Apostolic Exhortation

Apostolic Exhortation EvangeliiGaudium By Pope Francis November 24, 2013 THE JOY OF THE GOSPEL

Promotes practice not doctrinal discussion • The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus” • Proclaim the gospel today! • Enhances with Scripture and church resources • Develops and shapes contributions from work of the Synod on Evangelization • New chapter of evangelization—joy • Church’s journey for years to come • Baptized permanently in state of mission

Eternal newness • Original freshness of the Gospel • Need for pastoral and missionary conversion • Need for renewal of church structures • Conversion of the papacy • Sound decentralization • Not to fear re-examination of certain customs not directly connect to heart of Gospel even if deep historical roots • See implications in the questionnaire for Family Life • Soliciting information regarding practice

Chapter I THE CHURCH’S MISSIONARY TRANSFORMATION

Connection to Baptism • Missionary mandate of Jesus: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Mt 28:19-20).

Taking the first step • An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. • Need to “smell of the sheep” (24)

Pastoral activity and conversion • I hope that all communities will devote the necessary effort to advancing along the path of a pastoral and missionary conversion which cannot leave things as they presently are. “Mere administration” can no longer be enough. Throughout the world, let us be “permanently in a state of mission”. (25)

Ecclesial renewal cannot be deferred • …to make ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open, • I dream of a “missionary option”, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things, times and schedules, language and structures can be suitably channeled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation. (27)

From the Heart of the Gospel • Saint Thomas Aquinas taught that the Church’s moral teaching has its own “hierarchy”, in the virtues and the acts which proceed from them. What counts above all else is “faith working through love”…”In itself mercy is greatest of the virtues, since all the others revolve around it and, more than this, it makes up for their deficiencies.” (37)

A Mother with an Open Heart • The Church is called to be the house of the Father, with doors always wide open. One concrete sign of such openness is that our church doors should always be open, so that if someone, moved by the Spirit, comes there looking for God, He or she will not find a closed door. (47)

Go forth and offer everyone the life of Jesus • I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church…concerned with being at the center and then bends by being caught up in web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us…it is the fact that many of our brothers and sisters are living without…the friendship of Jesus Christ. …people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: “Give them something to eat” (Mk 6:37) • (49)

Chapter Two AMID THE CRISIS OF COMMUNAL COMMITMENT

Challenges of today’s world • Astute analysis • Skilled with capturing the essentials and provoking concern • Unjust use and unjust distribution of resources • No to economy of exclusion • No to the new idolatry of money • No to a financial system which rules rather than serves • No to the inequality that spawns violence

Temptations faced by pastoral workers • We need to be instruments of Christ’s presence • Signs of hope and tenderness • Pope Francis clearly describes temptations • Selfishness and sloth • Wearing down, small-mindedness and defeatism • Don’t fall prey to envy and jealousy

Yes to the new relationships brought by Christ • Concern for spirituality of well-being detached from responsibility for brothers and sisters • Concern that Gospel have real impact on what people need • Wants the church free from superficial spiritual and pastoral trappings

Need for involvement • Growth of responsibility of laity who are kept away from decision-making by excessive clericalism • Incisive female presence in the church where decisions are made and rights are respected • Young should exercise greater leadership • Screen motivation of candidates

Chapter IIITHE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL OVERVIEW OF CHAPTER III

1. What is the point Pope Francis is making in EvangeliiGaudium? • The greatproblemwhich the Exhortationpointsto isthe almost complete lack of missionaryzeal on the part of Catholics. • Thisabsence of missionaryzealcouldalso be referred to asa nearrejection, or forsaking, or lack of acknowledgement, of the apostoliccharacter of the Catholicfaith by the greatmajority of Catholics.

