The Gratitude of the Pastors and the Faithful

for the Pontifical Magisterium

Prof. Gary Devery - Sydney

The gratitude of the pastors and the faithful for the pontifical Magisterium manifested itself graphically and movingly in the extraordinary events of the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II. Over those days multitudes of people, not just in Rome, expressed their respect and gratitude for him because of what they had received from his teaching office. Here in Sydney the funeral was telecast live in the cathedral to a predominantly young assembly that packed the building. They were mourning the loss of one who had been a shepherd to them all their lives. This may appear paradoxical within a general ambience of dissent that the media attempts to portray regarding the attitude of young Catholics towards the magisterium of the Church in Australia.

The relationship between the faithful and the magisterium (in which they participate analogously) reflects and responds in some degree to the pastoral function (rather than the personality) of their bishops and their collaborators, the priests, in guiding, nourishing and safeguarding the flock within the fold of the universal Church in union with Peter, who received the mandate “feed my flock.”

Gratitude of the faithful and the pastors towards the pontifical magisterium corresponds to the desire for and participation in the mystery of Christ through koinonia, leitourgia and diakonia. The office of the magisterium is to hand on, to plumb and to safeguard this deposit of our faith that “comes to us from the apostles” (Eucharistic Prayer I). This office of the magisterium is situated within the overall mission of the Church participated in by the People of God: evangelisation, catechesis, the celebration of liturgy and the sacraments, the leavening of cultures with the mystery of Christ, and the works of charity towards all. The faithful and the priests collaborate with their bishops in this task. They look to their bishops to guide this work so that they can be sure in their faith that in all collaborating together, respecting their specific states, charisms and offices, they grow together in the mystery of Christ “who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection” (cf. Heb 12:2). All recognise that the pontifical magisterium has a special place in this endeavour, that of holding all together in loving service and unity. Pope Benedict XVI noted a particular expression of this in his Encyclical Letter Deus Caritas Est n. 32 where he noted the action of Pope Paul VI in establishing the Pontifical Council Cor Unum as the agency for orientating and coordination the services of charity of the Catholic Church; thus helping to safeguard that the service to charity remains an essential expression of the mystery of the Church on all levels.

The gratitude of the faithful and the pastors for the pontifical magisterium corresponds to the deeper experience of Christ’s paschal mystery within the Church. It is the experience of the joy of having received new life from God through the Church. It is to come know and experience the Church more personally as Mother.