Redemptoris missio 83

Missionary Promotion and Formation Among the People of God

83 Missionary formation is the task of the local Church, assisted by missionaries and their institutes, and by personnel from the young churches. This work must be seen not as peripheral but as central to the Christian life. Even for the "new evangelization" of Christian countries the theme of the missions can prove very helpful: the witness of missionaries retains its appeal even for the non-practicing and non-believers, and it communicates Christian values. Particular churches should therefore make the promotion of the missions a key element in the normal pastoral activity of parishes, associations and groups, especially youth groups.

With this end in view, it is necessary to spread information through missionary publications and audiovisual aids. These play an important role in making known the life of the universal Church and in voicing the experiences of missionaries and of the local churches in which they work. In those younger churches which are still not able to have a press and other means of their own, it is important that missionary institutes devote personnel and resources to these undertakings.

Such formation is entrusted to priests and their associates, to educators and teachers, and to theologians, particularly those who teach in seminaries and centers for the laity. Theological training cannot and should not ignore the Church's universal mission, ecumenism, the study of the great religions and missiology. I recommend that such studies be undertaken especially in seminaries and in houses of formation for men and women religious, ensuring that some priests or other students specialize in the different fields of missiology.

Activities aimed at promoting interest in the missions must always be geared to these specific goals; namely, informing and forming the People of God to share in the Church's universal mission, promoting vocations ad gentes and encouraging cooperation in the work of evangelization. It is not right to give an incomplete picture of missionary activity, as if it consisted principally in helping the poor, contributing to the liberation of the oppressed, promoting development or defending human rights. The missionary Church is certainly involved on these fronts but her primary task lies elsewhere: the poor are hungry for God, not just for bread and freedom. Missionary activity must first of all bear witness to and proclaim salvation in Christ, and establish local churches which then become means of liberation in every sense.




The Primary Responsibility of the\i Pontifical Mission Societies

84 The leading role in this work of promotion belongs to the Pontifical Mission Societies, as I have often pointed out in my Messages for World Mission Day. The four Societies - Propagation of the Faith, St. Peter the Apostle, Holy Childhood and the Missionary Union - have the common purpose of fostering a universal missionary spirit among the People of God. The Missionary Union has as its immediate and specific purpose the promotion of missionary consciousness and formation among priests and men and women religious, who in turn will provide this consciousness and formation within the Christian communities. In addition, the Missionary Union seeks to promote the other Societies, of which it is the "soul,"168 "This must be our motto: All the churches united for the conversion of the whole world."169

Because they are under the auspices of the Pope and of the College of Bishops, these Societies, also within the boundaries of the particular churches, rightly have "the first place. . . since they are the means by which Catholics from their very infancy are imbued with a genuinely universal and missionary spirit; they are also the means which ensure an effective collection of resources for the good of all the missions, in accordance with the needs of each one."170 Another purpose of the Missionary Societies is the fostering of lifelong vocations ad gentes, in both the older and younger churches. I earnestly recommend that their promotional work be increasingly directed to this goal.

In their activities, these Societies depend at the worldwide level on the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples; at the local level they depend on the Episcopal Conferences and the bishops of individual churches, in collaboration with existing promotional centers. They bring to the Catholic world that spirit of universality and of service to the Church's mission, without which authentic cooperation does not exist.




Not Only Giving to the Missions But Receiving From Them As Well

85 Cooperating in missionary activity means not just giving but also receiving. All the particular churches, both young and old, are called to give and to receive in the context of the universal mission, and none should be closed to the needs of others. The Council states: "By virtue of...catholicity, the individual parts bring their own gifts to the other parts and to the whole Church, in such a way that the whole and individual parts grow greater through the mutual communication of all and their united efforts toward fullness in unity.... Between the different parts of the Church there are bonds of intimate communion with regard to spiritual riches, apostolic workers and temporal assistance."171

I exhort all the churches, and the bishops, priests, religious and members of the laity, to be open to the Church's universality, and to avoid every form of provincialism or exclusiveness, or feelings of self-sufficiency. Local churches, although rooted in their own people and their own culture, must always maintain an effective sense of the universality of the faith, giving and receiving spiritual gifts, experiences of pastoral work in evangelization and initial proclamation, as well as personnel for the apostolate and material resources.

