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Evangelii Gaudium: Esortazione Apostolica Sulla Conclusione Dell’Anno Della Fede (2013)

by Pope Francis(Favorite Author)

4.57 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

8821591387 (ISBN13: 9788821591389)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

San Paolo

review 1: Evangelii Gaudium or The Joy of the Gospel was an apostolic exhortation delivered by Pope Francis on November 24, 2013, which was the Solemnity of Christ the King and the conclusion of the Year of Faith. In the introduction, Pope Francis gives Biblical examples showing the relationship between the joy of the Christian faith and the joy of missionary work. The rest of the exhortation is divided into five chapters:The Church's Missionary TransformationAmid the Crisis of Communal CommitmentThe Proclamation of the GospelThe Social Dimensions of EvangelizationSpirit-filled EvangelizersLooking at the numbers of this document, it is clearly a large document. It is 47,560 words. In this glut of words, Pope Francis uses the word "love" 154 times, "joy" 109 times, "the poor" 91 time... mores, "peace" 58 times, "justice" 37 times, and "common good" 15 times. These figures were taken from Wikipedia. I am not going to analyze the words in this document. More brilliant minds than mine have done so. Instead, I am going to briefly compare two editions released by two different publishers.The Image Books edition screams papal edition with its bright white cover. The unique features of this books are as follows. 1. It is a hardcover, so you know it will last longer and have shelf appeal. 2. It is deckle edged, which gives it a unique look. 3. It has a Foreword written by Fr. Robert Barron and an Afterword by Fr. James Martin. 4. The notes are at the bottom of the appropriate page and not at the end like normally issued by the Vatican. The only weird thing is the Table of Contents of the actual document (not the book) is in the back instead of the front and listed as an Index. The Word Among Us edition is a paperback version like, the one released by the USCCB. Because of this, it is slightly less expensive than the hardcover edition listed above. The cover is similar to other Word Among Us papal document releases, including Lumen Fidei, Verbum Domini, and Evangelii Nuntiandi. This creates an appealing looking on your shelf to have these important documents similar in look. The great part of this book and what sets it apart is the study guide. This makes it ideal for individual study or small group study.So which edition should you get? The price is very similar, so you'll have to decide which features are most important to you. Perhaps, you're like me and will get both of them. The important thing is to read the words of our Holy Father, because they do contain a great deal of truth in them.
review 2: This encyclical focuses on evangelisation,“evangelisation aims at a process of growth which entails taking seriously each person and God’s plan for his or her life.”Further, the Pope highlights this through emphasising the most important commandment as being “that you love one another as I have loved you”(Jn 15:12).He focuses on the social dimension of evangelisation. “The measure you give will be the measure you get back.”(Lk 6: 36-38).The gospel is about the Kingdom of God. The Pope proclaims that our mandate should be to “go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”(Mk 16:15).He draws out two major issues: inclusion of the poor in society and peace and social dialogue. The Pope states that we should never forget that the planet belongs to all mankind. We need to grow in solidarity. God holds a special place for the poor because as Christ he came to us poor. “Blessed are you the poor, yours is the Kingdom of God”( Lk 6:20). Pope Francis asks us to commit to one another,“in a certain sense as one with ourselves”. “Only on the basis of this real and sincere closeness can we properly accompany the poor on their path of liberation.”On a practical level the Pope asks for a change in the structural causes of poverty through a change within world economy and politics. That charity can also be exercised on a macro level. That“to achieve a healthy world economy you need a more efficient way of interacting which, with due regard for sovereignty of each nation, ensures the economic wellbeing of all countries, not just a few.” Further, that the vulnerable of society are looked after. In particular those victim to human trafficking, mistreatment of women and unborn children.In address ing the second issue the Pope suggests there is the need for common good and peace in society. People need to act as committed and responsible citizens. The Pope lists four principles to achieve a peaceful and multifaceted culture. One, that time is greater than space, second, that unity prevails over conflict, thirdly, realities are more important than ideas, and finally that the whole is greater than the part.The second issue on social dialogue is seen as a contribution to peace. Within this there are three areas of dialogue that are important. One, dialogue to states, two, dialogue within society and three, dialogue with other believers not part of the Catholic Church. The Pope states that the “Church proposes a synthesis between responsible use of methods proper to empirical sciences and other areas of knowledge such as philosophy, theology, as well as faith itself which elevates us to the mystery transcending nature and human intelligence.”Through an ecumenical dialogue there is a need to trust fellow Christian pilgrims and those from other religions. That through the Holy Spirit we can learn from one another. Finally, the Pope ends with a comment on the spirit within new evangelisation. The need to be filled by the Holy Spirit through prolonged moments of adoration, through a prayerful encounter with the word and sincere conversation with our Lord otherwise our lives become meaningless. Our mission is at once a passion for Jesus and a passion for his people. If we want to advance spiritually we need to become missionaries. For “it is more blessed to give than to receive”( Acts 20:35).We need to exalt and trust in the Holy Spirit, to be mysteriously fruitful.The Pope continues to the end with a focus on intercessory prayer and Mary’s role in evangelisation. Intercessory prayer enables a prayer of gratitude to God for others and he suggests is the preferred means of prayer. With regard to Mary she is the mother of evangelisation, who is always present in the midst of the people and is Jesus gift to his people. She shares our struggles and constantly surrounds us with God’s love, “her exceptional pilgrimage of faith represents a constant point of reference for the Church.”To finish off the Pope completes the encyclical with a profound prayer to Mary.Kirsten Allan less

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