Category: WM Special

This is the first word I would like to tell you: joy! Don’t be ever men and women of sadness! A Christian cannot be a sad person! Long faces cannot proclaim good news! Ours is a joy which comes from having met with a Person: Jesus, who is in our midst,” these are Pope Francis’ words on Palm Sunday, March 24, only a few days after his election and are like the motto of his pontificate.  Speaking to the thousands of seminarians and novices, on July 8, he said: “Every Christian, especially you and I, is called to be a bearer of this message of hope that gives serenity and joy: God’s consolation, his tenderness towards all.” Then, leaving out the paper and continuing in a spontaneous way, the Pope told the future priests and nuns to keep “freshness and joy” in their lives, and took to task seminarians and novices who are “too serious, too sad.” “Something is not right here. There is no sadness in holiness,” he said. “A true Christian is a person of joy. There are people who masquerade as Christians, and sin by being excessively superficial or overly rigid, forgetting that a true Christian is a person of joy who rests their faith on the rock of Christ. Some think they can be Christian without Christ; others think being Christian means being in a perpetual state of mourning. The former have a superficial happiness. The others do not know what Christian joy is. They do not know how to enjoy the life that Jesus gives us.”  These words that the Pope delivered in one of his spontaneous homilies in the chapel of Santa Martha makes one think of the movie “Babette’s Feast,” a movie very dear to Pope Francis, where the French refugee, Babette, an accomplished cook, fills with joy and tolerance her stern Calvinist hosts by preparing a sumptuous dinner and making them enjoy God’s creatures in a kind of contemplative experience.   From the experience of suffering Jorge Mario Bergoglio was born in Flores, a barrio of Buenos Aires, on December 17, 1936. He was the eldest of five children of Mario José Bergoglio, an Italian immigrant from Portacomaro, in the Province of Asti, in Italy. His father had followed his three brothers to Argentina, when the Advent of Fascism and the notorious dictator Benito Mussolini had forced many to leave Italy. Pope Francis remembers that his grandmother, Rose, arrived in Buenos Aires sweltering in the heat, clinging to her coat with a fur collar and didn’t want to let it go because, sawn inside that collar, were all the monies they had put together by selling their property in Italy in order to face the unknown. Very soon, the Bergoglios were affected by the Great Depression and life became a struggle. The four brothers had to part company. Life became bearable when Papa Mario José found a job as an accountant. After the fifth child, Jorge’s mother was struck by partial paralysis;

For sure Christianity and Islam, already the theme of two articles published in World Mission, have many rich experiences of spiritualities which help us to understand better how God is working in these two religions. But the challenge that we pose here is to understand that also in other religions, and even outside the formal traditional religions like indigenous religions, there are forms of “spiritualities.” This helps us to explore more the spiritual dimension of life and the mystery of life, helping us to go beyond the limits of our understanding and discover more the aspirations of each person. It brings us to the richness of each person as a creature of God who needs to love and to be loved. It is a need like that of a breath of air to live. In fact, the root word of “spirituality” comes from the Latin verb spirare that means “to breathe,” while the correspondent adjective spiritualis means “of or belonging to breathing or to air.” We can see from the root word of spirituality that this word group is related to life, for it is only through breathing that a human being can stay alive. This is a manifestation of God and His love that is always alive.  There was a time in history when the term “spirituality” or “spiritual” was understood in a negative way. Today, there is great attention to spirituality because it is part of life and we can discover forms of spiritualities also among those who claim that they do not have any religion, but they have “spiritual aspirations” manifested in their search for meaning in life and in their commitment for the common good and their respect for “humanity” and “ethics” that help them to listen to the “voice of the conscience.” Thus, we can say that there are many “spiritualities” inside and outside religions.  What we have done in presenting the two previous modules of the mystical dimension of Islam and of Christianity is to explore more the “mystery of life” and have an experience of what we believe in can guide us beyond the structure of religions, including the holy books and the beliefs and rituals of our own faith. Our faith generates the dynamic energy of the “spirit” and the need to live what we believe in. Many are not able to experience the richness of “spirituality” because they are not pure in heart and believe that they are too busy to listen to God’s presence. Entering the spirit of “self-transcendence” must be part of our life and it is the aspiration that many follow.  In our “search for more,” Jesus advises us to become “simple as children,” telling us clearly: “Blessed are the pure in heart; they will see God” (Mt. 5:8). We find in all religions those who search for more and reach a high level of spirituality, starting from what they believe in. One example is the experience of Al-Gazali, a famous and respected Muslim scholar and Sufi of

