CHURCH IN FOCUS:
Verbum Domini - 4
15 January 2012

In this programme we bring you the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini, meaning, the Word of the Lord, of Pope Benedict XVI, which is a reflection on the Twelfth Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops held in 2008, devoted to “The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church.” This document which is being considered as the most important Church document on Holy Scripture since the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, published in 1965. Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops, said that the purpose of the document is to communicate the results of the Synod; rediscover the Word of God – a source of constant ecclesial renewal; to promote the Bible among pastors; to help the faithful become witnesses of the Word of God; to support the new evangelization and ecumenical dialogue; and to foster ever greater love for the Word of God. It is addressed to the Bishops, Clergy, Consecrated Persons and the Lay Faithful and considers "the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church".
The Second Part of the document is entitled “Verbum in Ecclesia”, meaning the Word in the Church. Chapter one entitled, “The Word of God and the Church” - underlines how it is thanks to the Word of God and the effect of the Sacraments that Jesus remains contemporary to mankind in the life of the Church. “The Liturgy, Privileged Setting for the Word of God” is the title of chapter two, in which the focus turns to “the vital link between Sacred Scripture and the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist”. The importance of the Lectionary is mentioned, as is that of the proclamation of the Word and the ministry of reader, with particular emphasis being laid on the preparation of the homily, a theme of great importance in this Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation.
However, the document tells us that the liturgy is not only the privileged setting in which we hear the word of God, but it is also the goal to which a faith-filled understanding of Scripture must always refer. Unfortunately, the close relationship between word and sacrament is not always understood by the faithful, and so it is the task of priests and deacons to explain this unity when they administer the sacraments. Given the importance of the Mass readings, which are proclaimed by a reader, more training should be provided for those who carry out this task in the liturgy. This training should be in the areas of biblical formation, liturgical formation, and technical preparation. Because of the importance of the word of God in the sacred liturgy, the quality of homilies needs to be improved. It should lead to an understanding of the mystery being celebrated, serve as a summons to mission, and prepare the assembly for the profession of faith, the universal prayer and the Eucharistic liturgy. Generic and abstract homilies which obscure the directness of God’s word should be avoided, as well as useless digressions which risk drawing greater attention to the preacher than to the heart of the Gospel message. The faithful should be able to perceive clearly that the preacher has a compelling desire to present Christ, who must stand at the centre of every homily. To this end, resources and publications should be developed to help the ministers carry out this task.
In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the penitent should begin his or her confession by reading or listening to a biblical exhortation, and should use an act of contrition “based on the words of Scripture”. Communal celebrations of the Anointing of the Sick are urged in parishes and hospitals. The document says that the Liturgy of the Hours has an important place in the Church, and must be prayed daily by Bishops, priests, deacons, and seminarians. The recital of Morning and Evening Prayer is to be encouraged among the lay faithful in parishes and religious communities. In order to aid parishes that lack weekly access to a priest, Pope Benedict asks the competent authorities to develop ritual directories that provide new Sunday celebrations of the word which will not be confused with Sunday Mass.
Within the celebration of the Eucharist, the faithful should be educated in the value of silence. There could also be a greater solemnity (particularly on major feasts) surrounding the Gospel by making use of the Gospel Book and carrying it in procession. It is also helpful when the Gospel is proclaimed in song, particularly on solemnities. The document insists that during the Mass, the readings from Scripture are never to be replaced by other texts. This includes the Responsorial Psalm. Songs and hymns should be chosen which “are of clear biblical inspiration and which express, through the harmony of music and words, the beauty of God’s word,” particularly traditional music such as Gregorian chant. Accommodations should also be made in the liturgy, whenever possible, for the visually and hearing impaired.
Pope Benedict urges all the faithful to read the Scriptures and so to encounter Jesus Christ: “I express my heartfelt hope for the flowering of a ‘new season of greater love for Sacred Scripture on the part of every member of the People of God, so that their prayerful and faith-filled reading of the Bible will, with time, deepen their personal relationship with Jesus’”. When the faithful do not know the Bible, they are often preyed upon by various sects who promote a distorted reading of Scripture. The knowledge of biblical personages and events is to be encouraged, especially the memorization of those scriptural passages “which are particularly expressive of the Christian mysteries”. This scriptural knowledge is to be supplemented by the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is “a sure norm for teaching the faith”. Centres of formation should be established where laity and missionaries can receive a stronger formation in the word of God.
Chapter three of part two concerns “The Word of God in the Life of the Church” and highlights “the importance of biblical inspiration for pastoral activity, the biblical dimension of catechesis, the biblical formation of Christians, the use of Sacred Scripture in great ecclesial gatherings, and the Word of God in relation to vocations”. Within Catholic families, family prayer and reading of the Bible is to be encouraged. Every household should have its own Bible, “to be kept in a worthy place and used for reading and prayer”. In all cases, reading of Scripture should be accompanied by prayer. Here, Pope Benedict cites Saint Augustine: “When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; when you pray, you speak to God”. The practice of lectio divina is to be encouraged, as is the recitation of the rosary. As regards the latter, the announcement of each mystery should be followed by a short biblical text relevant to that mystery.
The third part of the Document deals with the theme of mission and evangelization. The word of God given to us makes us not only hearers, but also heralds so that we share in Christ’s mission and are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The word that we receive is meant for all; it cannot be kept to ourselves. Since it is true, it belongs to everyone. Every area of society needs the light of Christ. “It is not a matter of preaching a word of consolation, but rather a word which disrupts, which calls to conversion and which opens the way to an encounter with the one through whom a new humanity flowers”. This task of proclaiming the word of God belongs to all the baptized. Consciousness of this mission “must be revived in every family, parish, community, association and ecclesial movement”. Because many people, particularly in the Western world, are “baptized, but insufficiently evangelized,” there is need for a “new evangelization”. This mission must not neglect the poor and the need to strive for justice. In this regard, the faithful should receive formation in the Church’s social teaching