The temptation to become isolated can be a strong one. The older churches, involved in new evangelization, may think that their mission is now at home, and thus they may risk slackening their drive toward the non-Christian world, begrudgingly conceding vocations to missionary institutes, religious congregations or other particular churches. But it is by giving generously of what we have that we will receive. Already the young churches, many of which are blessed with an abundance of vocations, are in a position to send priests and men and women religious to the older churches.

On the other hand, the young churches are concerned about their own identity, about inculturation, and about their freedom to grow independently of external influences, with the possible result that they close their doors to missionaries. To these churches I say: Do not isolate yourselves; willingly accept missionaries and support from other churches, and do likewise throughout the world. Precisely because of the problems that concern you, you need to be in continuous contact with your brothers and sisters in the faith. With every legitimate means, seek to ensure recognition of the freedom to which you have a right, remembering that Christ's disciples must "obey God rather than men" (
Ac 5,29).



God Is Preparing a New Springtime for the Gospel

86 If we look at today's world, we are struck by many negative factors that can lead to pessimism. But this feeling is unjustified: we have faith in God our Father and Lord, in his goodness and mercy. As the third millennium of the redemption draws near, God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity, and we can already see its first signs. In fact, both in the non-Christian world and in the traditionally Christian world, people are gradually drawing closer to gospel ideals and values, a development which the Church seeks to encourage. Today in fact there is a new consensus among peoples about these values: the rejection of violence and war; respect for the human person and for human rights; the desire for freedom, justice and brotherhood; the surmounting of different forms of racism and nationalism; the affirmation of the dignity and role of women.

Christian hope sustains us in committing ourselves fully to the new evangelization and to the worldwide mission, and leads us to pray as Jesus taught us: "Thy Kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (
Mt 6,10).

The number of those awaiting Christ is still immense: the human and cultural groups not yet reached by the Gospel, or for whom the Church is scarcely present, are so widespread as to require the uniting of all the Church's resources. As she prepares to celebrate the jubilee of the year 2000, the whole Church is even more committed to a new missionary advent. We must increase our apostolic zeal to pass on to others the light and joy of the faith, and to this high ideal the whole People of God must be educated.

We cannot be content when we consider the millions of our brothers sisters, who like us have been redeemed by the blood of Christ, but who live in ignorance of the love of God. For each believer, as for the entire Church, the missionary task must remain foremost, for it concerns the eternal destiny of humanity and corresponds to God's mysterious and merciful plan.




CHAPTER VIII - MISSIONARY SPIRITUALITY


87 Missionary activity demands a specific spirituality, which applies in particular to all those whom God has called to be missionaries.



Being Led by the Spirit

This spirituality is expressed first of all by a life of complete docility to the Spirit. It commits us to being molded from within by the Spirit, so that we may become ever more like Christ. It is not possible to bear witness to Christ without reflecting his image, which is made alive in us by grace and the power of the Spirit. This docility then commits us to receive the gifts of fortitude and discernment, which are essential elements of missionary spirituality.

An example of this is found with the apostles during the Master's public life. Despite their love for him and their generous response to his call, they proved to be incapable of understanding his words and reluctant to follow him along the path of suffering and humiliation. The Spirit transformed them into courageous witnesses to Christ and enlightened heralds of his word. It was the Spirit himself who guided them along the difficult and new paths of mission.

Today, as in the past, that mission is difficult and complex, and demands the courage and light of the Spirit. We often experience the dramatic situation of the first Christian community which witnessed unbelieving and hostile forces "gathered together against the Lord and his Anointed" (Ac 4,26). Now, as then, we must pray that God will grant us boldness in preaching the Gospel; we must ponder the mysterious ways of the Spirit and allow ourselves to be led by him into all the truth (cf. Jn Jn 16,13).



Living the Mystery of Christ, "the One who was sent"

88 An essential characteristic of missionary spirituality is intimate communion with Christ. We cannot understand or carry out the mission unless we refer it to Christ as the one who was sent to evangelize. St. Paul describes Christ's attitude: "Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross" (Ph 2,5-8).

