A Penitent Blogger
Ecumenical Meeting today
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
"Permit me to remain seated after such a strenuous day. This does not mean I wish to speak 'ex cathedra.' Also, excuse me for being late. Unfortunately, Vespers took longer than foreseen and the traffic was slower moving than could be imagined.
"I would like now to express the joy I feel on the occasion of my Visit to Germany, in being able to meet you and offer a warm greeting to you, the Representatives of the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
* * * * *
"Among Christians, fraternity is not just a vague sentiment, nor is it a sign of indifference to truth. As you have just said, bishop, it is grounded in the supernatural reality of the one Baptism which makes us members of the one Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28; Col 2:12).
"Together we confess that Jesus Christ is God and Lord; together we acknowledge him as the one mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim 2:5) and we emphasize that together we are members of his Body (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 22; Ut Unum Sint, 42).
"Based on this essential foundation of baptism, a reality comes from him which is a way of being, then of professing, believing and acting. Based on this crucial foundation, dialogue has borne its fruits and will continue to do so.
"I would like to mention the re-examination of the mutual condemnations, called for by John Paul II during his first visit to Germany in 1980, and .... 'Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification' (1999), which grew out of that re-examination and led to an agreement on basic issues that had been a subject of controversy since the sixteenth century.
"We should also acknowledge with gratitude the results of our common stand on important matters such as the fundamental questions involving the defence of life and the promotion of justice and peace.
"I am well aware that many Christians in this country, and not only in this country, expect further concrete steps to bring us closer together.
"I myself have the same expectation.
"It is the Lord’s command, but also the imperative of the present hour, to carry on dialogue, with conviction, at all levels of the Church’s life.
"This must obviously take place with sincerity and realism, with patience and perseverance, in complete fidelity to the dictates of one’s conscience in the awareness that it is the Lord who gives unity, that we do not create it, that it is he who gives it but that we must go to meet him."
* * * * *
"Another urgent priority in ecumenical dialogue arises from the great ethical questions of our time.
"In this area, modern, searching man rightly expects a common response on the part of Christians, which, thanks be to God, has often been forthcoming.... but unfortunately, this does not always happen.
"Because of contradictory positions in these areas, our witness to the Gospel and the ethical guidance which we owe to the faithful and to society lose their impact and often appear too vague, with the result that we fail in our duty to provide the witness that is needed in our time.
"Our divisions are contrary to the will of Jesus and they disappoint the expectations of our contemporaries.
"I think that we must work with new energy and dedication to bring a common witness into the context of these great ethical challenges of our time."
* * * * *
"I am convinced that if more and more people unite themselves to the Lord’s prayer 'that all may be one” (Jn 17:21), then this prayer, made in the name of Jesus, will not go unheard (cf. Jn 14:13; 15:7, 16, etc.). With the help that comes from on high, we will also find practical solutions to the different questions which remain open, and in the end our desire for unity will come to fulfilment, whenever and however the Lord wills.
"Now let us all go along this path in the awareness that walking together is a form of unity. Let us thank God for this and pray that he will continue to guide us all."
from Pope Benedict's address to an ecumenical gathering today
UPDATE: As said earlier, the Holy Father speaks so well off the top of his head. Indeed, he deviated a number of times from his prepared text (which I have generally followed in most of these posts). Sandro Magister of L'Espresso has copied in his Sept. 2 column the actual transcript from the Vatican web site and I have adjusted the above excerpts accordingly. (Hat tip: Amy Welborn)
"Permit me to remain seated after such a strenuous day. This does not mean I wish to speak 'ex cathedra.' Also, excuse me for being late. Unfortunately, Vespers took longer than foreseen and the traffic was slower moving than could be imagined.
"I would like now to express the joy I feel on the occasion of my Visit to Germany, in being able to meet you and offer a warm greeting to you, the Representatives of the other Churches and Ecclesial Communities.
* * * * *
"Among Christians, fraternity is not just a vague sentiment, nor is it a sign of indifference to truth. As you have just said, bishop, it is grounded in the supernatural reality of the one Baptism which makes us members of the one Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:13; Gal 3:28; Col 2:12).
"Together we confess that Jesus Christ is God and Lord; together we acknowledge him as the one mediator between God and man (cf. 1 Tim 2:5) and we emphasize that together we are members of his Body (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 22; Ut Unum Sint, 42).
"Based on this essential foundation of baptism, a reality comes from him which is a way of being, then of professing, believing and acting. Based on this crucial foundation, dialogue has borne its fruits and will continue to do so.
"I would like to mention the re-examination of the mutual condemnations, called for by John Paul II during his first visit to Germany in 1980, and .... 'Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification' (1999), which grew out of that re-examination and led to an agreement on basic issues that had been a subject of controversy since the sixteenth century.
"We should also acknowledge with gratitude the results of our common stand on important matters such as the fundamental questions involving the defence of life and the promotion of justice and peace.
"I am well aware that many Christians in this country, and not only in this country, expect further concrete steps to bring us closer together.
"I myself have the same expectation.
"It is the Lord’s command, but also the imperative of the present hour, to carry on dialogue, with conviction, at all levels of the Church’s life.
"This must obviously take place with sincerity and realism, with patience and perseverance, in complete fidelity to the dictates of one’s conscience in the awareness that it is the Lord who gives unity, that we do not create it, that it is he who gives it but that we must go to meet him."
* * * * *
"Another urgent priority in ecumenical dialogue arises from the great ethical questions of our time.
"In this area, modern, searching man rightly expects a common response on the part of Christians, which, thanks be to God, has often been forthcoming.... but unfortunately, this does not always happen.
"Because of contradictory positions in these areas, our witness to the Gospel and the ethical guidance which we owe to the faithful and to society lose their impact and often appear too vague, with the result that we fail in our duty to provide the witness that is needed in our time.
"Our divisions are contrary to the will of Jesus and they disappoint the expectations of our contemporaries.
"I think that we must work with new energy and dedication to bring a common witness into the context of these great ethical challenges of our time."
* * * * *
"I am convinced that if more and more people unite themselves to the Lord’s prayer 'that all may be one” (Jn 17:21), then this prayer, made in the name of Jesus, will not go unheard (cf. Jn 14:13; 15:7, 16, etc.). With the help that comes from on high, we will also find practical solutions to the different questions which remain open, and in the end our desire for unity will come to fulfilment, whenever and however the Lord wills.
"Now let us all go along this path in the awareness that walking together is a form of unity. Let us thank God for this and pray that he will continue to guide us all."
from Pope Benedict's address to an ecumenical gathering today
UPDATE: As said earlier, the Holy Father speaks so well off the top of his head. Indeed, he deviated a number of times from his prepared text (which I have generally followed in most of these posts). Sandro Magister of L'Espresso has copied in his Sept. 2 column the actual transcript from the Vatican web site and I have adjusted the above excerpts accordingly. (Hat tip: Amy Welborn)
posted by Penitens | 3:57 PM
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