Archbishop Tells Faithful to Keep Year of Faith Teachings Alive

Archbishop Tells Faithful to Keep Year of Faith Teachings Alive

Vatican City — Archbishop Rino Fisichella, president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting New Evangelization has called on the faithful to keep alive their faith even as the year of faith comes to an end.

“We have come to the end of a Year dedicated entirely to the renewal of the faith in believers, but there remains the wish to keep alive the teaching we have received during these months”, said Archbishop Fisichella.

He was speaking during a press conference held in the Holy See Press Office on Monday, November 18 to present the Day for Contemplative Life, a Year of Faith initiative, which will take place on November 21, and the celebrations marking the end of the Year of Faith: a meeting of catechumens with the Pope, November 23, and the closing Holy Mass, November 24.

Archbishop Fisichella commented that to conclude the Year, “we have thought of a series of different ‘signs’ intended to demonstrate the continuity of faith and the path we are called to walk to prevent it from becoming obvious in everyday life.

The first sign is given by the Pope Francis’ planned visit to the Camaldolese nuns of the monastery of Sant’Antonio Abbate all’Aventino, Rome, where he will meet with the community.

This day, which coincides with the anniversary of the entry into the convent of Sister Nazarena Crotta, the last recluse to live within its walls, will be dedicated to those who have chosen a cloistered life in order to dedicate themselves fully to a life of prayer and contemplation.

The second event will take place on Saturday November 23, which will be dedicated to catechumens, with the theme “Ready to cross the threshold of faith”. More than five hundred catechumens will be present, accompanied by their catechists, from 47 different countries from all five continents.

The Pope will receive 35 of them at the entrance of St.Peter’s Basilica and will ask them the traditional questions that form the rite.

Finally, the Year of Faith will conclude with a Holy Mass on Sunday November 24 in St Peter’s Square at 10.30 a.m., and will be marked by three signs intended to highlight the importance of the moment: the exposition of the relics of St Peter, the delivery by Pope Francis of his Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii gaudium”, and a gesture of charity towards the Philippine population.

During the Eucharist, a collection will be carried out as a contribution by the Year of Faith pilgrims to those affected by the catastrophic typhoon in the Philippines.

Archbishop Fisichella concluded by mentioning that “often, accustomed as we are to emphasizing elements of crisis, we forget to look at the many positive signs of hope that are genuinely present in the Church. The Year of Faith has enabled us to experience this.”

More than eight million pilgrims visited the tomb of St Peter to profess their faith during the year of faith.

Categories: Church & Ministries

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