Posted on 09/09/2004 3:58:31 PM PDT by AskStPhilomena
To the Reverend Brother Cardinal Walter Kasper President of the Pontifical Council For Promoting Christian Unity
1. I am particularly glad, dear Brother, to give you the responsibility to convey my greetings and my sincere appreciation to all the Representatives of Churches, Ecclesial Communities and major world Religions who have gathered in Milan for this XVIII Meeting entitled "Religions and Cultures: the Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." For me it is a joy and a consolation to see that the pilgrimage of peace I started in Assisi in October 1986 did not stop. On the contrary, it continues to grow in terms of participants and fruits.
Furthermore, I am pleased to convey my greetings to the beloved Ambrosian Church. With its Archbishop, Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi, it generously welcomed this providential meeting once again. I also thank St. Egidio Community for having grasped the importance of what I called "the spirit of Assisi," and having constantly upheld it with audaciousness and perseverance since 1986, nourishing the commitment to a very necessary pathway in today's world, marked by deep misunderstandings and relentless conflicts.
2. The spirit of dialogue and understanding has often lead to endeavors of reconciliation. Unfortunately, new conflicts have broken out, and an attitude which regards conflicts of religions and civilizations as an almost inevitable heritage of history has become widely accepted.
They truly are not! Peace is possible always! We must always work together to eradicate the seeds of bitterness and misunderstanding embedded in culture and life, we must put all our efforts into eradicating humankind's determination to prevail over the other, we need to work together to erase the arrogance of asserting one's own interests disdaining the identity of the other. These feelings are the harbingers of a world of violence and war. But conflict is never unavoidable!
And religions have a specific task in reminding every man and every woman of this awareness, a gift of God and, at the same time, the fruit of centuries of historical experience. This is what I called "the spirit of Assisi." Our world needs this spirit. It needs convictions and behaviors that secure a solid peace to flow from this spirit, to reinforce international institutions and promote reconciliation. The "spirit of Assisi" urges religions to give their contribution to the new humanism today's world needs so badly.
3. The world needs peace. Every day we hear news of violence, terrorist attacks, military operations. Is the world truly abandoning all hope of attaining peace? At times it seems the world is getting used to violence and the shedding of innocent blood. As we face these troublesome events, I bow my head over the Scriptures and there I find the comforting words of Jesus: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
As Christians who believe in the one who is "our peace" (Ephesians 2:14), his words light up our hope. However, I wish to address and request everybody to withstand the logic of violence, revenge and hatred, and persevere in dialogue. We need to break the deadly chain that imprisons the world and sheds its blood. In this sense, there is so much religious believers can do. The image of peace that rises from the Meeting in Milan encourages many people to embark upon a commitment to peace.
4. In a few days time we shall commemorate that terrible September 11th, 2001, when death reached the very heart of the United States. Three years have passed since then and terrorism sadly seems to be increasing its threats of destruction. The fight against the death-makers doubtless requires firmness and resoluteness. At the same time, however, it is necessary to make every possible effort to eradicate the misery, despair, emptiness of heart and whatever favors this drift towards terror.
We must not let ourselves be overwhelmed by fear, which leads men and women to focus only on themselves and strengthens the selfishness entrenched in the hearts of individuals and groups. We need the courage to globalize solidarity and peace. I am thinking of Africa, first of all, "the continent that seems to incarnate the existing unbalance between the North and the South of the Planet" (Message for the XVI Meeting "Men and Religions": Palermo, August 29th, 2002) and at the heart of my concerns are the Iraqi people. Every day, I invoke for them peace from God, that peace that humankind is not capable of giving.
The Meeting in Milan shows it is crucial for humanity to resolutely make a true commitment to peace. Peace never requires violence, it always calls for dialogue. Especially those who come from Countries whose soil is stained with blood know well that violence constantly generates violence. War throws open the doors to the abyss of evil. War makes anything possible, even what is totally irrational.
That is why war should always be considered a defeat: the defeat of reason and of humanity. May a new spiritual and cultural thrust soon lead humankind to banish war. War never again! I was convinced of this in October 1986 in Assisi, when I asked people belonging to all religions to gather side by side to invoke God for peace. I am even more convinced of it today: as the body grows weak, I feel the power of prayer grow.
5. The title St. Egidio Community has chosen for this year's Meeting is, therefore, very significant: "Religions and Cultures: The Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism." Meeting generates in itself a new humanism, a new way of looking at one another, of understanding each another, of envisioning the world and of working for peace. At the Meeting there are people capable of staying next to one another, who discover how friendship enables them to perceive the extreme dignity of every man and every woman and the richness that is often rooted in diversity.
Dialogue releases the courage for a new spiritual humanism, because it requires to trust in men and women. It never sets person against person. Its purpose is to overcome distance and vulgarity, so we may become aware that we are all creatures of one God, and brothers and sisters all belonging to humankind.
