EDITORIAL

A Year of Faith to renew the face of the earth

Posted

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican II as well as the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and the Church begins the “Year of Faith” inaugurated by Pope Benedict XVI.

This Year of Faith is a time for all people of faith to be renewed in their life-giving relationship with Jesus Christ for as Gaudium et Spes, the Second Vatican Council’s Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World teaches: “the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man’s history is to be found in her Lord and Master.”

The Year of Faith calls us to a deeper personal growth in holiness for the renewal of our entire society and for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. Pope Benedict noted in declaring the Year of Faith: “The ‘door of faith’ (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a journey that lasts a lifetime.” The Year of Faith calls us to a consistent and courageous practice of faith and challenges us to make no compromises in living and professing our faith.

It is a call to renew one of the great themes of the Second Vatican Council that all the people of God whether bishop or priest, vowed religious or laity are indeed called to holiness. All men and women of every age, race and origin are called to be saints because holiness is nothing short of being united to Christ. Let the goal of this Year of Faith be to further unite ourselves to our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. For he is the only key to renewing his church and the only center of our society that can renew our culture. If during this Year of Faith we unite ourselves more intimately to Christ, if we more vigorously renew our call to holiness, and if we more compassionately serve his kingdom then indeed he will renew the face of the earth. Let us open wide the doors of faith and begin the renewal.