Posted on 01/07/2006 4:19:02 PM PST by NYer
Pope Benedict XVI stressed his commitment to bringing Christian churches closer together during a meeting with a delegation of Presbyterian and Congregational church leaders at the Vatican.
The pontiff made the point that the meeting with the World Alliance of Reformed Churches came on the 40th anniversary of the "Unitatis Redintegratio" papal decree committing the Catholic Church to dialogue with other churches to overcome "the tragic divisions which arose among Christians in the 16th century", according to a statement released by the Vatican.
The pope said he intended to pursue the strategy of his predecessor John Paul II who stipulated that "purification of memory" and "inner conversion is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress".
"Dear friends, I pray that our meeting today will itself bear fruit in a renewed commitment to work for the unity of all Christians. The way before us calls for wisdom, humility, patient study and exchange," Benedict XVI said.
The pope also thanked the alliance representing 75 million followers and 215 churches in more than 100 countries for its presence at John Paul II's funeral on April 8 last year and his own election as pope 11 days later.
Pope Benedict XVI, seen here on 06 January, stressed his commitment to bringing Christian churches closer together during a meeting with a delegation of Presbyterian and Congregational church leaders at the Vatican.(AFP/File/Alberto Pizzoli)
Ping!
"The pope said he intended to pursue the strategy of his predecessor John Paul II who stipulated that "purification of memory" and "inner conversion is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress"."
Purification of memory?! What the heck does that mean?
Hehehe!
We have Christian unity with Catholics and Presbyterians in our house! Two of them, 8 & 5 years old.
Sounds pretty scary to me.
Pope's 'Purification of Memory' Act Is Model for All Catholics, Especially Bishops, Says NCCB Administrative Committee
WASHINGTON (March 16, 2000) -- The Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (NCCB) issued a statement expressing "profound gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, for his act of 'purification of memory' celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on March 12."
"In this 'confession of sins and asking for forgiveness' on behalf of the whole Church, Pope John Paul, as the universal Pastor, is a model for all Catholics and especially for Bishops, who are called to the ministry of leading our local Churches," the Administrative Committee said.
"We pray that the Holy Father's humble 'confession of sins and asking for forgiveness' will be greeted with an equally humble appreciation of his action on the part of those wounded by members of the Church in their own experience or in that of their forebears. Above all we pray that in the Holy Father's action, the grace of God will be recognized, so that this confession of sins may also resound as a hymn of praise to his mercy."
The NCCB Administrative Committee, composed of 60 bishops from throughout the country, meets twice a year to prepare the agenda for the semi-annual meetings of the Catholic Bishops of the United States. The committee met here March 14-15.
Below is the full text of the statement.
Statement on the Holy Father's
'Purification of Memory' Ceremony
As the Administrative Committee of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, we wish to express our profound gratitude to our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, for his act of "purification of memory" celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica on March 12.
From the beginning the Lord taught his disciples to pray "Forgive us our trespasses," and he instructed them not to bring their gifts to the altar until they were reconciled with anyone who had something against them (cf. Mt. 5.23-24). In the mystery of salvation, the Church has always been not only the extension of Christ's saving presence in space and time, but also the field in which the wheat and weeds grow together (cf. Mt. 13.24-30). The Second Vatican Council described the Church as "at the same time holy and ever in need of purification" (Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, 8).
Pope John Paul II has brought this awareness of the continued presence of sin in the midst of the Church's saving work to a new stage. His profound sense of the dignity of each and every human being --founded in the Gospel and forged by personal experience of times and places in which this dignity was massively denied in words and action --has endowed him with a special sensitivity to the denial of human rights and dignity even on the part of those in the Church.
Chosen to lead the Church into the third millennium of Christian evangelization and committed to an evangelization that is "new in ardor, methods and expression" (Address to CELAM assembly, March 9, 1983), the Holy Father has also expressed his desire that, for the sake of the authenticity of her witness, the Church acknowledge the ways of thinking and acting on the part of her leaders and members "which were truly forms of counter-witness and scandal" (Tertio millennio adveniente, 33).
In this "confession of sins and asking for forgiveness" on behalf of the whole Church, Pope John Paul, as the universal Pastor, is a model for all Catholics and especially for Bishops, who are called to the ministry of leading our local Churches.
We pray that the Holy Father's humble "confession of of sins and asking for forgiveness" will be greeted with an equally humble appreciation of his action on the part of those wounded by members of the Church in their own experience or in that of their forebears. Above all we pray that in the Holy Father's action, the grace of God will be recognized, so that this confession of sins may also resound as a hymn of praise to His mercy.
Thanks for the post!
Hi netmilsmom, I'm one of those Catholic/Presbyterian mixes myself. So far the experiment is holding up fine!!
What do Presbyterians believe?
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXIV, Paragraph 3:
3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.
God Bless you!
It's a fine mix!
So, do the discussion threads in your homes typically reach 700 to 800 posts? :-)
>>What do Presbyterians believe?
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter XXIV, Paragraph 3:
3. It is lawful for all sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent. Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord. And therefore such as profess the true reformed religion should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters: neither should such as are godly be unequally yoked, by marrying with such as are notoriously wicked in their life, or maintain damnable heresies.<<
Oh check this out...
"should not marry with infidels, papists, or other idolaters"
Good thing my Presbyterian didn't know this!!!!
I am not Catholic but this does not sound good. I'm assuming these are all the usual suspects in the NCC and WCC.
LOLOL!
Sometimes, especially when he is on one computer, I am on the linux, and each of the girls are on their own laptops!
This sounds like a popish plot.
"This sounds like a popish plot."
Where is the Know Nothing Party when you need it?
Must have been from the liberal PCUSA.
>>Must have been from the liberal PCUSA.<<
Must have been!
Good thing or my darling girls would have never been born!!!!
Oh well, we papist, idolaters are not so bad.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.