Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium Research Articles

Pastoral kenótica:

The article studies a proposal of pastoral action in which is highlighted the kenotic character, that is, turning oneself towards meeting and service of persons. The objective of the article is to highlight that kenotic action is part of Pope Francis’ proposal in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, and that this can be illustrated by the theology of Urs von Balthasar. The methodology relates the authors studied, starting by verifying the theme of kenosis in the theology of Urs von Balthasar and the presence of kenosis in the life of Jesus, especially highlighted in the Last Supper. The study of the theology of Urs von Balthasar refers to the trinitarian kenosis drawn out in the kenosis of Christ and in the ecclesial kenosis, among diverse traits in the realization of Church. The model of Jesus Is considered, in a life of service, and at the Supper with the washing of the feet. The article selects instructions from Pope Francis for the Church in our times, highlighting the neologism of making the Church “take the first step” and positioning itself as “a Church which goes forth”. It is implied that the mission is better developed in communities open to dialogue and to service in the world, in the line of synodality. It concludes that the kenotic character must stand out in the Church’s pastoral dimensio, valued by Urs Von Balthasar and translated in the pastoral orientations of Pope Francis.

Integral Ecology As Theosemiotic: A Case For A Pragmatist Theological Ethics

Integral Ecology As Theosemiotic: A Case For A Pragmatist Theological Ethics

Editorial

Editorial Raymond Studzinski, O.S.B. Many of us are familiar with occasional "breakthrough moments" when we can see ourselves overcoming stagnation and resistance and moving forward in a truly fruitful direction. Such moments may find us thinking and imagining about ourselves and life in a way that liberates us from what has boxed us in and opens us to a depth that has always been there but has eluded us so far. Such breakthroughs happen not only to people and to societies but to disciplines such as theology, philosophy, and psychology. In philosophy, the Scottish philosopher John Macmurray (1891-1976) challenged the individualistic and secular mindset of modern times by declaring in the Gifford Lectures in 1952 and 1953 that human persons are relational beings and are made for communion with one another and ultimately with God. He countered egocentricity by emphasizing community. Parallel to what Macmurray was doing in philosophy, psychoanalysts began to move beyond Freud's emphasis on drive satisfaction as motivating behavior to see persons as relationship-seeking. This new way of thinking created an intellectual renaissance in psychoanalysis with new thinking emerging on issues such as the role of religion and spirituality in maintaining psychic well-being. In the area of evangelization and catechetics, Pope Francis has likewise put relationships front and center with his emphasis on encounter, dialogue, and accompaniment. The introduction to the Directory for Catechesis echoes points made by Pope Francis in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium where he describes the role of accompaniment in promoting spiritual growth (EG 169-173). According to the Directory for Catechesis, the process of accompaniment, a relationship marked by respect, compassion, and trust, provides the formative experience leading to "intimate communion with Christ" (DC 3). In this issue of the IJEC, our authors likewise attend to the centrality of relationships in the ministry of evangelization and catechesis. Brian Pedraza addresses the critical importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as at the center of faith. The thrust of evangelization is to lead others to the encounter with the risen Lord and to establish an abiding and intimate friendship with him which then energizes [End Page 105] the believer to spread the message of salvation. Sadly, as Pedraza notes, surveys reveal only a relatively small percentage of believers acknowledge that God is personal. Others avoid focusing on the personal relationship with the Lord because it does not have enough of a Catholic ring to it or gives insufficient attention to the sacraments. Pedraza skillfully responds to such objections and shows how a personal relationship with Christ and the sacraments work together in drawing persons to a greater gift of self to Christ and their neighbor. In an essay on the special emphasis given to the kerygma in the Directory for Catechesis and other recent ecclesial documents, Eric J. Westby draws attention to the whole-hearted response that the proclamation of the saving work of Jesus Christ can elicit in the hearer. That response finds individuals entering a relationship with the living God which brings a sense of purpose, happiness, and peace. Westby addresses the impact that this renewed attention to the kerygma will have on how a parish staff goes about its ministry. He notes that it is important that staff members are able not only to articulate the kerygma but also that they are willing to share how Christ has touched them personally. They must be ready to work with people in a one-on-one relationship and offer hospitality where all are able to feel welcomed. Proclaiming the kerygma invites a parish community to foster relationships in which all members work together at becoming a missionary church. Relationships are not only with people but with all that surrounds us—the natural environment, the world of culture, and the world of ideas. Samantha Mattheiss and Joseph R. Laracy look at the beauty found in this larger world and explore and try to understand how that quality found in all sorts of objects and experiences can become a path to Christ for us. Beauty can lure us into a relationship with the One, the source of all beauty. Mattheiss and Laracy probe the impact of beauty...

