverse ways of life” will recognize they are “called to be evangelists.”

This year has involved not only a celebration in which the Church has expressed her “joy in living out the faith,” but a recognition of the “duty that the Church will take on anew to carry the gospel to every creature.”

Vatican

Previous Post

November 22, 2013

Carmelite nun from Syria describes pain of civil war

Next Post

November 22, 2013 Pope Francis sends golden rose to Our Lady of Guadalupe

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who had a dream about a statue made of various metals?

Select your answer to see how you score.

David Daniel Joseph Nebuchadnezzar