Benedict XVI: “The flame of faith risks dying out”

An empty church

The Pope gave this warning today as he received participants at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith plenary

vatican insider staff
rome

“We are facing a deep crisis of faith, a loss of religious sense which poses the greatest challenge for the Church today.” Benedict XVI confirmed this during today’s audience in which he received participants of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s plenary session. “Renewal of the faith – the Pope said – must therefore be the priority of the whole Church today.” The Pope expressed his wish that the upcoming Year of Faith will contribute to achieving this.

Christians of different confessions should speak out “with one voice” about ethical issues, drawing on “the Scriptures and on the living tradition of the Church as foundations.” This was the warning sent by Benedict XVI during this morning’s audience with participants of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s plenary session.

In his speech, Pope Benedict XVI explained that “the problem of morality presents a new challenge for the ecumenical path.” He went on to underline that “In dialogue we cannot ignore important moral questions regarding human life, the family, sexuality, bioethics, freedom, justice and peace. It is crucial to talk about these topics with one single voice, drawing on the Scriptures and on the living tradition of the Church as foundations.” “Defending the fundamental values of the great tradition of the Church – the Pope went on to say – we defend mankind, we defend Creation.”

In vast areas of the world- Benedict XVI warned – faith risks going out like a flame that no longer has anything to burn on.” Benedict XVI also warned against the “risk of a false irenicism and indifference which is completely alien to the ideas of the Second Vatican Council and of which we need to beware.” The Pope said this “attitude of indifference, caused by the increasingly widespread opinion that the truth is not accessible to man; according to this way of thinking, one would need to limit oneself to finding rules for a way of doing things that could make the world a better place. In this way, faith would be substituted with a moralism that lacked any real basis.”

The Pope praised the Congregation for the work it is doing in collaboration with the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelisation, to prepare for the Year of Faith that is due to begin next October 11, “treating it as an appropriate opportunity to remind everyone of the gift of faith in the resurrected Christ, the brilliant teachings of the Second Vatican Council and the precious doctrinal synthesis presented by the Catechism of the Catholic Church.”

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Marie on January 27, 2012 at 6:29pm

This Pope mystifies me. He see's the the Church emptying out, or already empty, vocations down to nothing and so on, and rather than do what Mary asked which was to consecrate Russia to Her Immaculate Heart, he calls for a "year of Faith" as an answer to the crisis.

My head is spinning.

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Permalink Reply by Cathleen on January 28, 2012 at 10:11am

His problem is "the brilliant teachings of the Second Vatican Council" which he won't let go of. The very simple solution of obedience to Our Lady is maybe too simple.

Maybe our efforts here can help in a small way to win grace for Our Holy Father to finally do his job. I'd like to think so, anyway. All of those prayers and especially rosaries will not be in vain; she has promised us (In the end my Immaculate Heart WILL triumph) and she keeps her promises. So I guess we just keep on praying.

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Permalink Reply by 0dxenox7wqztx on January 28, 2012 at 7:21pm

I like what Cathleen says. The other point to make is how important it is that those of us who are participating in the next 54 day Rosary Novena do so with the greatest attention, devotion, etc. possible.

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Permalink Reply by Dawn Marie on January 28, 2012 at 8:17pm

That is so strange that you would say that Cathleen. Not even maybe a week or two ago Bp. Williamson said the exact same thing. He likened the simplicity of the consecration to Naaman in the Old Testament who was told to go and bath 7 times in the river. It was so simplistic I guess he(Naaman) didn't want to do it. But like you said, H.E. also said the same thing about the prayers too.