Verbum Domini

Verbum Domini (English: The word of the Lord) is the title of Pope Benedict XVI. written post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation of 30 September 2010, which published as the Exhortation and was presented on 11 November of the same year. It deals with the "Word of God in the life and mission of the Church" and summarizes the results of the 12th Ordinary Synod of Bishops, which until October 23, 2008 was held from 5th to this topic in Rome, together.

Structure

The letter is divided into three main parts:

I. Verbum Dei ( " The Word of God " )

II Verbum in Ecclesia ( "The Word in the Church" )

III. Verbum Mundo ( " The Word of God proclaim " )

Description

The Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation " Verbum Domini " (VD ) comprises 220 pages and is the summary of one month work session of the Synod of Bishops. The Synod defines their work as a contribution to give new impetus to address grievances and record perspectives.

" ... The concern is of utmost importance. It is about the ever-increasing discovery of the centrality of the Word of God in our personal lives and in the life of the Church and to the discovery of the urgency and the beauty of the proclamation of the Word for the salvation of mankind as convinced and credible witnesses of the Risen Lord. What would be necessary? "

" The word of the Lord endures forever " it says in the First Letter of Peter 1,25 EU and this set includes the Statement on "The Path to Faith " (first letter of Peter 1.13 to 25 EU) from. This sentence is the main idea of ​​this post-synodal letter, which mentioned in the first half of the "Word of God" and in the second half refers to the "perpetual inventory ". The Pope wants to know understand these basic ideas for a rediscovery of the divine word. He reminds the believers in a personal and communal encounter with Christ. He has the words of life and urges people to the Word of God to rediscover and proclaim.

Objectives

The Synod of Bishops affirm that the Scriptures should never be replaced by other texts, and thus affirm the second part of the sentence ... " abideth for ever ." The synod participants formulate their ultimate goals as follows:

" No text of spirituality or literature can attain the value and richness contained in the Holy Scriptures, the Word of God. It should be the " biblical pastoral " promote not alongside other forms of pastoral care, but as the whole pastoral soul. Where the faithful are not trained to a knowledge of the Bible according to the faith of the Church and in the lap of her living Tradition, created a pastoral vacuum in which, among other sects can find ground to take root. The biblical apostolate must be strengthened. The Synod desires that every house should have his Bible and they aufbewahre in a dignified manner, to read to her and pray with her can. "

Pope Benedict XVI. formulated his goals as an appeal to all people, when he writes:

"I remember all Christians that our personal and communal relationship with God depends on the growing familiarity with the divine word. Finally, I turn to all people, even to those who moved away from the church, abandoned the faith or the proclamation of salvation have never heard. For each individual, the Lord says. " I stand at the door and knock " (Revelation of John 3,20 EU) "

Core sets

On the basis of the First Epistle of Peter, the Pope is extending its thoughts and reminiscent of other words from the Bible. He refers to the fact that there are " words of eternal life " (John 6.68 EU), which are open to the people of today again access to God. In the broadest sense, Benedict XVI called for. believers to occur through the " words of Scripture " in a new dialogue with God. For God reveals himself in the dialog. And when the apostle John says, " God is love " (first letter of John 4,16 EU) then it marks the Christian image of God and the image of man.

From this derives the Pope, that the one who knows the word of God also recognizes the importance of each creature. This also means that possession, pleasure and power would prove unable to satisfy the deep desire for love, for the paean to God's Word (Psalm 119.1 EU ) states: "Lord, your word is for ever, it is clear as the sky "(Psalm 119:89 EU). The meaning of the Holy Word, so he continues to write, but can not be detected without the Holy Spirit. But, warns the Pope, the biblical text had not been dictated by the Holy Spirit, but the writing was written in a language and style that was due to the epoch. The interpretation of Scripture thus directed at the fundamental interpretation of the faith. The inspiration is ultimately the key to access to the events to put into human words. In addition to this, he recalled the level specified by the Second Vatican Council, three basic criteria that are used to consider the divine dimension of the Bible:

1) interpretation of the text with regard to the unity of the whole Scripture - this is now often called canonical exegesis,

2 ) Consideration of the living Tradition of the whole Church, and finally

3 ) Compliance with the analogy of faith.