Verbum Domini: New Apostolic Letter of Pope Benedict XVI on the Word of God
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The Apostolic Exhortation, which is dated 30 September, Memorial of St. Jerome, is the fruit of the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which was held in Rome from 5 to 26 October 2008.
A missionary focus of the sharing of God’s World worldwide can be seen in part three of the document entitled “Verbum Mundo”. It draws attention to “the duty of Christians to announce the Word of God in the world in which they live and work”. Chapter one – “The Church’s Mission to Proclaim the Word of God to the World” – explains how the Church “is oriented towards the announcement ‘ad gentes’, to people who do not yet know the Word, … but also to those who have already been baptised … but need new evangelization in order to rediscover the Word of God”.
“The Word of God and Commitment to the World” is the title of chapter two, which recalls how “Christians are called to serve the Word of God in their most needy brothers and sisters and, hence, to commit themselves in society for reconciliation, justice and peace among peoples”.
Chapter three of part three is dedicated to “The Word of God and Culture”. It expresses the hope “that the Bible may become better known in schools and universities and that better use may be made of the social communications media, exploiting all the modern possibilities of technology. The theme of the inculturation of Sacred Scripture is also linked to the translation and diffusion of the Bible, which must be increased”, said Archbishop Eterovic.
“The Word of God and Inter-religious Dialogue” is the title of chapter four. “Having established the value and topicality of inter-religious dialogue, ‘Verbum Domini’ … supplies some important guidelines concerning dialogue between Christians and Muslims, and with members of other non-Christian religions, within the framework of a religious liberty which involves not only the freedom to profess one’s faith in private and in public, but also freedom of conscience; in other words, of choosing one’s religion”.
The entire document is one of the richest treatments of the importance of scripture for each person, the Church, and the world. Definitely worth a read!
