2. 1 John 1:1
What was from the beginning,
what we have heard, what we
have seen with our eyes, what
we have looked at
and touched with our hands,
concerning the Word of Life.
3. LUMEN FIDEI, POPE FRANCIS.
1. THE AUTHOR(S) OF THE ENCYCLICAL:
BENEDICT AND FRANCIS
2. THE CONTEXT OF THE ENCYCLICAL
3. THE TRAJECTORY OF THE
ENCYCLICAL
4. THE “BIG IDEAS” OF THE ENCYCLICAL
5. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
TO CATECHETICAL MINISTRY
5. Pope Benedict XVI
Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger
▪ Born: 16 April 1927; Age: 86
▪ Entered the Seminary – 1939
▪ Ordained – 1951
▪ At the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), Ratzinger
served chief theologian expert to Cardinal Joseph Frings
of Cologne, Germany.
▪ Elected Pope: 19 April 2005
▪ Resigned: 28 February 2013
Marktl am Inn, Bavaria Germany
6. Pope Francis
Jorge Mario Bergoglio
▪Archbishop of Buenos
Aires
▪Born December 17, 1936.
Age 76. Entered the
Society of Jesus – March
11, 1958 (novitiate).
Chemical technician. Jesuit
Provincial July 31, 1973.
7. 10 Things Pope Benedict
Wants you to know
JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.
18. 10 Things10 Things Pope FrancisPope Francis
Wants You to KnowWants You to Know
JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.JOHN L. ALLEN, JR.
19. ““A Poor Church forA Poor Church for
the Poor”the Poor”
A Poor Church for the PoorA Poor Church for the Poor
““How I would like a poor Church for poor!”How I would like a poor Church for poor!”
20. A Poor Church for the PoorA Poor Church for the Poor
22. HumilityHumility (humilitas)(humilitas)
Three qualities for the Church ofThree qualities for the Church of
the 21the 21stst
century:century:
1. Humility1. Humility
2. Simplicity2. Simplicity
3. Greater capacity for silence3. Greater capacity for silence
23. Stay Close to the PeopleStay Close to the People
““To evangelize means meeting people, where they are…”To evangelize means meeting people, where they are…”
24. Stay Close to the PeopleStay Close to the People
To evangelize means meetingTo evangelize means meeting
people where they are, being able topeople where they are, being able to
connect with their doubts and theirconnect with their doubts and their
frustrations, understanding whatfrustrations, understanding what
they bring to the table.they bring to the table.
25. Never Give Up On God’s MercyNever Give Up On God’s Mercy
““Miserando atque eligendo”Miserando atque eligendo”
(“Seeing through the eyes of mercy, he chose him.”)(“Seeing through the eyes of mercy, he chose him.”)
26. Never Give Up On God’s MercyNever Give Up On God’s Mercy
“The Lord never gets tired of
forgiving. “Never,” Francis
said. We are the ones who get
tired of asking him for
forgiveness.”
27. We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
St. Francis of AssisiSt. Francis of Assisi
28. We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
When they think about “the Church,”
Catholics typically see two faces.
There’s the face of the institution,
which is about infrastructure and
resources, rules and regulations, and a
hierarchical chain of command.
29. We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
…Then there’s the Church of the spirit,
a humble and simple community of
equals with a special love for the least
of this world. Ideally the two go
together, but in any case they’re
distinct.
30. We’re All Franciscans NowWe’re All Franciscans Now
By taking the name “Francis,” the pope has
essentially said that the second face of the
Church must shine through in a new way.
In other words, Francis has offered a whole
program of governance, an entire
ecclesiastical vision, in a single word.”
31. The Faith Must be Proposed,The Faith Must be Proposed,
Never ImposedNever Imposed
““The faith must always be proposed, but it must be never be imposed”The faith must always be proposed, but it must be never be imposed”
““I told you that I would give youI told you that I would give you
my blessing from my heart. Sincemy blessing from my heart. Since
many of you don’t belong to themany of you don’t belong to the
Catholic Church, and others [ofCatholic Church, and others [of
you] are nonbelievers, I impartyou] are nonbelievers, I impart
this blessing from my heart inthis blessing from my heart in
silence, to each of you, respectingsilence, to each of you, respecting
the conscience of every one, butthe conscience of every one, but
knowing that each of you is aknowing that each of you is a
child of God.child of God.
May God bless you.”May God bless you.”
32. The Faith Must be Proposed,The Faith Must be Proposed,
Never ImposedNever Imposed
“We have to avoid the spiritual
sickness of a self-referential church,”
he said in a 2012 interview. “When you
get out into the street, as happens to
every man and woman, there can be
accidents.”