A szegényekért élni és egymás testvérének lenni. Megjegyzések Ferenc pápa pontifikátusának két meghatározó aspektusáról

Drawing on Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the paper examines two important aspects of the ongoing pontificate. Since his election as Bishop of Rome in 2013, the pope has shown particular concern for the poor and encouraged efforts to promote fraternity across borders. Not only has he made gestures to demonstrate the importance of these two themes, but he also addressed them in his magisterial statements which will be systematically analysed in this article. Besides other themes, this essay also detects key ideas preceding the notion of the preferential option for the poor and of universal fraternity in the ecclesial tradition, especially in the teaching of the Second Vatican Council.

Renewing the Kerygmatic Moment: The Centrality of the Kerygma in the 2020 Directory for Catechesis and the Implications for Forming Clergy and Parish Staffs

Renewing the Kerygmatic Moment:The Centrality of the Kerygma in the 2020 Directory for Catechesis and the Implications for Forming Clergy and Parish Staffs Eric J. Westby (bio) Asignificant theme within the 2020 Directory for Catechesis (DC) is the kerygma, which Pope Francis defined as the initial proclamation of the Gospel.1 In the directory, the emphasis on the kerygma is so pronounced that it raises very important pastoral questions: To what degree might the 2020 DC be advocating for a new model of parish faith formation? If so, what exactly is that paradigm and how should parish staffs be formed for it? To address these questions, this essay will examine the kerygma in light of its Scriptural foundations and its use in the DC, discussing not only the major characteristics of its content but also its pastoral priority. In addition to the DC, the primary sources for this reflection will be the ecclesial writings on evangelization and catechesis from Vatican II through 2020. This will lead to a reflection on the implications for the formation of parish staffs. Scriptual Foundations of the Kerygma The kerygma is the initial saving proclamation of Jesus Christ. A form of the word 'kerygma' is present in Mark's Gospel,2 referring to a [End Page 135] public proclamation,3 and with this announcement comes the invitation to follow Jesus. Jesus models these two elements of content and invitation at the outset of His public ministry. The core message of this preaching is the Gospel of God (Mark 1:1, 14-15), the good news.4 In Mark 1:14, Jesus imparts the kerygmatic message by 'preaching' (from the Greek 'kērussō', a form of the word ''kerygma'), 5 Himself being the herald of His saving message: "Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching (emphasis added) the gospel of God. . . ."6 In Mark 1:15, Jesus' first kerygmatic proclamation is one of good news that invites the listener to the response of repentance: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel."7 Thus the message is not simply a theoretical principle, but it invites the listener to personally respond through repentance, 'mĕtanŏĕō', re-aligning one's being to the content of the message.8 In St. Peter's kerygmatic address of Acts 2, there also is both a content of the message and a response on the part of the listener. On the day of Pentecost, St. Peter gives the prototypical post-Resurrection proclamation, in which he summarizes the Lord's saving work in the Paschal Mystery and calls the listener to repentance, baptism and deeper catechetical formation (Acts 2:14-42). This proclamation brings the person to initial faith, in which the individual responds to the promptings of the Spirit to follow Jesus,9 be baptized and live according to His will. [End Page 136] The Definition of the Kerygma According to the Directory for Catechesis Reflecting the contributions of Pope Francis' 2013 Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, the 2020 DC describes the kerygma as the fundamental message of the Christian faith. The kerygma is the first proclamation of Jesus, His saving plan for us that culminates in His passion, death and resurrection.10 The kerygma also contains the offer to heal us of sin and lead us to everlasting life. Pope Francis summarizes the saving kerygma as a simple, joyful recalling of Jesus' love: "Jesus Christ loves you; he gave his life to save you; and now he is living at your side every day to enlighten, strengthen and free you."11 In the DC, the personal response to the kerygma is all-encompassing: No element of one's life is exempt from this call to conversion, and if one lives this message, every aspect of one's being takes on new purpose and meaning in Christ. The DC makes this connection between the content and daily living, in that ". . . the kerygma . . . always has a value of salvation and fullness of life."12 The kerygma is a challenging message that can cause the listener to have to make difficult life decisions, as seen in the DC: . . . the proclamation of...

