Here you will find all answers at your questions on the Pauline Year !
- When ?
From June 29th, 2008 to June 29th, 2009.
- Who ?
On June 28th, 2008, the Holy Father opened the Pauline Year in the Basilica Saint Paul Outside The Walls during the first vespers of the Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. The Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I also participated in this great ceremony. - Why ?
This year is dedicated for the bi-millennium celebrations of the birth of the Apostle Paul. The Holy Father presented himself the vocation of this year in his Homily on June 28th, 2008 : ” Paul wants to speak to us – today. That is why I chose to establish this special “Pauline Year”: in order to listen to him and learn today from him, as our teacher, “the faith and the truth” in which the reasons for unity among Christ’s disciples are rooted. ”
- How ?
There are so many ways to celebrate the Pauline Year. Surely, participating in the International Pilgrimage of the Emmanuel Community is a great solution =)In his homily the Holy Father invites us to meet Paul not only as an historical character but also as a friend who has something current to tell us.
First of all Paul is a man centered on God : “his faith is not a theory, an opinion about God and the world. His faith is the impact of God’s love in his heart.” That explains his great freedom towards the others and his immense desire to announce the Gospel to the whole Earth.
Then Paul has to teach us of the reality of the Church which is not an association but a body, the Body of Christ living with us : ”Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” (1 Cor 6: 15).
Finally the vocation of Paul -announcing the Truth of the Gospel to the Nations- can not be separated of the suffering : “In a world in which falsehood is powerful, the truth is paid for with suffering. The one who desires to avoid suffering, to keep it at bay, keeps life itself and its greatness at bay; he cannot be a servant of truth and thus a servant of faith.”You will find the entire text of the Homily on :
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20080628_vespri_en.html
