Spirit leads Church on path
of renewal
H. H.
John Paul II
General Audience
November 25, 1998
1. In the previous
catechesis we reflected on the “signs of hope” present in our world.
Today we would like to continue our reflection, examining some of
the “signs of hope” present in the Church so that Christian
communities can have an ever better understanding and appreciation
of them. They stem from the action of the Holy Spirit who, down the
centuries, “by the power of the Gospel ... permits the Church to
keep the freshness of youth. Constantly he renews her and leads her
to perfect union with her Spouse” (Lumen gentium, n. 4).
Among the ecclesial events that have left a deep mark on our
century, the most important is the Second Vatican Ecumenical
Council. Through it the Church took from her treasury “what is new
and what is old” (cf. Mt 13:52) and experienced in a certain way the
grace of a renewed Pentecost (cf. Address of John XXIII at the close
of the Council's first period, III, in Discorsi, Messaggi, Colloqui
V [1962/1963], p. 29). If we look closely, the signs of hope which
enliven the Church’s mission today are closely connected with this
abundant outpouring of the Holy Spirit which the Church experienced
in the preparation, celebration and application of the Second
Vatican Council.
2. Listening to what “the Spirit is saying to the Church and to the
Churches” (Tertio millennio adveniente, n. 23; cf. Rv 2:7ff.) is
expressed in acceptance of the charisms which he distributes in
abundance. Their rediscovery and appreciation has developed a more
intense communion between the various vocations of the People of
God, such as a renewed, joyful enthusiasm for evangelization.
Today especially, the Holy Spirit is spurring the Church to promote
the vocation and mission of the lay faithful. Their participation
and co-responsibility in the life of the Christian community and the
many forms of their apostolate and service in society give us
reason, at the dawn of the third millennium, to await with hope a
mature and fruitful “epiphany” of the laity. A similar expectation
concerns the role that woman is called to assume. As in civil
society, so in the Church the “feminine genius” is becoming more and
more apparent, and it must be increasingly promoted in ways
appropriate to the vocation of woman according to God’s plan.
Moreover, we cannot forget that one of the gifts the Spirit has
generously bestowed in our time is the flourishing of ecclesial
movements, which from the beginning of my Pontificate I have
continued to point to as a cause of hope for the Church and for
society. They “are a sign of the freedom of forms in which the one
Church is expressed, and they represent a sound newness, which still
waits to be adequately understood in all its positive effectiveness
for the kingdom of God at work in the present moment of history”, (Insegnamenti
VII/2 [1984], p. 696).
3. Our century has also seen the seed of the ecumenical movement
blossom and grow. In this movement the Holy Spirit has led the
members of the various Ecclesial Communities to seek the ways of
dialogue in order to re-establish full unity.
In particular, thanks to the Second Vatican Council, the search for
unity and ecumenical concern have unquestionably become “a necessary
dimension of the whole life of the Church”, and a priority
commitment to which the Catholic Church “wants to contribute in
every possible way” (Insegnamenti VIII/1 [1985], pp 1991, 1999). The
dialogue of truth, preceded and accompanied by the dialogue of
charity, is gradually achieving remarkable results. There is also a
stronger awareness that the real soul of the movement to restore
Christian unity is spiritual ecumenism, that is, conversion of
heart, prayer and holiness of life (cf. Unitatis redintegratio, n.
8).
4. Lastly, among the many other signs of hope, I would like to
mention “the increased interest in dialogue with other religions and
with contemporary culture” (Tertio millennio adveniente, n. 46).
As to the former, one need only recall the prophetic significance
that the Second Vatican Council's Declaration Nostra aetate on the
Church's relations with non-Christian religions has gradually
assumed. Many experiences of meeting and dialogue at various levels
have taken place and are taking place in every part of the world
between representatives of the different religions. I am pleased to
mention in particular the great progress that has been made in the
dialogue with the Jews, our “elder brothers”.
An important sign of hope for humanity is that the religions are
trustingly engaged in dialogue and feel the urgent need to join
forces to encourage progress and to contribute to the moral
commitment of nations. Faith in the constant action of the Spirit
gives us hope that also by this path of mutual concern and esteem it
will be possible for everyone to be open to Christ, the true Light
that “enlightens every man” (Jn 1:9).
As for the dialogue with culture, the attitude expressed by the
Second Vatican Council is showing its providential effectiveness:
“Just as it is in the world’s interest to acknowledge the Church as
a social reality and a driving force in history, so too the Church
is not unaware of how much she has profited from the history and
development of mankind” (Gaudium et spes, n. 44). Contacts made in
this area have already overcome unwarranted prejudices. The new
attention paid by the various cultural currents of our time to
religious experience, and to Christianity in particular, spurs us to
persevere on the path we have chosen towards a fresh meeting between
the Gospel and culture.
5. In these many signs of hope, we cannot fail to recognize the
action of God’s Spirit. However, in full dependence upon and in
communion with him, I also like to see in them the role of Mary, “as
though fashioned by the Holy Spirit and formed as a new creature”
(Lumen gentium, n. 56). Mary intercedes for the Church as a mother
and leads her on the path of holiness and docility to the Paraclete.
At the dawn of the new millennium, we can joyfully discern that
“Marian profile” of the Church (cf. Insegnamenti X/3 [1987], p.
1483) which epitomizes the deepest meaning of conciliar renewal.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we reflect on some of the “signs of hope” present in the
Church. These signs are closely connected to the abundant outpouring
of the Holy Spirit which the Church experienced in the preparation,
celebration and application of the Second Vatican Council.
Among other things, the fruits of the Council have included a better
understanding of the specific vocation and mission of the laity, a
more active role for women in the Church, and the spread of various
ecclesial movements. Ecumenism too has grown, and Christians have
become more aware that unity requires prayer, conversion of heart
and holiness of life.
With the example of the Blessed Virgin Mary always before us, may
all Christ’s faithful be ever obedient to the Spirit as they
continue along the path of authentic renewal.
To the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors the Holy Father said:
I warmly greet the many English-speaking pilgrims and visitors
present at this audience, especially those from the United States,
Canada and India. Upon you and your families I invoke the joy and
peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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