33. The Faith Must be Proposed,The Faith Must be Proposed,
Never ImposedNever Imposed
…However, if the Church remains closed
in on itself, self-referential, it gets old.
Between a Church that suffers accidents in
the street and a Church that’s sick because
it’s self-referential, I have no doubts about
preferring the former.”
34. The Faith Must be Proposed,The Faith Must be Proposed,
Never ImposedNever Imposed
One has the sense that this will be a
pope relentless about proposing the
faith to the world, but deeply
respectful of those who chose not to
take him up on the offer.
35. We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
““If we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong.”If we do not profess Jesus Christ, things go wrong.”
36. We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
In an homily during a March 14
Mass with the cardinals who elected
him, Francis pointedly said that “if
we do not profess Jesus Christ,
things go wrong.”
37. We’re Not an NGOWe’re Not an NGO
We may become a charitable
NGO (nongovernmental
organization),” he said, “but not
the Church, the Bride of the
Lord.”
38. Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
““the fruit of hope is,the fruit of hope is, apostolic courageapostolic courage, meaning the willingness to transmit the, meaning the willingness to transmit the
Gospel everywhere and always.”Gospel everywhere and always.”
39. Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
“Let us never yield to
pessimism…let us not
yield to pessimism or
discouragement,” he said.
40. Never Give in to PessimismNever Give in to Pessimism
“Let us be quite certain that the Holy Spirit
bestow upon the Church, with his powerful
breath, the courage to persevere and also to
seek new methods of evangelization, so as
to bring the gospel to the uttermost ends of
the earth.”
41. Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
““Let us pass on this wisdom to the young…”Let us pass on this wisdom to the young…”
42. Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
In other words, Francis wants to be
an evangelizing pope, someone who
can reach out beyond the confines
of the already convinced and
represent Christianity to the wider
world.
43. Have a Sense of HumorHave a Sense of Humor
He knows that doing that with a smile
rather than a frown is likely to be a more
winning missionary strategy, and he’s
comfortable enough in his own skin to
break the formal mode of the papacy and
come off the cuff with some humor.
44. The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
““In order to dialogue, it is necessary to know how to lower theIn order to dialogue, it is necessary to know how to lower the
defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth.”defenses, open the doors of the house, and offer human warmth.”
45. The Holy Spirit is also the one “who
creates unity from these differences,
not in ‘equality,’ but in harmony. I
remember the Father of the Church
who described him thus: Ipse
harmonia est.
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
46. The Paraclete, who gives different
charisms to each of us, unites us in
this community of the Church,
which worships the Father, the Son,
and him, the Holy Spirit.”
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
47. Those words suggest that Francis is
likely to be a pope who stresses the
value of unity, trying to push Catholics
beyond their internal differences as
well as toward greater cooperation with
other Christian denominations.
The Importance of UnityThe Importance of Unity
48. Article 7.
these considerations
on faith – in continuity
with all that the
church’s magisterium
has pronounced on
this theological virtue are meant to
supplement what Benedict XVI had
written in his encyclical letters on
charity and hope.
49. his fine work and added a few
contributions of my own…..
He himself had almost
completed a first draft
of an encyclical on
faith. For this I am
deeply grateful to him
and as his brother in
Christ I have taken up
51. WHAT IS SECULARISM?WHAT IS SECULARISM?
"Secular""Secular"
today stands intoday stands in
opposition toopposition to
"religious"."religious".
52. According to this
usage, something
is secular when it
can be
categorized with
the worldly, civil, non-
religious sphere of human life.
53. According to this usage,
something is secular when it is
not worshipped,
when it is not
venerated, and
when it is open for
critique, judgment,
and replacement.
57. Three essential principles
(3) That it is good to do good.
Whether there be other good or
not, the good of the present life
is good, and it is good to seek
that good.”
58. Characteristics of Secularism:
1. It can indicate the autonomy
of earthly realities and the
separation between the
Kingdom of God and the
kingdom of Caesar.
59. Characteristics of Secularism:
2. Secularism supports the
individual against the pressure of
the group and the individual
conscience against the dogma of
the group. In this sense it promotes
individualism.
60. Characteristics of Secularism:
3. According to Virgilius Ferm in his
Encyclopedia of Religion secularism is
“a variety of utilitarian social ethic
which seeks human improvement
without reference to religion and
exclusively by means of human reason,
science and social organization.
61. Characteristics of Secularism:
…It has developed into a positive
and widely adopted outlook which
aims to direct all activities and
institutions by a non-religious
concern for the goods of the
present life and for social well-
being.”
63. Characteristics of Secularism:
4. It is a morality that is based on
rational considerations regarding
human well-being in this world, to
the exclusion of considerations
relating to God or the afterlife.