The mystery of the Incarnation and Redemption is thus described as a total self-emptying which leads Christ to experience fully the human condition and to accept totally the Father's plan. This is an emptying of self which is permeated by love and expresses love. The mission follows this same path and leads to the foot of the cross.

The missionary is required to "renounce himself and everything that up to this point he considered as his own, and to make himself everything to everyone."172 This he does by a poverty which sets him free for the Gospel, overcoming attachment to the people and things about him, so that he may become a brother to those to whom he is sent and thus bring them Christ the Savior. This is the goal of missionary spirituality: "To the weak I became weak...; I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the Gospel..." (1 Cor 1Co 9,22-23).

It is precisely because he is "sent" that the missionary experiences the consoling presence of Christ, who is with him at every moment of life - "Do not be afraid...for I am with you" (Ac 18,9-10) - and who awaits him in the heart of every person.



Loving the Church and Humanity As Jesus Did

89 Missionary spirituality is also marked by apostolic charity, the charity of Christ who came "to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad" (Jn 11,52), of the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep, who searches them out and offers his life for them (cf. Jn Jn 10). Those who have the missionary spirit feel Christ's burning love for souls, and love the Church as Christ did.

The missionary is urged on by "zeal for souls," a zeal inspired by Christ's own charity, which takes the form of concern, tenderness, compassion, openness, availability and interest in people's problems. Jesus' love is very deep: he who "knew what was in man" (Jn 2,25) loved everyone by offering them redemption and suffered when it was rejected.

The missionary is a person of charity. In order to proclaim to all his brothers and sisters that they are loved by God and are capable of loving, he must show love toward all, giving his life for his neighbor. The missionary is the "universal brother," bearing in himself the Church's spirit, her openness to and interest in all peoples and individuals, especially the least and poorest of his brethren. As such, he overcomes barriers and divisions of race, cast or ideology. He is a sign of God's love in the world - a love without exclusion or partiality.

Finally, like Christ he must love the Church: "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her" (Ep 5,25). This love, even to the point of giving one's life, is a focal point for him. Only profound love for the Church can sustain the missionary's zeal. His daily pressure, as St. Paul says, is "anxiety for all the churches" (2 Cor 2Co 11,28). For every missionary "fidelity to Christ cannot be separated from fidelity to the Church."173



The True Missionary Is the Saint

90 The call to mission derives, of its nature, from the call to holiness. A missionary is really such only if he commits himself to the way of holiness: "Holiness must be called a fundamental presupposition and an irreplaceable condition for everyone in fulfilling the mission of salvation in the Church."174

The universal call to holiness is closely linked to the universal call to mission. Every member of the faithful is called to holiness and to mission. This was the earnest desire of the Council, which hoped to be able "to enlighten all people with the brightness of Christ, which gleams over the face of the Church, by preaching the Gospel to every creature." 175 The Church's missionary spirituality is a journey toward holiness.

The renewed impulse to the mission ad gentes demands holy missionaries. It is not enough to update pastoral techniques, organize and coordinate ecclesial resources, or delve more deeply into the biblical and theological foundations of faith. What is needed is the encouragement of a new "ardor for holiness" among missionaries and throughout the Christian community, especially among those who work most closely with missionaries.176

Dear brothers and sisters: let us remember the missionary enthusiasm of the first Christian communities. Despite the limited means of travel and communication in those times, the proclamation of the Gospel quickly reached the ends of the earth. And this was the religion of a man who had died on a cross, "a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles"! (1 Cor
1Co 1,23) Underlying this missionary dynamism was the holiness of the first Christians and the first communities.


91 I therefore address myself to the recently baptized members of the young communities and young churches. Today, you are the hope of this two-thousand-year-old Church of ours: being young in faith, you must be like the first Christians and radiate enthusiasm and courage, in generous devotion to God and neighbor. In a word, you must set yourselves on the path of holiness. Only thus can you be a sign of God in the world and re-live in your own countries the missionary epic of the early Church. You will also be a leaven of missionary spirit for the older churches.

