Q/A on the Year of Faith

[MariaChristi]

Questions & Answers About the Year of Faith

1. What is the Year of Faith?
At certain times in the history of the Church, popes have called upon the faithful to dedicate themselves to deepening their understanding of a particular aspect of the faith. In 1967, Pope Paul VI announced a Year of Faith commemorating the 19th centenary of the martyrdom of Sts. Peter and Paul. The 1967 Year of Faith called upon the Church to recall the supreme act of witness by these two saints so that their martyrdom might inspire the present day Church to collectively and individually make a sincere profession of faith.

The upcoming Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI is a “summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world” (Porta fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion – to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The pope has described this conversion as opening the “door of faith” (see Acts 14:27). The “door of faith” is opened at one’s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church.

2. Why is the Year of Faith this year?
With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011, Porta fidei, Pope Benedict XVI declared that the Year of Faith will begin on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. October 11, the first day of the Year of Faith, is the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith.

The above are 2 of the 6 questions and answers on the webiste of the USCCB. See [HERE ](http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/index.cfm)for more.

I have begun to "stir" a bit of interest in our parish by asking the person in charge of our Parish Bulletin to post the the new website for the Year of Faith with the new logo; see[ HERE](http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en.html). Since the Catechism of the Catholic Church was the first resource listed on this official website from the Vatican, my husband and I are going to offer a Study of the Catechism on alternate weeks in our Bible study every Sunday afternoon.

I'd be grateful to hear from anyone who is doing anything to prepare themselves and/or any parishes, to participate in this Year of Faith.  Thanks.

 

[Joe_5859]

Oh so many possibilities.

First, you would want to take a look at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith. Part IV has recommendations for the parish level. That should be the starting point for every parish.

Second, you’ll want to take a look at whatever your diocese may be doing. If they have any diocesan-wide events or resources that they are making available, then you’ll want to see what they’re doing so you don’t spend a bunch of time re-inventing the wheel.

I think the idea of studying the Catechism in your Bible study is a good way to take advantage of utlilizing something your parish already has going and giving it a Year of Faith focus. Sometimes, when these things come around, people can roll their eyes thinking that they now have “one more thing to do”. So anytime you can take advantage of what people are already doing, I think that makes your job easier.

Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio Porta Fidei emphasizes a more widespread familiarity with both the Catechism and the documents of Vatican II. I think that a great personal devotion during the Year of Faith would be to read trhough either the entire Catechism, the documents of Vatican II, or both. The Coming Home Network has produced a handy flyer for reading through the Bible and Catechism in a year. I am actually working on a reading plan for reading the 16 documents of Vatican II in a year since my online search yielded no results. It will be on the website vaticantwo.wordpress.com. I’m, almost done. Since the Year of Faith is actually six weeks longer than a year, there is a built in cushion if you find yourself missing a few days.

If you want to go the route of having a polished study that your parish can host, Ascension Press has a new series Pillars that explores the Catechism. So far, they have available the study on the first pillar (Creed). The other three pillars will be forthcoming. It’s a 12 part study. If that seems too daunting, doing six weeks in the Fall (leading up to Advent) and six weeks in the Spirng (during Lent) is an approach I’ve seen work well with similar programs. Getting people to sign up for something that is going to be every week for three months can be difficult. But if it’s only for four or six weeks at a time, people are generally more receptive. And of course, once they start, they become more invested and are more likely to keep going.

Maryvale has a Catholic-Year-of-Faith.com website. They have lots of info and resources related to the Year of Faith. So that’s another place to check into.

Our Sunday Visitor has a pamphlet, Bible study, magnet, and prayer card. Those type of things are always nice to have around.

I’m sure the coming months will bring even more resources to light.

 

[MariaChristi]

Oh so many possibilities.

First, you would want to take a look at the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s Note with pastoral recommendations for the Year of Faith. Part IV has recommendations for the parish level. That should be the starting point for every parish.

Second, you’ll want to take a look at whatever your diocese may be doing. If they have any diocesan-wide events or resources that they are making available, then you’ll want to see what they’re doing so you don’t spend a bunch of time re-inventing the wheel.

I think the idea of studying the Catechism in your Bible study is a good way to take advantage of utlilizing something your parish already has going and giving it a Year of Faith focus. Sometimes, when these things come around, people can roll their eyes thinking that they now have “one more thing to do”. So anytime you can take advantage of what people are already doing, I think that makes your job easier.

