Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer SJ New document studies correlation between Faith and sacraments
A new document produced by the International Theological Commission (ITC) which studies the relationship between Catholicism and the sacraments has been issued last week.
The document, titled ‘The Reciprocity between Faith and Sacraments in the Sacramental Economy’, examines a deeper understanding of the sacramental nature of Faith and a revitalisation of sacramental ministry.
The ITC seeks to address the issue of “baptised not-believers” by providing a doctrinal reflection on Faith for the sacraments and proposing practical pastoral indications for those in ministry.
There are five chapters in the document, which was authorised by Cardinal Luis Ladaria Ferrer SJ following the approval of Pope Francis.
The first explains the problem, decision to focus on sacraments of initiation and the sacrament of Matrimony.
Chapter two elaborates on the sacramental character of the divine plan for salvation and how Faith and sacraments are inter-related.
The third and fourth parts discuss how Faith is related to particular sacraments, with the subject of marriage being the longest section.
The fifth and final chapter summarises the sacramental nature of Faith and considers the significance of the sacramental order as a whole.
Catholics urged to support Middle East Christians on Good Friday
A Vatican official has said the Middle East needs the ongoing support of Catholics around the world and asked for the continuation of the traditional Good Friday collection for the Holy Land.
“Long and exhausting wars continue to produce millions of refugees and strongly influence the future of entire generations,” said Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the Congregation for Eastern Churches.
In a letter sent to bishops around the world, he wrote: “The Holy Land, and especially the Christian community that lives there, has always occupied an important place in the heart of the universal Church.
“The funds traditionally collected on Good Friday are the main source of material support for Christian life in the Holy Land.”
The Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land uses the collection to carry out its mission of preserving shrines connected with the life of Jesus. In addition, the money is used to provide pastoral care to the region’s Catholics, running schools and operating charitable institutions.
Economy of Francis’ conference and historic Mass postponed
A major conference on the world economy scheduled for later this month in Italy has been postponed until the end of the year due to the coronavirus outbreak.
‘The Economy of Francis’ conference in Assisi was set to welcome around 2,000 young people from 115 countries between March 26 and 28. However, the event has now been pushed back to November 19-21.
A statement released by the event organisers said the date change was to “encourage the best progress of the initiative, given the objective difficulty that so many young people are currently having when travelling internationally”.
Elsewhere, in Switzerland, a historic Mass which was to be celebrated in St Peter’s Cathedral was also postponed because of the coronavirus.
The occasion would have been the first Catholic Mass at St Peter’s, which is the main Calvinist church in Geneva, since 1535.