Whatis the point? • Ask a Catholic, “Whathaveyoudonethis week to spread the faith?”, and he might look atyouasifyouwerea Fundamentalistor oddball. • Butobviouslythe New Evangelization,whichrecentPontiffshave so ferventlydesired, will go nowhereunless the faithful are engaged in spreading the good news

2. Pope Francis is challenging himself—and us—with three questions: Why not look at things from a new perspective? Why not be open to doing things in a new way? Why not have a new vision for the church?

3. The Proclamation of the Gospel (#110-175) • This chapter is really the heart of the Apostolic Exhortation, achieving just that: a) exhorting all Christians to see themselves as apostles called to go out into their varied worlds to preach the Good News of Christ’s love and forgiveness. Francis stresses how b) the myriad ways of life in our postmodern world are simply more invitations for the Gospel to take root.

The primacy of conversion • Here, Francis’ unabashed confidence in the power of Christ and his Church to convert all comes through brilliantly. Our Pope is not afraid of the world, but sees in every human culture (the word “culture” comes from a Latin verb meaning “to worship” or “colere”) wide-ranging, as well as rich, opportunities for Christian conversion.

The structure of Chapter III I. The entire people of God proclaims the Gospel (# 111-134 II. The homily: as an important part of ministry. (135-144) III. Preparing to preach: (# 145-159) IV. Evangelization and the deeper understanding of the kerygma (# 160-175)

I. The entire people of God proclaims the Gospel (# 111-134) a. A Church conscious of its identity: “A church which is more an organic and hierarchical Institution, which is first and foremost A PEOPLE advancing on its pilgrim way towards God”. b. A Church conscious to be a mystery rooted in the Trinity and working through the “principle of the primacy of grace”.

The entirepeople of God c. This people which God has chosen and called is the Church is not an exclusive and elite group. d. A church with people who are culturally diversified, each of which has its own culture. However this cultural diversity is not a threat to church unity.

II. The homily a. It should be brief and avoid taking a semblance of a speech or lecture b. It should be heart to heart communication – avoid purely moralistic or doctrinal preaching (EG 140-141). c. The homily should be positive in order to offer hope – it should not be trapped in negativity.

Notonlyhomily • d. The attitudes that should guide a good preacher: • - approachability; patience; warmth and welcome which is not judgmental

III. Preparing to preach (#145-159) • “Trust in the Holy Spirit who is at work during the homily is not merely passive but active and creative”. (EG 145); • It should be based on meditated scripture; A preacher should be moved by love of God;

IV. Evangelization and the deeper understanding of the kerygma • “ In catechesis too, we have rediscovered the fundamental role of the first announcement or kerygma, which needs to be the centre of all evangelizing activity and all efforts at Church renewal [...]” “This first proclamation is called “first” not because it exists at the beginning and can then be forgotten or replaced by other more important things.

Continuallyin need of beingevangelized • It is first in a qualitative sense because it is the principal proclamation, the one which we must hear again and again in different ways, the one which we must announce one way or another throughout the process of catechesis, at every level and moment.[126] For this reason too, “the priest—like every other member of the Church—ought to grow in awareness that he himself is continually in need of being evangelized”.

RESOURCES: Chapter IIIJames Martin, SJ, “A new Vision for the Church,” America: The National Catholic Reviewhttp://americamagazine.org/node/157072.Michal Pakaluk, How to Read “The Joy of the Gospel”: What is the Point of “EvangeliiGaudium” and “What Does that Say About Paragraphs on the Economy?” http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/how-to-read-the-joy-of-the-gospelSynthesis of the ApostolicExhortationThe Joy of the Gospel.http://www.news.va/en/news/synthesis-of-the-apostolic-exhortation-the-joy-of

Chapter IV THE SOCIAL DIMENSION OF EVANGELIZATION

Kingdom of heaven is a matter of justice, peace and joy in the Spirit (Rom14:17) • Life in community and the engagement with others has immediate moral implications centered on charity. (177) • Evangelization commitment to the liberating work of the spirit • Don’t judge, be merciful, measure given is the measure received • Focus of church is missionary