Pope Benedict’s Motu Proprio Porta Fidei emphasizes a more widespread familiarity with both the Catechism and the documents of Vatican II. I think that a great personal devotion during the Year of Faith would be to read trhough either the entire Catechism, the documents of Vatican II, or both. The Coming Home Network has produced a handy flyer for reading through the Bible and Catechism in a year. I am actually working on a reading plan for reading the 16 documents of Vatican II in a year since my online search yielded no results. It will be on the website vaticantwo.wordpress.com. I’m, almost done. Since the Year of Faith is actually six weeks longer than a year, there is a built in cushion if you find yourself missing a few days.

If you want to go the route of having a polished study that your parish can host, Ascension Press has a new series Pillars that explores the Catechism. So far, they have available the study on the first pillar (Creed). The other three pillars will be forthcoming. It’s a 12 part study. If that seems too daunting, doing six weeks in the Fall (leading up to Advent) and six weeks in the Spirng (during Lent) is an approach I’ve seen work well with similar programs. Getting people to sign up for something that is going to be every week for three months can be difficult. But if it’s only for four or six weeks at a time, people are generally more receptive. And of course, once they start, they become more invested and are more likely to keep going.

Maryvale has a Catholic-Year-of-Faith.com website. They have lots of info and resources related to the Year of Faith. So that’s another place to check into.

Our Sunday Visitor has a pamphlet, Bible study, magnet, and prayer card. Those type of things are always nice to have around.

I’m sure the coming months will bring even more resources to light.

Dear Joe,

Thanks for your reply and for all the resources. I think we have an abundance of resources, but I was hoping to hear more about an “abundance of zeal” for doing something personally or encouraging our parishes to participate in this year of Faith.

For instance, in our Bible/Catechism studies we encourage people to use their own Bibles and copies of the Catechism and to use them at home as well. We also welcome questions and discussion on how to “live the Truth we hear”. This Year of Faith, I believe, needs to “wake up” sleepy disciples: those who are content to sit in the pews, forgetting or perhaps never having heard: all are called to holiness and the Church exists to evangelize!

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization and Mother of Faith, pray for us.
St. Jose Maria Escriva, whose feast we celebrate today, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You!

 

[Joe_5859]

Dear Joe,

Thanks for your reply and for all the resources. I think we have an abundance of resources, but I was hoping to hear more about an “abundance of zeal” for doing something personally or encouraging our parishes to participate in this year of Faith.

For instance, in our Bible/Catechism studies we encourage people to use their own Bibles and copies of the Catechism and to use them at home as well. We also welcome questions and discussion on how to “live the Truth we hear”. This Year of Faith, I believe, needs to “wake up” sleepy disciples: those who are content to sit in the pews, forgetting or perhaps never having heard: all are called to holiness and the Church exists to evangelize!

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization and Mother of Faith, pray for us.
St. Jose Maria Escriva, whose feast we celebrate today, pray for us.
Jesus, we trust in You!

That’s a great point. I don’t think it’s an accident that the Year of Faith starts off just as the bishops’ synod on the new evangelization is getting underway. I think you’ve captured the whole point of the Year of Faith rather well: it’s a wake up call for all of us who have fallen asleep in the garden.

 

[MariaChristi]

That’s a great point. I don’t think it’s an accident that the Year of Faith starts off just as the bishops’ synod on the new evangelization is getting underway. I think you’ve captured the whole point of the Year of Faith rather well: it’s a wake up call for all of us who have fallen asleep in the garden.

Dear Joe,

When I read Pope Benedict’s book, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. 2, I was so impressed with his words on the Agony of the Garden that I copied them into my Bible; the Pope wrote:

…Across the centuries, it is the drowsiness of the disciples that opens up possibilities for the power of the evil one. Such drowsiness deadens the soul, so that it remains undisturbed by the power of the evil one at work in the world, and by all the injustice and suffering ravaging the earth. In its state of numbness, the soul prefers not to see all this; it is easily persuaded that things cannot be so bad, so as to continue self-satisfaction of its own comfortable existence. Yet this deadening of souls, this lack of vigilance regarding both God’s closeness and the looming forces of darkness is what gives the evil one power in this world. On beholding the drowsy disciples, so disinclined to rouse themselves the Lord says, “My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death.”…

May God have mercy on us and enable us to wake up, not only for our own sakes, but for all those in need of His Mercy. Come Holy Spirit, kindle in us the Fire of Your Love. Renew the face of the earth!