The Pope continued: “The present document has, as its goal, an interior renewal of faith and Christian life. For missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others! It is in commitment to the Church’s universal mission that the new evangelization of Christian peoples will find inspiration and support” (RM 2). It is John Paul’s view that “in the Church’s history, missionary drive has always been a sign of vitality, just as its lessening is a sign of a crisis of faith” (RM 2). Note carefully the emphasis that the Pope places on the centrality of faith in accomplishing the Church’s mission. He reiterates this “faith-mission” relationship in other parts of Redemptoris Missio: “It is only in faith that the Church’s mission can be understood and only in faith that it finds its basis” (RM 4). Succinctly stated, the Pope asserts: “Mission is an issue of faith, an accurate indicator of our faith in Christ and His love for us” (RM 11). Mission is the evident fruit of genuine faith: “The Lord is always calling us to come out of ourselves and to share with others the goods we possess, starting with the most precious gift of all – our faith” (RM 49). Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has frequently written and spoken about faith. In his first encyclical in 2005 Deus Caritas Est (DCE) one reads: “Faith tells us that God has given His Son for our sake and gives us the victorious certainty that it is really true: God is love! It thus transforms [us]…. Faith, which sees the love of God revealed in the Pierced Heart of Jesus on the Cross, gives rise to love” (DCE 39). “Faith by its specific nature is an encounter with the living God” (DCE 28). In his 2007 encyclical Spe Salvi (SS), Benedict asks: Is Faith for Christians of today “a life-changing and life-sustaining hope? Is it ‘performative’ for us – is it a message which shapes our lives in a new way, or is it just ‘information’ which, in the meantime, we have set aside…?” (SS 10). “Faith is the substance of hope” (SS 10). “God is the fountain of hope: not just any god, but the God who has a human face and who has loved us to the end, each one of us and humanity in its entirety” (SS 31). Such a deep “God-encounter” in faith should necessarily bear fruit in concrete deeds of love, witness, and commitment to mission. Local bishops’ conferences have also noted the “faith-mission” relationship. For example, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), in their 2011 pastoral exhortation “Year of the Pontifical Mission Societies” (YPMS), wrote: “We bishops of the Philippines, wishing to fan the flame of mission, declare the year 2012 as the ‘Year of the Pontifical Mission Societies.’ It is to be a grace-filled year, marked by a renewed enthusiasm for dedicated service as

For a deeper appreciation of the “faith-mission” relationship, one necessarily must delve into the meaning and dimensions of the gift of faith. A simple, descriptive definition of faith can serve us: Faith includes our whole life in God, Father, Son and Spirit; it is our free, reasonable, and total response to a loving, Trinitarian God – and His personal revelation. Another brief description might be: Faith is a fundamental act or disposition by which human beings respond to God’s revelation and then enter into a saving relationship with a personal God. Traditionally, faith was clarified with the terms: fides quae and fides qua. Fides quae (“faith which”) refers to the knowledge and acceptance of revealed truth as content, teaching, doctrine, or dogma. The Church has always had a concern for correct doctrine; this involves knowledge and an intellectual assent to propositions which describe the very content of what is believed. Fides qua (“faith by which”) refers to a personal, self-surrendering act of trust to a personal God who reveals His inner divine life and invites individuals into a personal relationship of communion and friendship. Belief in doctrinal teaching is integral and necessary for a complete understanding of faith; yet it is secondary and subordinate. The primary and essential element is one’s personal commitment to the God of love, revealed definitively in the person of Christ. The Youcat (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) defines faith using these two traditional categories: “Faith is knowledge and trust” (No. 21).  A contemporary, integral understanding of faith certainly incorporates these two dimensions; however, emphasis is also to be placed on a third aspect of faith. One might term this third dimension the “missionary” or “witnessing” dimension of faith. Emerging from one’s personal friendship with God in Christ, as well as a genuine acceptance of revealed truths, one actively seeks to share one’s God-experience with others; one is impelled into mission, desiring to evangelize others. One’s faith-encounter leads to active witness and dynamic evangelization. Thus, faith demands entrusting oneself to God, knowledge and acceptance of basic Church teaching, and a dynamic commitment to spread the faith, to “tell the world of His love!” Indeed, where one or another of these three characteristics is lacking, faith must be judged to be immature or imperfect.   Schematic Expressions of Integral Faith. The three pivotal elements essential to a complete understanding of faith can be expressed using a variety of terms and images; although various expressions are employed, the same three dimensions of faith are always expressed. A schematic – and often alliterative – presentation will hopefully elucidate the profound meaning of holistic faith. And, at the same time, one will perceive why mission and evangelization are always integral to genuine faith. Blessed John Paul II’s assertion that “Mission is an issue of faith” (RM 11) is probably best understood within this triple perspective of faith. Faith always includes (see illustration above):   Various Approaches to Understanding Faith. The Jesuit Cardinal Avery Dulles wrote extensively on many areas