The Catholic Church’s Mission with the Marginalized

AbstractThe Catholic Church’s primary mission is to spread the kingdom of God. In the broader sense, the kingdom of God means the reign of righteousness, justice, and peace. However, widespread social, political, and economic inequity tramples the rights of the weak. The church wields tremendous power and influence in the world. However, at times it has failed miserably to protect the weakest. The various scandals within the church call for thorough introspection and repentance. Church authorities need to alter power structures radically to empower the poor and the marginalized. In this paper, I shall refer to Pope Francis’s Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium to propose concrete steps the church could take to reach out to the marginalized, heal their wounds, and collaborate with them to spread the kingdom of righteousness, justice, and peace in this world. Apart from Evangelii gaudium, I shall also refer to the documents on the social teachings of the Catholic Church and the views of experts in this field.

Głosiciel z Duchem. Rola Ducha Świętego w kaznodziejstwie według Evangelii gaudium

Papież Franciszek w adhortacji apostolskiej Evangelii gaudium o głoszeniu Ewangelii we współczesnym świecie z 2013 roku podejmuje wiele zagadnień dotyczących roli Ducha Świętego w praktyce kaznodziejskiej. W opracowaniu zostały podjęte zagadnienia dotyczącekwestii pneumatologicznych w przepowiadaniu kaznodziejskim, powołania do słuchania ludzi i głoszenia słowa Bożego, roli Ducha Świętego w przygotowaniu do głoszenia słowa Bożego, duchowości głosiciela słowa Bożego. Wskazane również zostały niebezpieczeństwa zagrażające współczesnym kaznodziejom. Podstawowym źródłem opracowania jest przesłanie Evangelii gaudium, z której powyższe zagadnienie zostały wydobyte i przeanalizowane.

A Capabilities Approach Analysis of Evangelii Gaudium and Its Significance for Catholic Learning Environments on LGBT + Issues

This article examines the 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis in terms of its significance for addressing LGBT + issues in Catholic learning environments. Using the 10 capabilities necessary for human flourishing as outlined by Martha Nussbaum in her capability approach to civil society and questions of social justice, I argue that the implications of Evangelii Gaudium for Catholic learning environments are significant and provide necessary guidance for addressing LGBT + social justice issues where these issues have often been ignored or insufficiently addressed. In Evangelii Gaudium Pope Francis is challenging the global community of Catholics to consider what kind of society the Church is producing, and I argue that a capabilities approach provides a fruitful way in which to consider and respond to this challenge. Although written with Catholicism in mind, the challenges presented by Pope Francis are pertinent for consideration by other faith communities and educators more generally.

RUMO À PLENITUDE

Este artigo faz uma análise e reflexões sobre conversão pastoral a partir dos documentos de Santo Domingo, Aparecida e da Exortação apostólica Evangelii Gaudium. Analisa a partir dos três documentos da Igreja o paradigma da conversão pastoral que possui maior relevância e credibilidade para sua atuação no mundo contemporâneo, especificamente na região amazônica. Primeiramente o artigo busca definir o conceito de conversão pastoral; em seguida aponta a conversão como transformação missionária da Igreja segundo a Evangelii Gaudium e, por último fundamenta a conversão pastoral como uma necessidade para o contexto atual do mundo.

Nawrócenie pastoralne i duszpasterstwo misyjne parafii w Polsce

In his apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium Pope Francis has stated realistically that the call to review and renew our parishes has not yet sufficed to bring them nearer to people, to make them environments of living communion and participation, and to make them completely mission-oriented (EG 28). Answering this papal call directed to the whole Church and concerning the pastoral conversion and missionary ministry, the author of this article attempts to take a look at the renewal of the Catholic parishes in Poland in the context of the direction indicated by Pope Francis, which involves abandonment of the complacent attitude that says: “We have always done it this way” (EG 33). The considerations carried out here consist of four parts. After presenting the theological vision of a Catholic parish (1), the authors moves on to emphasising the essence of the pastoral conversion (2), the culmination of which should be the missionary ministry (3). Visualising the teaching of Pope Francis became the point of giving consideration to the subject matter of setting the trends of working in the Polish parishes (4).

