Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - “The Pauline Year will be celebrated in the entire Universal Church and its objective is not only to make the life and works of the Apostle to the Gentiles known. Indeed, it is also an invitation to all believers and men of good will to deepen their knowledge of the message that, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he left for the Church.” With these words, the Bishops of Venezuela opened their Message that they wrote on the occasion of the inauguration of the Pauline Year, which is to begin June 29.
Firstly, the Bishops present the figure of the apostle who, “from the moment of his conversion and baptism, overcoming a myriad of difficulties, became a courageous apostle of the Lord.” He also stood out “as a missionary capable of overcoming any kind of obstacle, from prisons and shipwrecks, to misunderstandings and criticism - all with the purpose of bringing the Gospel message to the entire world.” His awareness of his mission as an Apostle of Christ led him to “take on two fundamental attitudes: the commitment to announce the Lord’s Gospel and, most importantly, to reveal the meaning of his life.” “He never hesitated in taking the opportunity to evangelize,” the text continued. For him, evangelizing “was not only a theoretical announcing of God’s word.” Rather, he truly identified himself with Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations.
The Bishops mention three characteristics of Paul’s work of evangelization. Firstly, “the explicit announcement of the Gospel, which he carried out in a convincing manner, with his own personal conviction and gathering from his own personal experience of the mystery of Christ.” Secondly, there is “his commitment to building the Church, to creating and sustaining the ecclesial communities entrusted to his care.” Lastly, there is his insistence in the conversion that is implied by having faith in Christ. Believing in Christ is a call to the faithful to “put on Christ” and act in His name, walk in the newness of life.
In harmony with what the universal Church proposes, according to the Plenary Council of Venezuela, the Bishops reflect on the fact that this is “a special time to reaffirm our commitment as members of the Church, the Body of Christ,” and to “renew our decision to follow Christ the Lord.” With that in mind, they encourage all pastoral workers, especially the parish pastors, catechists, and religious, to promote the reading and study of Paul’s Letter. They also encourage the pastors, rectors of seminaries, leaders of Catholic Universities, religious superiors, and heads of ecclesial movements, as well as all other pastoral workers to organize study days on the life and work of St. Paul. They also ask that every diocese and all ecclesial communities organize an inauguration ceremony for the Pauline Year, with a special Mass on a date near June 29.
“We hope that this Pauline Year may be a special time for the various communities and Church groups to confirm their faith, hope, and love that come to us from Jesus the Lord.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 6/5/2008; righe 40, parole 512)