Kingdom and its challenge • Gospel is about the kingdom of God • Consideration of all dimensions personal and social for all creation • Unceasing interplay of the Gospel and of concrete life of everyone • Our mandate is to” go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation (Mk 16:15) (181)

Church’s teaching on social questions • Need practical applications for the common good • Authentic faith always involves a desire to change the world • Importance of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church • Important to let the analysis of problems to the respective countries

Two great issues fundamental for our times Inclusion of the poor in society, and Peace and social dialogue

1. Inclusion of poor in society • Our faith in Christ, who became poor, and was always close to the poor and outcast, is the basis of our concern for the integral development of society’s most neglected members. (186)

In union with God, we hear a plea • All Christians and communities are to be instruments of God • Work to eliminate the structural causes of poverty and promote the integral development of the poor • Be in solidarity with property and goods for the common good • Restore to the poor what belongs to them • When change structures need to generate new convictions and attitudes otherwise ineffectual

Peace-respect for human rights • “peace is founded not only on respect for human rights, but also on respect for the rights of peoples”. (Compendium) • Every person is called to self-fulfillment”. (Paul VI PopulorumProgressio) (190) • This means education, access to health care, employment, just wages so access other goods. (192)

Fidelity to the Gospel, lest we run in vain • Almsgiving, mercy—covers sins • …Be faithful to this light-filled path of life and wisdom. For “defenders of orthodoxy are sometimes accused of passivity, indulgence, or culpable complicity regarding the intolerable situations of injustice and the political regimes which prolong them”. (Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) (194)

St. Paul—sign of authenticity of Faith • When St. Paul approached the apostles in Jerusalem his key criterion of authenticity was that they should not forget the poor... (195)

Special place of the poor in God’s people • Jesus was one with the poor, he preached to the poor and the poor followed him • Poor have a special form of primacy for Christian charity; we learn from the poor; have special option for the poor • Poor suffer from lack of spiritual care • Spiritual conversion, the intensity of the love of God and neighbor, zeal for justice and peace, the Gospel meaning of the poor and of poverty, are required of everyone. (201)

Economy and the distribution of income • Need to resolve structural problems—inequality if the root of social ills • Economy needs to serve the common good • Need to create sources of employment rather than increase profits by reducing the work force and thereby adding to the ranks of the excluded. (204)

Politicians called to vocation for the Common Good • I ask God to give us more politicians capable of sincere and effective dialogue aimed at healing the deepest roots…Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good. (205)

If anyone offend by words • I am interested only in helping those who are in thrall to an individualistic, indifferent and self-centered mentality to be freed from those unworthy chains and to attain a way of living and thinking which is more humane, noble and fruitful, and which will bring dignity to their presence on this earth. (208)

Concern for the vulnerable • Essential to draw near to new forms of poverty and vulnerability, in which we are to recognize the suffering Christ, … I think of the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned, and many others. Migrants present a particular challenge for me, since I am the pastor of a Church without frontiers, …(210)

Distressed at lot of victims of trafficking • …Let us not look the other way. There is greater complicity than we think. The issue involves everyone! This infamous network of crime is now well established in our cities, and many people have blood on their hands as a result of their comfortable and silent complicity. (211) • Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence,…(212) • Particular love and concern are unborn children… (213)

Like St. Francis of Assisi • Respect for all creation • Small yet strong in the love of God, like Saint Francis of Assisi, all of us, as Christians, are called to watch over and protect the fragile world in which we live, and all its peoples. (216)

III. The common good and peace in society • The dignity of the poor is above the privileges of the rich—need to raise our prophetic voice • People in every nation enhance the social dimension of their lives by acting as committed and responsible citizens,…Let us not forget that “responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation”. (USCCB, Forming Conscience for Faithful Citizenship, 220)

Guidance for the development of life in society and building of a people where differences harmonized Indicates 4 principles: time is greater than space, unity prevails over conflict, realities more important than ideas, and the whole is greater than the part.

Apostolic Exhortation