For their part, missionaries should reflect on the duty of holiness required of them by the gift of their vocation, renew themselves in spirit day by day, and strive to update their doctrinal and pastoral formation. The missionary must be a "contemplative in action." He finds answers to problems in the light of God's word and in personal and community prayer. My contact with representatives of the non-Christian spiritual traditions, particularly those of Asia, has confirmed me in the view that the future of mission depends to a great extent on contemplation. Unless the missionary is a contemplative he cannot proclaim Christ in a credible way. He is a witness to the experience of God, and must be able to say with the apostles: "that which we have looked upon...concerning the word of life,...we proclaim also to you" (1 Jn
1Jn 1,1-3).

The missionary is a person of the Beatitudes. Before sending out the Twelve to evangelize, Jesus, in his "missionary discourse" (cf. Mt 10), teaches them the paths of mission: poverty, meekness, acceptance of suffering and persecution, the desire for justice and peace, charity - in other words, the Beatitudes, lived out in the apostolic life (cf. Mt Mt 5,1-12). By living the Beatitudes, the missionary experiences and shows concretely that the kingdom of God has already come, and that he has accepted it. The characteristic of every authentic missionary life is the inner joy that comes from faith. In a world tormented and oppressed by so many problems, a world tempted to pessimism, the one who proclaims the "Good News" must be a person who has found true hope in Christ.



Conclusion


92 Today, as never before, the Church has the opportunity of bringing the Gospel, by witness and word, to all people and nations. I see the dawning of a new missionary age, which will become a radiant day bearing an abundant harvest, if all Christians, and missionaries and young churches in particular, respond with generosity and holiness to the calls and challenges of our time.

Like the apostles after Christ's Ascension, the Church must gather in the Upper Room "together with Mary, the Mother of Jesus" (
Ac 1,14), in order to pray for the Spirit and to gain strength and courage to carry out the missionary mandate. We too, like the apostles, need to be transformed and guided by the Spirit.

On the eve of the third millennium the whole Church is invited to live more intensely the mystery of Christ by gratefully cooperating in the work of salvation. The Church does this together with Mary and following the example of Mary, the Church's Mother and model: Mary is the model of that maternal love which should inspire all who cooperate in the Church's apostolic mission for the rebirth of humanity. Therefore, "strengthened by the presence of Christ, the Church journeys through time toward the consummation of the ages and goes to meet the Lord who comes. But on this journey ...she proceeds along the path already trodden by the Virgin Mary."177

To "Mary's mediation, wholly oriented toward Christ and tending to the revelation of his salvific power,"178 I entrust the Church and, in particular, those who commit themselves to carrying out the missionary mandate in today's world. As Christ sent forth his apostles in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, so too, renewing that same mandate, I extend to all of you my apostolic blessing, in the name of the same Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on December 7, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Conciliar Decree Ad Gentes, in the year 1990, the thirteenth of my Pontificate.

JOHN PAUL II
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Cf. Paul VI, Message for World Mission Day, 1972, Insegnamenti X, (1972), 522: "How many internal tensions, which weaken and divide certain local churches and institutions, would disappear before the firm conviction that the salvation of local communities is procured through cooperation in work for the spread of the Gospel to the farthest bounds of the earth!"
2. Cf. Benedict XV, Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud (November 30, 1919): AAS 11 (1919), 440-455; Pius XI, Encyclical Letter Rerum Ecclesiae (February 28, 1926): AAS 18 (1926), 65-83; Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Evangelii Praecones (June 2, 1951): AAS 43 (1951), 497-528; Encyclical Letter Fidei Donum (April 21, 1957): AAS 49 (1957), 225-248; John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Princeps Pastorum (November 28, 1959): AAS 51 (1959), 833-864.
3. Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis (March 4, 1979), 10: AAS 71 (1979), 274f.
4. Ibid.: loc. cit., 275.
5. Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed: DS 150.
6. Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 13: loc. cit., 283.
7. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 2.
8. Ibid., 22.
9. Encyclical Letter Dives in Misericordia (November 30, 1980), 7: AAS 72 (1980), 1202.
10. Homily for the celebration of the Eucharist in Krakow, June 10, 1979: AAS 71 (1979), 873.
11. Cf. John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Mater et Magistra (May 15, 1961) IV AAS 53 (1961), 453.
12. Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae, 2.
13. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi (December 8, 1975), 53: AAS 68 (1976), 42.
14. Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae, 2.
15. Cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 14-17; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 3.
16. Cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 48; Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 43; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 7, 21.
17. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 13.
18. Ibid., 9.
19. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 22.
20. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, 14.
21. Encyclical Letter Dives in Misericordia, 1: loc. cit., 1177.
22. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 5.
23. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 22.
24. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 4.
25. Ibid., 5.
26. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 16: loc. cit., 15.
27. Address at the opening of the Third Session of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, September 14, 1964: AAS 56 (1964), 810.
28. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 34: loc. cit., 28.
29. Cf. International Theological Commission, Select Themes of Ecclesiology on the Occasion of the Twentieth Anniversary of the Closing of the Second Vatican Council (October 7, 1985), 10: "The Eschatological Character of the Church: Kingdom and Church."




30. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 39.




31. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem (May 18, 1986), 42: AAS 78 (1986), 857.




32. Ibid., 64: loc. cit., 892.




33. The Greek word "parrhesia" also means enthusiasm or energy; cf. Acts 2:29; 4:13, 29, 31; 9:27-28; 13:46; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8, 26; 28:31.




34. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41-42: loc. cit., 31-33.




35. Cf. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem, 53: loc. cit. , 874f.




36. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 3, 11, 15; Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 10-11, 22, 26, 38, 41, 92-93.




37. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 10, 15, 22.




38. Ibid., 41.




39. Cf. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem, 54: loc. cit., 875f.




40. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 26.




41. Ibid., 38; cf. 93.




42. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 17; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 3, 15.




43. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 4.




44. Cf. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem, 53: loc. cit. , 874.




45. Address to Representatives of Non-Christian Religions, Madras, February 5, 1986: AAS 78 (1986), 767; cf. Message to the Peoples of Asia, Manila, February 21, 1981, 2-4: AAS 73 (1981), 392f; Address to Representatives of Other Religions, Tokyo, February 24, 1981, 3-4: Insegnamenti IV/I (1981), 507f.




46. Address to Cardinals and the Roman Curia, December 22, 1986, 11: AAS 79 (1987), 1089.




47. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 16.




48. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 45; cf. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem, 54: loc. cit. , 876.




49. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 10.




50. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici (December 30, 1988), 35: AAS 81 (1989), 457.




51. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 6.




52. Cf. ibid.




53. Cf. ibid., 6, 23, 27.




54. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 18-20: loc. cit. , 17-19.




55. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 35: loc. cit., 457.




56. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 80: loc. cit., 73.




57. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 6.




58. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 80: loc. cit., 73.




59. Cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 6.




60. Cf. ibid, 20.




61. Cf. Address to the members of the Symposium of the Council of the European Episcopal Conferences, October 11, 1985: AAS 78 (1986), 178-189.




62. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 20: loc. cit., 19.




63. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 5; cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 8.




64. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration on Religious Freedom Dignitatis Humanae, 3-4; Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 79-80: loc. cit., 71-75; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 12: loc. cit., 278-281.




65. Apostolic Letter Maximum Illud: loc. cit., 446.




66. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 62: loc. cit., 52.




67. Cf. De praescriptione haereticorum, XX: CCL, I, 201f.




68. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 9; cf. Chapter II, 10-18.




69. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 41: loc. cit., 31 f.




70. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 28, 35, 38; Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World Gaudium et Spes, 43; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 11-12.




71. Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio (March 26, 1967), 21, 42: AAS 59 (1967), 267f, 278.




72. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 27: loc. cit., 23.




73. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 13.




74. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 15: loc. cit., 13-15; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 13-14.




75. Cf. Encyclical Letter Dominum et Vivificantem, 42, 64: loc. cit., 857-859, 892-894.




76. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 60: loc. cit., 50f.




77. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 6-9.




78. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 2; cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 9.




79. Cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, Chapter III, 19-22.




80. Ibid., 15.




81. Ibid., 6.




82. Ibid., 15; cf. Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio, 3.




83. Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 58: loc. cit., 46-49.




84. Extraordinary Assembly of 1985, Final Report, II, C, 6.




85. Ibid., II, D, 4.




86. Cf. Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae (October 16, 1979), 53: AAS 71 (1979), 1320; Encyclical Epistle Slavorum Apostoli (June 2, 1985), 21: AAS 77 (1985), 802f.




87. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 20: loc. cit., 18f.




88. Address to the Bishops of Zaire, Kinshasa, May 3, 1980, 4-6: AAS 72 (1980), 432-435; Address to the Bishops of Kenya, Nairobi, May 7, 1980, 6: AAS 72 (1980), 497; Address to the Bishops of India, Delhi, February 1, 1986, 5: AAS 78 (1986), 748f; Homily at Cartagena, July 6, 1986, 7-8: AAS 79 (1987), 105f; cf. also Encyclical Epistle Slavorum Apostoli, 21-22; loc. cit., 802-804.




89. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 22.




90. Cf. ibid.




91. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 64: loc. cit., 55.




92. Ibid., 63: loc. cit., 53: Particular Churches "have the task of assimilating the essence of the Gospel message and of transposing it, without the slightest betrayal of its essential truth, into the language that these people understand, then of proclaiming it in this language.... And the word 'language' should be understood here less in the semantic or literary sense than in the sense which one may call anthropological or cultural."




93. Cf. Address at the General Audience of April 13, 1988: Insegnamenti XI/I (1988), 877-881.




94. Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, (November 22, 1981), 10: AAS 74 (1982), 91, which speaks of inculturation "in the context of marriage and the family."




95. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 63-65: loc. cit., 53-56.




96. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 17.




97. Address to those participating in the Symposium of African Bishops at Kampala, July 31, 1969, 2: AAS 61 (1969), 577.




98. Paul VI, Address at the opening of the Second Session of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, September 29, 1963: AAS 55 (1963), 858; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration on the Church's Relation to Non-Christian Religions Nostra Aetate, 2; Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 16; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 9; Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 53: loc. cit. 41f.




99. Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Ecclesiam Suam (August 6, 1964): AAS 56 (1964), 609-659; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 11, 41; Secretariat for Non-Christians, Document L'atteggiamento della Chiesa di fronte ai seguaci di altre religioni: Riflessioni e orientamenti su dialogo e missione (September 4, 1984): AAS 76 (1984), 816-828.




100. Letter to the Fifth Plenary Assembly of Asian Bishops' Conferences (June 23, 1990), 4: L'Osservatore Romano, July 18, 1990.




101. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 14; cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 7.




102. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on Ecumenism Unitatis Redintegratio, 3; Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 7.




103. Cf. Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 12: loc. cit., 279.




104. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 11, 15 .




105. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Declaration on the Church's Relation to Non-Christian Religions Nostra Aetate, 2.




106. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 35: loc. cit., 458.




107. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 41.




108. Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (December 30, 1987), 41: AAS 80 (1988), 570f.




109. Documents of the Third General Conference of Latin American Bishops, Puebla (1979), 3760 (1145).




110. Address to Clergy and Religious, Jakarta, October 10, 1989, 5: L'Osservatore Romano, October 11, 1989.




111. Cf. Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 14-21, 40-42: loc. cit., 264-268, 277f; John Paul II, Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 27-41: loc. cit., 547-572.




112. Cf. Encyclical Letter Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, 28: loc. cit., 548-550.




113. Cf. ibid. , Chapter IV, 27-34: loc. cit., 547-560; Paul VI, Encyclical Letter Populorum Progressio, 19-21, 41-42: loc. cit., 266-268, 277f.




114. Address to the residents of "Favela Vidigal" in Rio de Janeiro, July 2, 1980, 4: AAS 72 (1980), 854.




115. Documents of the Third General Conference of Latin American Bishops, Puebla, (1979), 3757 (1142).




116. Isaac of Stella, Sermon 31, PL 194, 1793.




117. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 20.




118. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 35: loc. cit., 458.




119. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 38.




120. Address to Cardinals and those associated in the work of the Roman Curia, Vatican City and the Vicariate of Rome, June 28, 1980, 10: Insegnamenti, III/1 (1980), 1887.




121. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 23.




122. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 38.




123. Ibid., 29.




124. Cf. ibid., 38.




125. Ibid., 30.




126. Documents of the Third General Conference of Latin American Bishops, Puebla (1979): 2941 (368).




127. Cf. Norms for the Cooperation of the Local Churches Among Themselves and especially for a Better Distribution of the Clergy in the World Postquam Apostoli (March 25, 1980): AAS 72 (1980), 343-364.




128. Cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, Chapter IV, 23-27.




129. Ibid., 23.




130. Ibid.




131. Ibid., 23, 27.




132. Cf. Sacred Congregation for Religious and Secular Institutes and Sacred Congregation for Bishops, Directives for Mutual Relations between Bishops and Religious in the Church Mutuae Relationes (May 14, 1978), 14b: AAS 70 (1978), 482; cf. n. 28: loc. cit., 490.




133. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 27.




134. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis, 10; cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 39.




135. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on Priestly Formation Optatam Totius, 20: cf. "Guide de la vie pastorale pour les pretres diocesains des Eglises qui dependent de la Congregation pour l'Evangélisation des Peuples," Rome, 1989.




136. Address to the Plenary Assembly of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, April 14, 1989, 4: AAS 81 (1989), 1140.




137. Message for World Mission Day, 1982: Insegnamenti V/2 (1982), 1879.




138. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 38; Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, Norms Postquam Apostoli, 24-25: loc. cit., 361.




139. Cf. Sacred Congregation for the Clergy, Norms Postquam Apostoli, 29: loc. cit., 362f; Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 20.




140. CIC, c. 783.




141. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 40.




142. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 69: loc. cit., 58f.




143. Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem (August 15, 1988), 20: AAS 80 (1988), 1703.




144. Cf. Pius XII, Encyclical Letter Evangelii Praecones: loc. cit., 510ff; Encyclical Letter Fidei Donum: loc. cit., 228ff; John XXIII, Encyclical Letter Princeps Pastorum: loc. cit., 855ff; Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 70-73: loc. cit., 59-63.




145. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 35: loc. cit., 457.




146. Cf. Encyclical Letter Evangelii Praecones: loc. cit., 510-514.




147. Cf. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 17, 33ff.




148. Cf. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 35-36, 41.




149. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 14: loc. cit., 410.




150. CIC, c. 225, 1; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity Apostolicam Actuositatem, 6, 13.




151. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 31; cf. CIC, c. 225, 2.




152. Paul VI, Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, 70: loc. cit., 60.




153. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 35: loc. cit., 458.




154. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 17.




155. Apostolic Exhortation Catechesi Tradendae, 66: loc. cit., 1331.




156. Cf. c. 785, 1.




157. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 17.




158. Cf. Plenary Assembly of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, 1969, on catechists, and the related "Instruction" of April 1970: Bibliographia Missionaria 34 (1970), 197-212 and S. C. de Propaganda Fide Memoria Rerum, III/2 (1976), 821-831.




159. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 28.




160. Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus (June 28, 1988), 85: AAS 80 (1988), 881; cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 29.




161. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 29: Cf. John Paul II, Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, 86: loc. cit., 882.




162. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 31.




163. Cf. ibid., 33.




164. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae (August 6, 1966), II, 43: AAS 58 (1966), 782.




165. Cf. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 34; Paul VI, Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae, III, 22: loc. cit., 787.




166. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 35; cf. CIC, cc. 211, 781.




167. Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio, 54: loc. cit., 147.




168. Cf. Paul VI, Apostolic Epistle Graves et Increscentes (September 5, 1966): AAS 58 (1966), 750-756.




169. P Manna, Le nostre "Chiese" e la propagazione del vangelo, Trentola Ducenta, 1952 2, p. 35.




170. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 38.




171. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 13.




172. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church Ad Gentes, 24.




173. Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests Presbyterorum Ordinis, 14.




174. Apostolic Exhortation Christifideles Laici, 17: loc. cit., 419.




175. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, 1.




176. Cf. Address at CELAM Meeting, Port-au-Prince, March 9, 1983: AAS 75 (1983), 771-779; Homily for the Opening of the "Novena of Years" promoted by CELAM, Santo Domingo, October 12, 1984: Insegnamenti VII/2 (1984), 885-897.




177. Encyclical Letter Redemptoris Mater (March 25, 1987), 2: AAS 79 (1987), 362f.




178. Ibid., 22: loc. cit., 390.
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