MISSIONARY INTENTION - Holy Father's Missionary Prayer Intention for August 2009: “That those Christians who are discriminated against and persecuted in many Countries because of the name of Christ may have their human rights, equality and religious freedom recognized, in order to be able to live and profess their own faith freely.” Commentary.

Wednesday, 22 July 2009

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – In the Decree “Dignitatis humanae,” the Second Vatican Council declares that “ the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits. The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right” (DH, 2).
The Church maintains and defends this freedom of conscience in religious matters and, respecting the conditions and beliefs of others, often suffers misunderstanding, disrespect, and even bloody persecutions. Over the course of history, Christians have suffered persecutions. On the one hand, persecution should not come as a surprise, as the Lord told His disciples: “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.” However, persecution also shows a lack of respect for the dignity of the human person in his highest values, as is the case with religion.
When the Gospel is lived out in a radical manner, it does not remain unnoticed at the sight of those nearby. This observation normally produces one of two reactions: for some, it is a cause for reflection on one's own life, at times leading to a conversion to the faith; for others, however, it is a cause for hardness of heart and rejection. Saint Augustine said that “the light, which is painful to sore eyes, is a delight to sound ones.” For the various forms of political totalitarianism and religious fundamentalism, the human person becomes a means for serving one's own interests. Their own dignity is not recognized, nor is their freedom respected. The Holy Father Benedict XVI addresses this matter, saying: “Religious liberty is indeed very far from being effectively guaranteed everywhere: in certain cases it is denied for religious or ideological reasons; at other times, although it may be recognizable on paper, it is hindered in effect by political power or, more cunningly, by the cultural predomination of agnosticism and relativism” (Benedict XVI, Angelus on December 4, 2005).
The Church has been the promoter of this freedom of conscience. At the same time, she has borne witness to her robust faith, reaching the point of martyrdom to confess the name of Christ. In this way, many of our brethren have proclaimed an absolute interior freedom that comes from belief in Christ and have declared that faith in God is the supreme value that is even worth dying for.
Benedict XVI has also affirmed that we should pray “that all human beings may completely fulfil the religious vocation they bear engraved in their being.” (4/12/2005) The vision of man, that reigns in many of the dominant ideologies, is a purely materialistic vision, that ignores the religious dimension as an essential part of the human being. Therefore, his anthropological vision is distorted and partial, giving no importance to spiritual values.
May we intensify our prayers for our persecuted brethren, that they may openly live their faith, both in the public and private arena. May our prayer be a support for their faith amidst the difficulties, and may the testimony of their conviction and patience become a force that can topple the barriers to the Gospel and contribute to the religious freedom of all men. (Agenzia Fides 22/7/2009)


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