NOTE: Dear Readers, in all my years of translating religious
documents for Rorate Caeli, I have never translated one so devoid of any real
content, so forgive me if it’s not a “good” read -- superficiality is not easy to translate.
F.R.
To be reconciled in order to proclaim the Gospel
Declaration of the Italian Episcopal Conference and
the Italian Lutheran Evangelical Church for the 500th anniversary of the
Reformation [sic, Revolt]
“Rather than past conflicts, the divine gift of
unity among us will guide collaboration and deepen our solidarity. Closely
united in our faith in Christ, praying together, listening to one another,
experiencing the love of Christ in our relationships, we, Catholics and
Lutherans, are open to the power of the One Triune God. Rooted in Christ and
rendering witness to Him, we renew our determination to be faithful heralds of
the infinite love of God for all of mankind” (Joint Declaration on occasion of the Catholic-Lutheran Commemoration of the Reformation, Lund,
October 31, 2016). These words have
guided the path of reconciliation and sharing which has involved Catholics and
Lutherans in many places throughout this year, [so as]to experience a mutual commemoration of the 500th
anniversary of the commencement of the
Reformation, along the lines indicated in the document: From Conflict to Communion of the Lutheran-Catholic Commission for
Unity.
There have been numerous initiatives in Italy,
at various levels, in which Christians have taken part in commemorating the
Reformation of the XVI century, in a spirit which, even if it cannot be
considered a novelty in the light of steps made over the past few decades, it
has surely opened up a new season on the path to constructing a visible unity of the Church through which
the scandal of divisions can be brought to an end.
Precisely in the
light of these initiatives, Catholics and Lutherans hope that it is possible to carry on with the in-depth
study of the figure and works of Martin Luther in order to have a better
understanding of the spiritual, theological and liturgical riches of the XVI century for a reform of the
Church rooted in Holy Scriptures and enriched by the tradition of the ecumenical
councils, capable of removing those prejudices which still impede a shared
reading of the historical events of the Reformation in all its articulations.
In the joint
reading of Holy Scriptures, which has constituted a fundamental passage for
years in the day to day discovery of what unites Christians, Catholics and Lutherans
ask for new sources [in which] to develop the ecumenical path, also, thanks to
a renewed rapport with the Jewish people, beginning specifically with [our]common
biblical roots. Reading Holy Scripture
together, illuminates the experience of faith by way of ecumenical paths of
listening and commenting on the Word of God so as to share exegetic traditions
and doctrinal formulations, entrusting the times and ways of achieving visible
unity in the Church to the Lord.
Catholics and
Lutherans retain that these paths should be sustained and encouraged with a
view to favouring a reconsideration of catechesis in ecumenical terms, above
all in relation to the celebration of Baptism and Matrimony and, and more in general, to the ecumenical
liturgies of reconciliation with a view to aiding and experiencing these
moments of local community life as an occasion to reaffirm for Catholics and
Lutherans that ecumenism constitutes an irreversible choice, everyday […] capable
of aiding in an improved understanding of their own identities, rendering the
mission of the Church richer and more forceful. Catholics and Lutherans want to render their
commitment even more dynamic in the safeguarding of creation by proposing a model
of economic development not only interested in the logic of profit, which causes
uncertainties for Italian society, but which can help and overcome inequalities
in the interests of the symphonic harmony of gifts in men and women of good
will.
For Catholics and Lutherans, the
characteristics of the ecumenical path must bring about the increase in occasions
for the welcoming and assisting of the marginalized in the world, in particular
to those who arrive in Italy fleeing from the fears of today in search of the
hopes for tomorrow; faced with [this] poverty, marginalization and solitude, Catholics and Lutherans are
called to renew the commitment of building together, confiding in the fraternal
participation of all Christians and seeking collaboration with believers of all
faiths; a culture of welcome, based on the love of God, Father Son and Holy
Spirit, which can reach every man and every woman, above and beyond religious
affinities and geographic origins.
Strengthening
friendship and fraternity, at the foot of the Cross, must then contribute in favouring a
reconciliation of memories capable of sustaining Catholics and Lutherans in the
proclamation and bearing witness to the Word of God in modern society, so as to
promote an increasingly evangelical reform of everyday life in local
communities.
+ Ambrogio
Spreafico, President of the Episcopal Commission for Ecumenism and
Interreligious Dialogue of the Italian
Episcopal Conference.
Pastor Heiner Bludau, Dean of the Lutheran
Evangelical Church in Italy
Rome, October 31, 2017 , in the
fifth centenary since the start of Martin Luther’s Reformation.
Source for
document: http://www.nev.it/nev/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/171031_DichiarazioneCongiuntaCEIELKI_2017.pdf
More in English: http://www.chiesaluterana.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/2017_joint_statement_lwf-pcpcu_-_en.pdf