In an epoch–making book published in 1968 titled The Age of Discontinuity – Guidelines for our Changing Society, Franz Peter Ducker, the father of the modern science of management, asserts that the potentialities and the dynamism of revolutions started in the 18th and 19th centuries such as representative democratic, the end to colonialism, engine and transport, communication via radio, have come to an end. A new era has set in, characterized not by the continuity of the past but by a radical novelty, and for the purpose of this article, we add that the event of Vatican II, as well as the growing presence and active role of women in human history have been vital stones in the mosaic of discontinuity which is unfolding before the eyes of all.  Pope John XXIII in Pacem in Terris (1963) had interpreted three major social events of those years as signs of the times – occurrences of extraordinary importance for the coming of the Kingdom and the configuration of a new world order in line with God’s dream. One of them was the rise of women to public office; in other words; women as full–fledged subjects of history, not less than their male counterparts. In the very year of the encyclica’s publication, three women were carrying the responsibility of premiership in their countries: Golda Meir in Israel, Indira Gandhi in India and Sirimavo Bandaranaike in Sri Lanka. As we probe into the factors that contributed to enhance the subjectivity of women in society, let us name some of them:     The Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on 10th December 1948 in San Francisco, whereby all human beings, regardless of sex, religion and social status, were recognized as persons with equal dignity and subjects of rights and duties. Much has been achieved since then, with regard particularly to the promotion of those who, in a given society, have been sidelined or marginalized: for instance, women, minorities and the migrants.   Education accessible to all: For ages, education had been almost exclusively male oriented due to the fact that only men then took social, political and public responsibilities. Women, on the contrary, were home–bound and education for them was considered an unnecessary luxury. Such mentality was prevalent in all continents, and the role of tradition kept a heavy grip on any possible change. It was only after the Second World War that the possibility for higher education was extended to all – a move that reflected the change of mentality taking place, since education is of itself a great factor of subjectivity.     The distinction between sex and gender in the context of sociology and anthropology. Physical differences cannot be identified with masculinity and femininity, both highly conditioned by cultures and local traditions. Today we define such identity as gender. These cultural elaborations have been highly dominated by male prestige, power, control. Some jeopardize even women’s physical integrity such as female genital mutilation and domestic violence.    The rewriting of history from

Most importantly, the signatories were theologians, representatives of the two great Sunni and Shiite groups; there are also representatives from smaller groups, and even diverging trends. This indicates a broadening of consensus within a certain Islamic quarter, a step towards what Islam calls ijmaa (consensus). In the Islamic tradition, every point of faith is based on three sources: the Koran, on the Muhammadian tradition (hadith or that is the sayings and life of Mohammad), and community consensus, in other words, ijmaa. This letter does not say that there is an agreement among all Muslims, but it shows a concerted move towards a certain consensus.  Christian leaders answered in a different way. The Catholic Church invited a group of Islamic scholars to Rome, where they discussed different points of understanding God, loving God and loving one’s neighbors. More meetings followed, all of them in a good atmosphere. Certainly, this initiative is not representative of the whole Islam. While this dialogue proceeds, many terror groups fight in the name of Islam. Every day, we hear of churches bombed or torched in Nigeria by Boko Haram terrorists. Often, we come to know of the oppression of Christians in Muslim countries.  It is important to note one, and not forget the other. Islam and Christianity have often clashed. When we complain of the Islamic attitude towards us, we should not forget that similar complaints are recorded by Muslims against us. The dialogue opened by the letter is a glimpse of hope for all. It will take many years before the theological conclusions and the agreement reached by theologians sifts through to the grassroots. However, this is the beginning of a new understanding, to which we should all give our support. While international media always reports cases of religious war, violence against Christians, and similar occurrences, there are many occasions of dialogue and communal work between Christians and Muslims. In Israel, where the conflict between Israelis (identified as Jews) and Palestinians (both Muslims and Christians) is high, the village of Neveh Shalom (Oasis of Peace) is an important testimony of faith. People in Neveh Shalom live together, respect each other’s faith and are capable of going beyond differences to build a peaceful community. In Nigeria, many Muslim communities have taken to peacefully surround Christian churches on Sundays. In this way, any terrorist wishing to attack the church would have to kill as many fellow Muslims as Christians. This human ‘bumper’ has brought back confidence among many communities. The road of dialogue with Islam is still long and perilous. Yet, we cannot refuse to try and reach out to people of other faith. Whenever we are able to learn more about God with our brothers and sisters of other faith, we have taken one more step towards the unity God has planned for us.  

