http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/b.../hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini_en.pdf
POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
VERBUM DOMINI
OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE WORD OF GOD
IN THE LIFE AND MISSION
OF THE CHURCH
INDEX
INTRODUCTION [1] 3
That our joy may be complete [2] 4
From “ Dei Verbum ” to the Synod on the Word of God [3] 5
The Synod of Bishops on the Word of God [4] 8
The Prologue of John’s Gospel as a guide [5] 10
PART ONE: VERBUM DEI
THE GOD WHO SPEAKS 15
God in dialogue [6] 15
The analogy of the word of God [7] 16
The cosmic dimension of the word [8] 19
The creation of man [9] 21
The realism of the word [10] 22
Christology of the word [11-13] 23
The eschatological dimension of the word of God [14] 29
The word of God and the Holy Spirit [15-16] 32
Tradition and Scripture [17-18] 36
Sacred Scripture, inspiration and truth [19] 39
God the Father, source and origin of the word [20-21] 41
OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOD WHO SPEAKS 43
Called to the covenant with God [22] 43
God hears us and responds to our questions [23] 44
In dialogue with God through his words [24] 45
The word of God and faith [25] 46
Sin as a refusal to hear the word of God [26] 47
Mary, “ Mother of God’s Word ”and “ Mother of Faith ” [27-28] 48
THE INTERPRETATION OF SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE CHURCH 51
The Church as the primary setting for biblical hermeneutics [29-30] 51
“ The soul of sacred theology ” [31] 55
The development of biblical studies and the Church’s magisterium [32-33] 57
The Council’s biblical hermeneutic: a directive to be appropriated [34] 60
The danger of dualism and a secularized hermeneutic [35] 62
Faith and reason in the approach to Scripture [36] 64
Literal sense and spiritual sense [37] 66
The need to transcend the “ letter ” [38] 68
The Bible’s intrinsic unity [39] 70
The relationship between the Old and the New Testaments [40-41] 71
The “ dark ” passages of the Bible [42] 75
Christians, Jews and the sacred Scriptures [43] 76
The fundamentalist interpretation of sacred Scripture [44] 78
Dialogue between pastors, theologians and exegetes [45] 80
The Bible and ecumenism [46] 81
Consequences for the study of theology [47] 83
The saints and the interpretation of Scripture [48-49] 85
PART TWO: VERBUM IN ECCLESIA
THE WORD OF GOD AND THE CHURCH
The Church receives the word [50] 91
Christ’s constant presence in the life of the Church [51] 92
THE LITURGY, PRIVILEGED SETTING FOR THE WORD OF GOD 94
The word of God in the sacred liturgy [52] 94
Sacred Scripture and the sacraments [53] 97
The word of God and the Eucharist [54-55] 98
The sacramentality of the word [56] 101
Sacred Scripture and the Lectionary [57] 104
Proclamation of the word and the ministry of Reader [58] 105
The importance of the homily [59] 106
The fittingness of a Directory on Homiletics [60] 108
The word of God, Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick [61] 109
The word of God and the Liturgy of the Hours [62] 111
The word of God and the Book of Blessings [63] 113
Suggestions and practical proposals for promoting fuller participation in the liturgy [64] 114
a) Celebrations of the word of God [65] 114
b) The word and silence [66] 116
c) The solemn proclamation of the word of God [67] 117
d) The word of God in Christian churches [68] 118
e) The exclusive use of biblical texts in the liturgy [69] 119
f) Biblically-inspired liturgical song [70] 120
g) Particular concern for the visually and hearing impaired [71] 120
THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH 121
Encountering the word of God in sacred Scripture [72] 121
Letting the Bible inspire pastoral activity [73] 123
The biblical dimension of catechesis [74] 124
The biblical formation of Christians [75] 126
Sacred Scripture in large ecclesial gatherings [76] 127
The word of God and vocations [77] 128
a) Ordained ministers and the word of God [78-81] 129
b) The word of God and candidates for Holy Orders [82] 132
c) The word of God and the consecrated life [83] 134
d) The word of God and the lay faithful [84] 136
e) The word of God, marriage and the family [85] 137
The prayerful reading of sacred Scripture and “ lectio divina ” [86-87] 139