Portuguese

Postmodernity is both a challenge and an opportunity for evangelization due to the overrating of individuality -a legacy of modernity- and the return of religiosity -as immanent religiosity. The magisterium of Pope Francis is a meaningful path to answer to our postmodern reality in the ways suggested by the Second Vatican Council. More precisely, the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (EG) clearly sets out some principles that entail a new pastoral position of the Church in our time. Bearing this in mind, the purpose of the article is to present some possible pastoral changes as a result of the evangelizer and missionary motifs of EG, which aims at establishing a new pastoral activity for the Church in accordance with contemporaneity. For this purpose, the theological and pastoral ideas regarding this issue are considered and some commentators of the thought of Pope Francis are brought forward, who translate his ideas to contemporary pastoral realities. This analysis points out some pastoral changes, that is, personal and ecclesial attitudes and positions that provide new meanings to former pastoral practices, which are meaningless to the postmodern subject. Such changes are not only simple adaptations, determined by historical and social circumstances, but also the assertion of the richness of the Gospel and Christian teachings, which are meaningful to every man and woman in every place and time.

O testemunho da Graça no contexto da comemoração da Reforma: perspectivas práticas do diálogo católico-luterano

O presente artigo, no horizonte dos 500 anos da Reforma, pensa perspectivas práticas do ecumenismo, em especial a partir do diálogo católico-luterano, mas também a partir de outras ressonâncias eclesiais, como a tradição reformada. Desta forma, apresenta-se o documento Do Conflito à Comunhão (DCAC) em sua constituição teórica, identificando-se a graça como moldura teológica do texto. A partir disso, elabora-se uma recepção católica e protestante, também como forma de contribuição e alargamento da noção de gratuidade expressa no DCAC. Com isso, a Exortação Apostólica Evangelii Gaudium (EG) e aspectos da teologia de Barth são pensados no horizonte da graça. Como resultado, percebe-se a gratuidade como ponto de partida para a construção de uma ética comum diante de uma possível nova era ecumênica.

Evangelii Gaudium

Renewal and reformation are indispensable for the growth of person or an institution. Every Christian as an individual and as a member of the church community is in need of renewal to proclaim boldly the gospel of Christ and bear witness through their lives. Secularization and depravity of moral values poses serious challenges to the faith life of a Christian. Moreover, the rise in fundamentalism, jingoism, consumerism, social and political inequity, and environmental degradation are breeding a state of hopelessness, angst, and ennui in the society. Christians and the church need spiritual renewal and transformation to be the salt of the earth and the light to the nations. The Holy Spirit is the principal agent of all genuine spiritual renewal and evangelization. Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, invites all Christians and the church itself to seek renewal in the Holy Spirit by having a personal encounter with Jesus Christ and grow in his discipleship. In this paper, I shall examine the concrete steps the church and Christians need to take for genuine renewal in the Holy Spirit to do the work of evangelization, in the light of the teachings of Evangelii Gaudium. The main source for this paper is Evangelii Gaudium and other church documents.

Evangelii Gaudium, entre desafíos permanentes y novedosos de la evangelización del Pontificado de Francisco, a cinco años de su promulgación.

This paper reviews Church Evangelization challenges, five years after the promulgation of the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, specifying those that are permanent due to the nature proper of the Church and those that are new, which require a greater discernment process. These challenges also make up Pope Francis’s greatest tasks because Exhortation has become the navigation chart of his Pontificate. To discern these challenges for the Universal Church, this paper collects the Latin American Church reflection developed in the Document of Aparecida and the pending tasks of the Council that strongly articulate the pastoral conversion reflection of a Church expressed in Evangelii Gaudium.

POLITICS FOR FRANCIS

The first Latin American Pope chosen as Saint Peter’s successor led up to an unprecedented event in the bimillenary history of the Church. His ideological and pragmatic points of view, as well as his personal and intrinsic virtues, were the distinctive features that catapulted him as an indisputable world leader and model actor in International Politics. As a consequence of this expertise demonstrated by the Bishop of Rome, different issues have been established in the media and in the global public opinion. This can be seen in the anthropological and social aspects of his discourse, which he has successfully instated, as if he were an experienced and successful politician.As a result of Francis’s supremacy due to his leading position and the evident change of direction of some political, social and economic issues by the Church, his discursive production - especially the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)- are essential to understand his conception of politics.