67. Fundamentalism as found in all religious
persuasion is characterized by:
1. Extreme conservatism in
doctrine, deriving from
literalist interpretations of
their holy books or/and
sacred customs.
68. Fundamentalism as found in all religious
persuasion is characterized by:
2. Intolerance of others, both
co-religionists not belonging
to their group and much
more of other religions.
69. Fundamentalism as found in all religious
persuasion is characterized by:
3. Inability to see any good
from others outside of their
group, therefore very
inward looking.
70. Fundamentalism as found in all religious
persuasion is characterized by:
4. There is no openness to
dialogue and working
together.
71. Fundamentalism as found in all religious
persuasion is characterized by:
5. There is great effort to
proselytize.
72. We can view the rise ofWe can view the rise of
fundamentalism as afundamentalism as a
reaction of groups who arereaction of groups who are
threatened by the rapidthreatened by the rapid
changes happening aroundchanges happening around
them. It is the refusal tothem. It is the refusal to
understand and adjust tounderstand and adjust to
new reality.new reality.
73. TRAJECTORY OF THE ENCYCLICAL
The first
encyclical
sets the
tone of the
papacy.
74. Lumen Fidei is to be understood in
the church’s mission of the new
evangelization. New
evangelization started
with John XXIII and
the Second Vatican
Council –
“aggiornamento”
75. Lumen Fidei is part of theLumen Fidei is part of the
renewal brought about by therenewal brought about by the
papacy of Benedict. 50papacy of Benedict. 50thth
anniversary of Vatican II.anniversary of Vatican II.
76. Benedict XVI underlinesBenedict XVI underlines
the renewal of Vatican IIthe renewal of Vatican II
–– Deus Caritas EstDeus Caritas Est,,
Spe SalviSpe Salvi and nowand now
Lumen FideiLumen Fidei. Two. Two
documents weredocuments were
produced:produced:
SacramentumSacramentum
CaritatisCaritatis andand VerbumVerbum
Domini.Domini. And a socialAnd a social
encyclical –encyclical – Caritas inCaritas in
VeritateVeritate..
77. The first chapterfirst chapter
(Salvation History)(Salvation History) takes the
reader on a whirlwind tour of the Old and
New Testaments, from Abraham, who first
hears God’s call, through the Israelites
traveling towards the light of the Promised
Land, to Jesus’ death on the Cross, the
ultimate act of God’s love for humanity.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
79. Chapter twoChapter two (Faith & Truth)(Faith & Truth)
insists on the link betweeninsists on the link between
Faith and Truth, without loveFaith and Truth, without love
in our hearts, truth becomesin our hearts, truth becomes
cold, impersonal, oppressive,cold, impersonal, oppressive,
unable to transform the livesunable to transform the lives
of other.of other.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
80. But by listening, seeing andBut by listening, seeing and
believing in Christ’s presencebelieving in Christ’s presence
in our lives today, we canin our lives today, we can
broaden our horizons and findbroaden our horizons and find
better ways of serving thebetter ways of serving the
common good.common good.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
81. ▪Faith and Truth
▪Knowledge of the Truth and Love
▪Faith as Hearing and Sight
▪The Dialogue between Faith and
Reason
▪Faith and the Search for God
▪Faith and Theology
82. TheThe third chapterthird chapter
(Church)(Church) of the encyclical centersof the encyclical centers
on the Church as the place where the lighton the Church as the place where the light
of faith is safeguarded and transmittedof faith is safeguarded and transmitted
from one generation to the next.from one generation to the next.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
I delivered to you what I also received
(1 Cor 15:3).
83. TheThe final chapterfinal chapter focuses onfocuses on
Faith and the commonFaith and the common
goodgood and shows how the lightand shows how the light
of faith can promote peace andof faith can promote peace and
reconciliation, and teach respectreconciliation, and teach respect
for God’s creation.for God’s creation.
BIG IDEAS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
84. # 55 Faith by revealing the love
of God the Creator, enables us to
respect nature all the more, and
to discern in it a grammar
written by the hand of God and a
dwelling place entrusted to our
protection and care.
85. Suffering reminds us that
faith’s service to the
common good is always one
of hope
86. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
i.i. (Fides Quae)(Fides Quae) Faith isFaith is
knowing the truthknowing the truth (Chapter2)(Chapter2)
“Faith without truth does not“Faith without truth does not
grow”grow”
87. Meaning:
-A catechist must have a personal relationship
with God
- “Contemplation and Action well united”
- Great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament (Holy
Hour)
- Love of the Eucharistic Celebration
-Must be close to the people
- Bearers of joy
88. A Catechist must be solidly
grounded on the truths of our
faith, in touch with the teachings
of the magisterium and faithful to
the Church and our God.
