St. Augustine of Hippo
Posted on 09/04/2009 9:48:22 AM PDT by NYer
.- In a letter he sent Thursday to Cardinal Walter Kasper, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Pope Benedict XVI has underscored that the teachings of St. Augustine are a path seeking unity with the Orthodox.
The message from the Pope was sent to Cardinal Kasper as the 11th Inter-Christian Symposium gathered in Rome. The meeting was organized by the Franciscan Institute of Spirituality of the Pontifical University Antonianum and the Aristotle Orthodox Theological Faculty of Thessalonica.
In his message, the Holy Father expressed his gratitude for “this initiative of fraternal encounter and exchange on the common aspects of spirituality, which is beneficial for a closer relationship between Catholics and Orthodox.”
After noting that the location of the meeting in Rome provides a “strong stimulus to advance toward full communion and above all, the memory of the Apostles Peter and Paul,” Pope Benedict XVI explained that the meeting’s theme, “St. Augustine in the Western and Eastern Tradition,” is "most interesting for reflecting further on Christian theology and spirituality in the West and in the East, and on its development.”
“The Saint of Hippo, a great Father of the Latin Church, is, in fact, of fundamental importance for theology and for the West's very culture, whereas the reception of his thought in Orthodox theology has revealed itself to be rather problematic,” the Pontiff said. “Hence, to know the doctrinal and spiritual riches that make up the patrimony of the Christian East and West with historical objectivity and fraternal cordiality, is essential not only for appreciating them, but also for promoting better reciprocal appreciation among all Christians”
After expressing his desire that the symposium be a success, Pope Benedict XVI offered his “prayer for this end, asking the Lord to bless the organizers and the institutions they represent, the Catholic and Orthodox speakers and all the participants.”
Catholic / Orthodox ping!
.- Pope Benedict XVI will attend a special screening of the new television miniseries, “Augustine, The Decline of the Roman Empire,” based on the life of the doctor of the Church and bishop of Hippo, this afternoon in the Swiss Hall at Castel Gandolfo.
According to L’Osservatore Romano, the screening of the miniseries will take place at 5:30pm local time.
Christian Duguay, who directed the series, also directed the films “Joan of Arc” and “The Art of War.”
French actor Franco Nero plays an elderly St. Augustine, while Alessandro Preziosi plays the saint as a youth. Augustine’s mother, St. Monica, is played by Monica Guerritore.
The miniseries is part of the “Imperium” project by the Italian production company Lux Vide, which is also planning a remake of “Ben Hur.” Duguay, together with other American filmmakers, will produce the new version.
Pray for unity.
Odd ... how the Bible isn’t the source of “unity” amongst Christians. Imperfect mortals are not to whom God wants us to look for “unity”. It is to the Bible, God’s Word that gives Christians “unity”.
Flame away!
Jesus is the unifier between the Western and Eastern churches.
And the word of God, the Bible.
Also, Paul’s letters to the western and eastern churches (e.g. look at the differences between the letter to the Romans versus the letter to the Colossians) are also the unifier.
Seems a strange source for unity.
Cue a VERY brief, but ascertainable nonetheless, mass eye-rolling on Mt. Athos.
Did you miss this sentence?
“The Saint of Hippo, a great Father of the Latin Church, is, in fact, of fundamental importance for theology and for the West's very culture, whereas the reception of his thought in Orthodox theology has revealed itself to be rather problematic,” the Pontiff said.
Pope Benedict XVI has underscored that the teachings of St. Augustine are a path seeking unity with the Orthodox.
Sorry, divisions do not equal unity.
As much as I respect the brilliance of Blessed Augustine's mind, a lot of his writings had bad results, like Calvinism.
Oh, you are so boringly predictable. He said it was a path, meaning one among many options. In fact, the Bible is something the Catholics and Orthodox have in common, since neither followed the anti-Christ expunging of several parts of Scripture committed by the participants at Jamnia, and adopted by the “Reformed” Christians.
Uh...we know. The Pope knows.
That is why they're talking about it. It's an issue which needs to be resolved.
What's the point of discussing something that you both agree upon?
Which, you'd think, would have prompted a headline like "Pope Benedict points to St. Augustine as source of unity with Calvinists" but nooooooooo.....
The contrast between Romans and Colossians was pointed out by a missionary who works in Kosovo, since he is at the fault line between Eastern and Western Christendom.
When I first heard him mention that about two years ago, it was intriguing.
I seriously think that there is much material to be mined from the Scriptures, since they are eternal.
On top of that, there was an essay (I think on FR) about the differences between East and West, and Augustine was precisely mentioned as an example of what the East has rejected.
..... not that I agreed with the writer, since he seemed to downplay the reality of original sin.
-— which is why many Western Christians (RCC and prot) still think more alike than we recognize.
I'm not sure if I subscribe to that evaluation. One could handily point to Christ as dividing the Jews and leading to denominationalism with his own disciples (despite St. Paul's admonishments).
Seems to me, Kolokotronis has had few kind words for the Bishop of Hippo, especially regarding Original Sin.
To be fair, the article’s title is not reflected in the words quoted from BXVI’s letter. Perhaps it would be best to wait for the contents of the letter to be published in full.
I agree; from what I’ve read of the Orthodox attitude towards Augustine’s writings, a strange choice as a source of unity. More like a source of debate.
The same could be said of Saint Paul's epistles.
Faulty interpretation is the result of the one doing the interpreting, NOT the author.
Your right. The reformers agreed on everything and the protestants still agree on every doctrine and practice! Oh...never mind. My Bad. >;-P
I’m sorry brother, but it’s silly to lay the blame for Calvinism at the feet of Blessed Augustine. That’s like laying the blame for the holocaust at the feet of Martin Luther because Hitler used some quotes.
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