“THE FALL OF THE SECOND WALL”: THE NORMALIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES AND THE ROLE OF POPE FRANCIS

The pastoral trips of Pope Francis to Cuba and to the United States were not only religious. The political activity that he organized to consolidate the relationship between the two recently reconciled countries was remarkable. Through visits, meetings and masses the Pope expressed his position and concerns about various arguments, beyond the recomposed Cuban-American relationship. During the trip he addressed subjects including the environment, poverty, family, union, freedom, all of which were themes that the Pontiff had clearly stated in his encyclical Laudato Si ‘(2015) and his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (2013). With this trip, Pope Francis ended up consolidating his status as a global politician as well as a pastor with a high degree of acceptance not only among Catholics.

A “opção preferencial pelos pobres” como chave hermenêutica da Exortação Apostólica Evangelii Gaudium

A opção preferencial pelos pobres é uma das marcas mais singulares da Igreja latino-america. Cunhada a partir do Concílio Vaticano II e tendo seu ápice nas Conferências de nosso Episcopado, especialmente Medellín, ela encontra eco novamente no pontificado de Francisco, que tem se revelado sensível às questões sociais. Partindo deste princípio, o presente artigo busca analisar a opção supracitada como uma chave hermenêutica de sua Exortação Apostólica Evangelii Gaudium. Para este propósito, tem-se como ponto de partida a compreensão da tarefa hermenêutica da teologia, passando pela força do impulso conciliar, o florescimento de uma nova tradição, o conceito de opção pelos pobres e contra a pobreza, culminando nas reflexões de Francisco a partir de sua exortação e nos seus desdobramentos para a vida da Igreja como um todo.

Papieża Franciszka inspiracje dla duszpasterstwa młodzieży

Duszpasterstwo młodzieży jest posługą zbawczą Kościoła wobec młodzieży szkolnej, pozaszkolnej, akademickiej i pracującej. Jak każde duszpasterstwo wymaga ono przystosowania do zmieniających się warunków społeczno­‑kulturowych. Poszukując odpowiedzi na pytanie o kształt duszpasterstwa młodzieży w obecnym czasie, warto zwrócić uwagę na sugestie papieża Franciszka, które znajdziemy w adhortacji apostolskiej Evangelii gaudium.Wspomniany dokument podkreśla konieczności cierpliwego i miłosiernego słuchania młodego człowieka oraz ofiarowania mu swojego czasu. Ponadto stawia postulat wypracowania i posługiwania się zrozumiałym językiem w pracy z młodzieżą oraz budowania środowiska chrześcijańskiego. Istotny jest także wysiłek na rzecz pogłębionej duchowości oraz odważne poszukiwania nowych dróg w duszpasterskiej pracy z młodymi ludźmi.

Czy parafialne rady duszpasterskie w Polsce są rzeczywiście duszpasterskie?

The article discusses the issue of pastoral nature of the parish pastoral council. Reflection on this subject is due to the results of the national study, which reveals that the parish pastoral councils in Poland largely deal with economic and financial affairs. This is incompatible with the theological vision and legal norms, governing the specifics and the tasks of that council. The study identified some causes of that situation, and indicated several ways for its improvement. Contemporary challenges facing the parish, which derive from the new chapter of evangelization delineated by Pope Francis in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii gaudium, may find in parish pastoral council one of the major protagonists. This will be possible when the parish pastoral council will strengthen its pastoral character.

Pope Francis, Liberation Theology, and Social Global Justice

Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (2013) addresses social issues even if it is not a social document. This paper unfolds its social message and detects the possible convergences with some social themes in the Latin American theology of liberation. In doing this, Francis’ considerations will be framed, as far as possible, in the perspective of the traditional Roman Catholic social thought. Thus, providing also insights on where Francis’ teaching adheres more and where less with the previous social magisterium. After an introductory part and an historical overview on the relationships between the Holy See and liberation theology, we will outline the basic elements of the theology of liberation. Then, drawing from Evangelii Gaudium, we will reflect on Francis’ considerations on themes such as the kingdom of God, the poor, consumerism, and the free-market, for then assessing its relevance for the church in the contemporary world in the concluding part.