The word of God and Marian prayer [88] 145
The word of God and the Holy Land [89] 147
PART THREE: VERBUM MUNDO
THE CHURCH’S MISSION: TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD TO THE WORLD 151
The Word from the Father and to the Father [90] 151
Proclaiming to the world the “ Logos ” of hope [91] 152
The word of God is the source of the Church’s mission [92] 153
The word and the Kingdom of God [93] 155
All the baptized are responsible for this proclamation [94] 156
The necessity of the “ missio ad gentes ” [95] 158
Proclamation and the new evangelization [96] 158
The word of God and Christian witness [97-98] 159
THE WORD OF GOD AND COMMITMENT IN THE WORLD 162
Serving Jesus in “ the least of his brethren ” (Mt 25:40) [99] 162
The word of God and commitment to justice in society [100-101] 163
The proclamation of God’s word, reconciliation and peace between peoples [102] 165
The word of God and practical charity [103] 167
The proclamation of the word of God and young people [104] 168
The proclamation of the word of God and migrants [105] 170
The proclamation of the word of God and the suffering [106] 171
The proclamation of the word of God and the poor [107] 172
The proclamation of the word of God and the protection of creation [108] 174
THE WORD OF GOD AND CULTURE 175
The value of culture for the life of humanity [109] 175
The Bible, a great code for cultures [110] 177
Knowledge of the Bible in schools and universities [111] 177
Sacred Scripture in the variety of artistic expressions [112] 178
The word of God and the means of social communication [113] 179
The Bible and inculturation [114] 180
Translating the Bible and making it more widely available [115] 182
God’s word transcends cultural limits [116] 184
THE WORD OF GOD AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 185
The value of interreligious dialogue [117] 185
Dialogue between Christians and Muslims [118] 186
Dialogue with other religions [119] 187
Dialogue and religious freedom [120] 188
CONCLUSION 189
God’s defi nitive word [121] 189
New evangelization and a new hearing [122] 190
The word and joy [123] 191
“ Mater Verbi et Mater laetitiae ” [124] 192
POST-SYNODAL
APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
VERBUM DOMINI
OF THE HOLY FATHER
BENEDICT XVI
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY,
CONSECRATED PERSONS
AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE WORD OF GOD
IN THE LIFE AND MISSION
OF THE CHURCH
INDEX
INTRODUCTION [1] 3
That our joy may be complete [2] 4
From “ Dei Verbum ” to the Synod on the Word of God [3] 5
The Synod of Bishops on the Word of God [4] 8
The Prologue of John’s Gospel as a guide [5] 10
PART ONE: VERBUM DEI
THE GOD WHO SPEAKS 15
God in dialogue [6] 15
The analogy of the word of God [7] 16
The cosmic dimension of the word [8] 19
The creation of man [9] 21
The realism of the word [10] 22
Christology of the word [11-13] 23
The eschatological dimension of the word of God [14] 29
The word of God and the Holy Spirit [15-16] 32
Tradition and Scripture [17-18] 36
Sacred Scripture, inspiration and truth [19] 39
God the Father, source and origin of the word [20-21] 41
OUR RESPONSE TO THE GOD WHO SPEAKS 43
Called to the covenant with God [22] 43
God hears us and responds to our questions [23] 44
In dialogue with God through his words [24] 45
The word of God and faith [25] 46
Sin as a refusal to hear the word of God [26] 47
Mary, “ Mother of God’s Word ”and “ Mother of Faith ” [27-28] 48
THE INTERPRETATION OF SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE CHURCH 51
The Church as the primary setting for biblical hermeneutics [29-30] 51
“ The soul of sacred theology ” [31] 55
The development of biblical studies and the Church’s magisterium [32-33] 57
The Council’s biblical hermeneutic: a directive to be appropriated [34] 60
The danger of dualism and a secularized hermeneutic [35] 62
Faith and reason in the approach to Scripture [36] 64
Literal sense and spiritual sense [37] 66
The need to transcend the “ letter ” [38] 68
The Bible’s intrinsic unity [39] 70
The relationship between the Old and the New Testaments [40-41] 71
The “ dark ” passages of the Bible [42] 75
Christians, Jews and the sacred Scriptures [43] 76
The fundamentalist interpretation of sacred Scripture [44] 78