Cherishing these convictions in my heart, I assure you of my participation in spirit in the meeting and invoke upon each of you the heavenly blessings of Almighty God.
Castel Gandolfo, September 3rd, 2004
Joannes Paulus II
[Translation of Italian original published on the Web site of the Community of Sant'Egidio]
Read and weep....
"Religions and Cultures: the Courage to Forge a New Spiritual Humanism"
"For me it is a joy and a consolation to see that the pilgrimage of peace I started in Assisi in October 1986 did not stop. On the contrary, it continues to grow in terms of participants and fruits."
"And religions have a specific task in reminding every man and every woman of this awareness, a gift of God and, at the same time, the fruit of centuries of historical experience. This is what I called "the spirit of Assisi." Our world needs this spirit. It needs convictions and behaviors that secure a solid peace to flow from this spirit, to reinforce international institutions and promote reconciliation. The "spirit of Assisi" urges religions to give their contribution to the new humanism today's world needs so badly."
May Almighty God have mercy on us.
I don't know what to say. Except that this incredible nonsense is a bunch of scandalous, humanist liberal garbage.
This is unbelievable.
"Is the world truly abandoning all hope of attaining peace?"
Did "the world" ever hope to attain peace? If "the world" really wanted peace, the true answer to this is in the very same paragraph:
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).
The world needs faith in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of peace. Instead they are offered the "spirit of Assisi" and faith in international institutions:
"This is what I called "the spirit of Assisi." Our world needs this spirit. It needs convictions and behaviors that secure a solid peace to flow from this spirit, to reinforce international institutions and promote reconciliation. The "spirit of Assisi" urges religions to give their contribution to the new humanism today's world needs so badly."
But the real Spirit is not sent to the world to contribute to this "new humanism":
John 14,17 "The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows it."
..neither is the world in the least bit interested in the source of true peace:
John 15,18 "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you."
Not that we should be anxious:
John 16,33 "I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world."
...we know that Jesus prays for us:
John 17,9 "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because they are yours."
... not for the world because:
John 17;14 "I gave them your word and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world."
Are we then not to love the world?:
1 John 2,15 "DO NOT love the world or the things of the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The world is not capable of peace, because it is of antichrist:
1 John 2,22 "Who is the liar? Whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Whoever denies the Father and the Son, this is the antichrist. No one who denies the Son has the Father, but whoever confesses the Son has the Father as well."
So if the world wants true peace, it needs to confess the Son, but it is offered a "spirit" instead:
1 John 4,1 "Beloved, do not trust every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they belong to God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
This is how you can know the Spirit of God: every Spirit that acknowledges Jesus Christ come in the flesh belongs to God, and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus does not belong to God. This is the spirit of the antichrist that, as you heard, is to come, but in fact is already in the world."
The "spirit of Assisi"!!! Hmmm.............!
***this incredible nonsense is a bunch of scandalous, humanist liberal garbage.***
I think for once we may just agree on something.
(I would just add that is garbage also potentially damning for those who follow it. The "spirit of Assisi" seems to be the spirit of Antichrist.)
We agree on much, most especially that our most perfect Messiah is our only hope of salvation.
Where we disagree is in that you are any kind of credible authority on the details.
You think you are, I think you're not.
***Where we disagree is in that you are any kind of credible authority on the details***
I'm just one guy with a Bible. But one thing I know, Jesus Christ completely changed my life.
The modernists have become incredibly bold in their agenda. They think they have won.
I am confident God has other plans.
Oh, so now we have "extreme" dignity? This is sick.
"And I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast which was full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and precious stones and pearls, having in her hand a golden cup full of adominations and the filthiness of her fornication. And on her forehead a name was written:
MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE
MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND OF THE
ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement."
Revelation 17:3-6 (NKJV)
I'll volunteer!
Who's going to be the first to say that he's just being misunderstoooooood?
From reading some of the comments on this thread, I'd say he is by you and others. You're getting worked up about an ecumenical and inter-religious meeting for dialog.
I don't see any "new" theology or spirituality here.
Nope, I don't think he is talking about political socialism, or left-wing defined humanism, or syncretism of the Catholic Faith with other religions.
Then what is he talking about? The Social Reign of Christ the King?
I think not.
I think it's along the line of sending a message to participants in a meeting to be held among various churches (including representatives of the Catholic Church), ecclesial communities, and other major world religions.
It's not the same message Christ gave to his disciples:
19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.
Mmm Mmm. I fail to see where the Pope is denying this command of Christ by sending this message for an inter-religious dialog.
Maybe, just maybe, an open dialog like this can be used as a tool (among many others) for the eventual freely sought baptism of many current pagans.
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