The joys and hopes, the grief and anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, are those of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of men united in Christ. They are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man. That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds.” With these words, the Vatican II Council started the document Gaudium et Spes (#1) dedicated to the relationship of the Church with the world. After tackling the questions of what the Church is, how to live the faith, how to celebrate Christ, the participants of the Council wanted to give a strong signal that the Church was not a reality detached from life. Indeed, the Church is deeply interested in the world and needs a strong interaction with the secular society. The Council Fathers said they “yearn to explain to everyone how it conceives of the presence and activity of the Church in the world of today.” The Council focused its attention on the whole human family; that world which is the theatre of the human being’s history, his tragedies and his triumphs; that world which the Christian sees as created and sustained by its Maker’s love; fallen indeed into the bondage of sin, yet emancipated by Christ, so that the world might be fashioned anew according to God’s design and reach its fulfillment. In Gaudium et Spes, the Church is not seen as a group aloof of reality. The Church is a community of people who share the same life of those who belong to other religions or even refuse the idea of God. “This Council can provide no more eloquent proof of its solidarity with, as well as its respect and love for the entire human family with which it is bound up, than by engaging with it in conversation about these various problems. The Council brings to mankind light kindled from the Gospel, and puts, at its disposal, those saving resources which the Church herself, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, receives from her Founder. For the human person deserves to be preserved; human society deserves to be renewed. Hence, the focal point of our total presentation will be man himself, whole and entire, body and soul, heart and conscience, mind and will” (#3). To carry out such task, the Church said it needed to search the signs of the times and read them in the light of the Gospel. The people at the Council noted that “profound and rapid changes are spreading by degrees around the whole world,” and that “as it happens in any crisis of growth, this transformation has brought serious difficulties in its wake. Thus, while man

One of the great challenges the Church faces is not only to make the Word of God available to people, but also to offer the right tools to understand it properly. Many local Churches have developed a methodology of popular reading of the Bible. Leaders learn about the process of formation of the Bible (it took almost 1,000 years, in a Semitic cultural setting, and the original languages were Hebrew and Greek), the history of the peoples involved, the meaning of the most important passages, etc. This knowledge is then used as the background of Bible studies in small groups. Through this process, the Word of God can be more fully understood and related to faith and everyday’s life. 

The missionary’s acculturation is only the first step. Those hearing the Gospel also need to make it their own. The Gospel is a new reality, which requires those who welcome it to accept changes and to incorporate new values. The missionary proclaiming the Gospel will then help the inculturation which happens to be the process by which a foreign value, alien to a culture, is accepted, reworked and inserted in the host’s culture. Such a process can only be done by people from the host’s culture, especially by people aware of their cultural identity and able to confront the challenges of interculturality.  Inculturation is time–consuming and usually takes place when specific people are able to formulate a synthesis between their cultures, their communication patterns and values that incorporate outside. This is the process that allowed European Christianity engage the Gospel on classical culture. Just think of the work of Thomas Aquinas, who was able to formulate a new theology using tools provided by the Greek–Roman culture. Think of the great painter Giotto, whose paintings influenced all the great artists who followed him. Giotto’s intuition was to recognize the identity of each participant in the scenes he depicted. All individual characters that appear in his works are recognizable and distinct, be they important people or simple folk. Inculturation does not occur naturally, neither it is simple. It requires preparation and it is time–consuming. This is not to be confused with adaptation. Unfortunately, many local Churches have given space to adapt – especially in the liturgy – and have invested little on the true inculturation. Missionaries can facilitate the process of inculturation, providing the necessary tools: recovery of the historical memory of the elderly and oral literature, evaluation of the history of a people, of a culture of critical knowledge, knowledge of the local language and its critical analysis. These, and others, are elements that allow us to grasp the structure of a culture and the opportunity to take a step forward with the inclusion of new values. It is a long and tortuous process which takes time and, often, those working on it do not see the end of their work. However, this is a work that needs encouragement and support. Today, Europe is no longer sending a great number of missionaries around the world. The country with the highest number of missionaries is Korea, while Africa is the continent with more religious personnel working abroad. This shift in the cultural set up of mission brings not only new challenges, but also helps the Church to formulate a new inculturation of the Gospel in today’s world.