Why I chose love as the theme of my first encyclical – Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI has published his first encyclical, Deus Caritas Est, God is love. Why did he write it? Why did he choose this theme? What was his intention? The Holy Father responds to these questions in the text below.
Pope Benedict XVI’s choice of “love’ as the focus of his first encyclical will likely surprise both his supporters and critics says Father Thomas Williams, a Dean at Rome’s Regina Apostolorum.
Read Pope Benedict XVI first encyclical: (God is Love)
Encyclical Letter “Deus Caritas Est”
Given in Rome, at St. Peter’s on 25 December, The Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord in the year 2005, the first of my Pontificate.
Closing Prayer of the Encyclical:
Independent Catholic NewsROME – 19 January 2006 – 245 words
Benedict XVI’s first Encyclical to be published next week
During yesterday’s general audience, Benedict XVI announced that his first Encyclical, the title of which is “Deus Caritas est,” will made public on January 25. The official presentation of the document will take place in the Holy See Press Office at midday on the same day.
Explaining the contents of the document, the Pope said that “love today often appears as something far removed from Church teaching.” Yet “It is a single movement that has various dimensions.”
“Charity,” the Holy Father went on, “is the love that renounces itself in favour of others. ‘Eros’ becomes ‘agape’ if one seeks the good of others, it becomes ‘caritas’ if it opens to one’s own family and to the entire human family.”
God is love: Simple papal message reflects basics of faith
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Even before the release of Pope Benedict XVI’s first encyclical in late January, it was clear that the theme — “God is love” — reflected an emerging focus of his papacy’s first year. From his inaugural Mass in April to his recent improvised sermon at a baptismal liturgy, in speeches to world leaders and bishops, the pope has been preaching a basic message — God is good, God cannot be shut out of personal and social life, and God reaches out to humanity through Jesus Christ. Many were expecting a rule-tightening papacy from Pope Benedict, who headed the Vatican’s doctrinal congregation for 24 years. But instead of loading his talks and texts with Catholic magisterial pronouncements, the pope has used scriptural, philosophical and anthropological sources to stir an awareness of the transcendent purpose of human affairs. As a teacher, the pope is taking a less-dogmatic approach in order to reach a wider audience. He is inviting individuals and modern society to change their relationship with God — a relationship, he argues, that is often one of indifference or antagonism.
Interesting an heplful site on small Christian Communities and resources for faith sharing.
Office of Parish Life: SCC Resource Manual 2005 – Faith Sharing Resources
Sr. Joan: Reflective thoughts on the world we live in.
Annnouncement and resources from ‘Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops’.
CCCB / CECC
Links, resources, articles, for 2006 ‘Week of Prayer for Christian Unity’, from a Canadian perspective.
