Loving the Bride, vol. 13

Something old...

In 1985, the twentieth anniversary of the [Second Vatican] Council's closing, an extraordinary Synod of Bishops was convened. I bring this up because from that Synod came the idea of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Some theologians, at times whole groups, spread the notion that there was no longer a need for a catechism, that it was an obsolete means of handing down the faith, and therefore should be abandoned. They also expressed the opinion that it would be impossible to create a catechism for the universal Church. These were the same groups that had earlier judged the Code of Canon Law, already called for by John XXIII, as useless and inappropriate. But the voice of the bishops assembled at the Synod painted an entirely different picture--the new Code had been a timely initiative which met a need within the Church.

The Catechism was also indispensable, in order that all the richness of the teaching of the Church following the Second Vatican Council could be preserved in a new synthesis and be given a new direction. Without the Catechism of the universal Church, this would not have been accomplished. On the basis of this text of the Church's Magisterium, individual groups could then go on to create their own catechisms according to local needs. In a relatively brief the great synthesis was completed. The entire Church truly had a role in this. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger [now Benedict XVI], Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, deserves particular credit in this regard. The Catechism, published in 1992, became a best-seller worldwide, proving the great demand for this type of text, which at first glance might seem to be of limited interest only.

And interest in the Catechism continues. We find ourselves faced with a new reality. The world, tired of ideology, is opening itself to the truth. The time has come when the splendor of this truth (veritatis splendor) has begun anew to illuminate the darkness of human existence.

-----John Paul II, Crossing the Threshold of Hope, p. 164.


Something new...

And now, a word from our Cardinal... Cardinal O'Malley of Boston speaks to pro-lifers in Washington DC.
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Okay, maybe this is not "new" to you, but here's a news flash for me. I've lived in the Archdiocese of Boston for over 12 years... I just learned about http://www.catholictv.org/AboutUs/Default.aspx ... out of BOSTON!!!
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The Vatican is planning to update its bio-ethics standings. All I can say is: GOOD! We NEED it!
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Check out this tee shirt from cool2bCatholic: "God gives no stress that chocolate and prayer can't handle."

Something borrowed....

Glad to also endorse the National Catholic Register with Catholic Matriarch plus a double endorsement of her asking the question: What makes an effective diocese?

Something blue...

Heil sért þú, María, full náðar, Drottinn er með þér, blessuð ert þú meðal kvenna, og blessaður er ávöxtur lífs þíns, Jesús. Heilaga María, Guðsmóðir, bið þú fyrir oss syndugum mönnum nú og á dauðastundu vorri. Amen.

Just in case you are wondering... the above is "The Hail Mary" in Icelandic. For a really cool site that features the Hail Mary in all the languages of the world, go here.

Copyright 2006 Patricia W. Gohn