Dialogue between pastors, theologians and exegetes [45] 80
The Bible and ecumenism [46] 81
Consequences for the study of theology [47] 83
The saints and the interpretation of Scripture [48-49] 85
PART TWO: VERBUM IN ECCLESIA
THE WORD OF GOD AND THE CHURCH
The Church receives the word [50] 91
Christ’s constant presence in the life of the Church [51] 92
THE LITURGY, PRIVILEGED SETTING FOR THE WORD OF GOD 94
The word of God in the sacred liturgy [52] 94
Sacred Scripture and the sacraments [53] 97
The word of God and the Eucharist [54-55] 98
The sacramentality of the word [56] 101
Sacred Scripture and the Lectionary [57] 104
Proclamation of the word and the ministry of Reader [58] 105
The importance of the homily [59] 106
The fittingness of a Directory on Homiletics [60] 108
The word of God, Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick [61] 109
The word of God and the Liturgy of the Hours [62] 111
The word of God and the Book of Blessings [63] 113
Suggestions and practical proposals for promoting fuller participation in the liturgy [64] 114
a) Celebrations of the word of God [65] 114
b) The word and silence [66] 116
c) The solemn proclamation of the word of God [67] 117
d) The word of God in Christian churches [68] 118
e) The exclusive use of biblical texts in the liturgy [69] 119
f) Biblically-inspired liturgical song [70] 120
g) Particular concern for the visually and hearing impaired [71] 120
THE WORD OF GOD IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH 121
Encountering the word of God in sacred Scripture [72] 121
Letting the Bible inspire pastoral activity [73] 123
The biblical dimension of catechesis [74] 124
The biblical formation of Christians [75] 126
Sacred Scripture in large ecclesial gatherings [76] 127
The word of God and vocations [77] 128
a) Ordained ministers and the word of God [78-81] 129
b) The word of God and candidates for Holy Orders [82] 132
c) The word of God and the consecrated life [83] 134
d) The word of God and the lay faithful [84] 136
e) The word of God, marriage and the family [85] 137
The prayerful reading of sacred Scripture and “ lectio divina ” [86-87] 139
The word of God and Marian prayer [88] 145
The word of God and the Holy Land [89] 147
PART THREE: VERBUM MUNDO
THE CHURCH’S MISSION: TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD TO THE WORLD 151
The Word from the Father and to the Father [90] 151
Proclaiming to the world the “ Logos ” of hope [91] 152
The word of God is the source of the Church’s mission [92] 153
The word and the Kingdom of God [93] 155
All the baptized are responsible for this proclamation [94] 156
The necessity of the “ missio ad gentes ” [95] 158
Proclamation and the new evangelization [96] 158
The word of God and Christian witness [97-98] 159
THE WORD OF GOD AND COMMITMENT IN THE WORLD 162
Serving Jesus in “ the least of his brethren ” (Mt 25:40) [99] 162
The word of God and commitment to justice in society [100-101] 163
The proclamation of God’s word, reconciliation and peace between peoples [102] 165
The word of God and practical charity [103] 167
The proclamation of the word of God and young people [104] 168
The proclamation of the word of God and migrants [105] 170
The proclamation of the word of God and the suffering [106] 171
The proclamation of the word of God and the poor [107] 172
The proclamation of the word of God and the protection of creation [108] 174
THE WORD OF GOD AND CULTURE 175
The value of culture for the life of humanity [109] 175
The Bible, a great code for cultures [110] 177
Knowledge of the Bible in schools and universities [111] 177
Sacred Scripture in the variety of artistic expressions [112] 178
The word of God and the means of social communication [113] 179
The Bible and inculturation [114] 180
Translating the Bible and making it more widely available [115] 182
God’s word transcends cultural limits [116] 184
THE WORD OF GOD AND INTERRELIGIOUS DIALOGUE 185
The value of interreligious dialogue [117] 185
Dialogue between Christians and Muslims [118] 186
Dialogue with other religions [119] 187
Dialogue and religious freedom [120] 188
CONCLUSION 189
God’s defi nitive word [121] 189
New evangelization and a new hearing [122] 190
The word and joy [123] 191
“ Mater Verbi et Mater laetitiae ” [124] 192