90. A Catechist is one who has a good memory.
It’s not that one must have a great mind and
photographic memory. We mean here, is
someone who has a sense of gratitude, a
grateful heart. Someone who never forgets
what the Lord has done and is continuously
doing in his life.
91. A Catechist believes with the heart. This blending
of faith and love we come to see the kind of
knowledge which faith entails, its power to
convince and its ability to illumine our steps.
Faith knows because it is tied to love, because
love itself brings enlightenment. (Art. 26)
92. Meaning:
-Love is a verb not a noun
- Faith is a gift that we need to share
- Faith is performative not informative
- witnessing: “simple living”
93. As a Catechist, s/he is called to be
faithful to the one who called him
and see in all God's presence.
Someone who is very much in love
with the Lord and radiates and
illumines this love experience to
others.
95. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
ii.ii. (Confessio et caritas)(Confessio et caritas)
Faith is personal andFaith is personal and
LovingLoving (# 20)(# 20)
96. A Catechist is one who has a
personal relationship with the
Lord, leading others to the
encounter of this loving God.
97. A Catechist realizes that s/he
is nothing without God and
that everything that s/he has
and is comes from God our
Father.
99. A Catechist believes that God
is a living God making himself
available for all and that each
one is being called by him to a
relationship.
100. A Catechist realizes that he is
nothing without God and that
everything that s/he has and is
comes from God our Father.
101. A Catechist is one who
journeys with people entrusted
to him/her is willing to
sacrifice and give time to lead
others to God.
102. A Catechist is mindful of
God’s manifestation at all
times
103. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
iii.iii. Faith is CommunalFaith is Communal
(Chapter 1 #22)(Chapter 1 #22)
104. A catechist is called to be a man or
woman of the church. His/her love
for the church is “unquestioned”.
He/she brings people to an
understanding and appreciation of
the church – universal, local,
diocesan and even parish.
105. Meaning:
-Faithful to the teachings of the
Church… (for we are the “echoes of
Christ”)
- would not engage or involve
oneself to gossips and intrigues
destroying the Church
106. Church involvement is a most
important program of the
catechetical office. As an active
member of the diocese and the
parish, he promotes the programs
and activities of the parish
among the faith communities.
107. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
iv.iv. Faith is developmentalFaith is developmental
108. Meaning:
A Catechist grows in faith –
matures in faith.
Faith is a gift to be nurtured..
“Catechist for Life”
- “Katekistas Oradores”
iv.iv. Faith is developmentalFaith is developmental
109. A catechist is able to create
developmentally appropriate
programs for children and
young people. A good
articulation of the
111. Big Challenge: Catechists
should come together and
review the K – 10
Catechetical Program with a
view to: a. articulate Grs. 11 –
12 and and Tertiary level
RelEd/Theology
112. Big Challenge: Catechists should
come together and review the K –
10 Catechetical Program with a
view to: b. integration of programs
and structures of catechetical
instruction, campus ministry and
extension program/pastoral
program in a Catholic school
113. Orthodoxy
Orthopraxis
Scripture/Tradition
Human Experience
Ideological Activism
(No prayer)
WORSHIP (Sacraments)
[Ritualism]
MORALS
[Activism]
DOCTRINE
[Dogmatism]
Idealistic Activism
(No
doctrinal base)Pious Dogm
atism
(No
Praxis)
DIAGRAM OF CATHOLIC FAITH (NCDP 200)
Catechesis/
Religious
Education
Pastoral
Ministry/Exten
sion Ministry
Campus Ministry
114. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
v.v. Faith is MissionaryFaith is Missionary
(reaches out to others)(reaches out to others)
(Chapter 3)(Chapter 3)
115. A catechist is aware that missio
“ad gentes, ad extra, ad vitam”
is the church’s pastoral priority.
He/she helps create a “sense of
mission” through involvement in
the Pontifical Mission Societies.
116. October is highlighted as
“Mission Month” – the
school is called to
awareness and assistance
of foreign missions,
especially in Asia and
Africa.
117. IMPLICATIONS OF THE ENCYCLICAL
vi.vi. Faith is InculturationFaith is Inculturation
((Chapter 4)Chapter 4)
118. A catechist is called to help “de –
privatize” the faith. That faith has
social and cultural implications is a
concern of the catechetical ministry.
Conscious of Catholic Social
Teachings, a catechist works in
coordination with the social services
and social development office of the
diocese and works in the BECs/MSK
119. Meaning:
- Is Involved in the concerns of society
-Able to articulate the “burning issues”
of the day and integrate them in
catechesis
-Knows how to integrate faith and
culture: “faith shapes culture”
