1. Paul, the
Apostle: Teacher for Today
On 2 July 2008, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall,
three days after the beginning of the Pauline Year (29 June 2008 — 29
June 2009), the Holy Father announced to the faithful that he was
beginning a new series of Catecheses on "the great Apostle St Paul". In
this first of the series, the Apostle's cultural context is described.
God Wants Normal
Saints
At the General Audience in the courtyard of the Papal Summer Residence
at Castel Gandolfo on Wednesday, 20 August 2008, the Holy Father
reflected on several Saints, "remarkable examples of holiness", who are
commemorated in the liturgical calendar this week: St. John Eudes, St.
Bernard of Clairvaux, Pope St. Pius X and St. Rose of Lima.
2. Paul:
Non-Stop Venture for the Sake of the Gospel
On 27 August 2008, the Holy Father arrived at the Vatican by helicopter
from Castel Gandolfo for the General Audience in the Paul VI Auditorium.
The Pope's Catechesis provided dates, places, and other details in the
life of St. Paul.
3. St. Paul's
Conversion and Ours
On 3 September 2008, the Holy Father arrived at the Vatican by
helicopter from Castel Gandolfo for the General Audience in the Paul VI
Audience Hall. Returning to the Apostle to the Gentiles, the Pope
commented on the turning point in St. Paul's life, his conversion. It
was not merely a psychological experience, but an encounter with the
Risen Lord.
4.
Transformed by Grace, at Service of Christ
On 10 September 2008, in the Paul VI Audience Hall the Holy Father
continued his General Audience commentaries on St. Paul, this time
examining St. Paul's conception of what it means to be an apostle of
Jesus Christ.
On the
Message of Lourdes
In his General Audience, 17 September 2008, held in the Paul VI Hall,
the Holy Father reviewed his Sept. 12-15 apostolic trip to Paris and
Lourdes.
5. Christ
Lives and Speaks to Us Today
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square on 24 September 2008, the
Holy Father continued his Catecheses on the life of St. Paul, focusing
this week on Paul's relationship with the Church and the other Apostles.
6.
Charity: Gratitude for God's
Ineffable Gift
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square on 1 October 2008, the
Holy Father continued his catechesis on St. Paul's relationship with the
Twelve, analyzing two events: the Council of Jerusalem and the episode
in Antioch when Paul rebuked Peter for abstaining from eating with the
Gentiles.
7. Know
Historical Jesus Beyond the Flesh
At the General Audience in St Peter's Square, 8 October 2008, the Holy
Father commented on St Paul's relationship to the so-called "historical"
or earthly Jesus. The Apostle knew many details about the life of Jesus,
as well as the substance of His teaching.
8. The
Church: Christ's Body, Not Ours
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, on 15 October 2008, the
Holy Father reflected on St. Paul's teaching on the Church he had
persecuted prior to his conversion. "Paul's only goal in his work of
evangelization is to establish the community of believers in Christ."
9. Paradox of
the Cross: Life from Death
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square on 22 October 2008, the
Holy Father reflected on the centrality of Jesus in the teaching of St.
Paul, who portrayed Christ as the fulfilment of God's eternal plan of
salvation. Jesus is the Wisdom of the sapiential books.
10. The
Importance of the Cross of Christ
At the General Audience in St. Peter's Square on 29 October
2008, the Holy Father commented on the central place of the Cross of
Jesus Christ in St. Paul's preaching. The Cross is God's power made
perfect.
11. Theology
of the Cross: Not a Theory
At the General Audience in St Peter's Square on 5 November 2008, the
Holy Father commented on the resurrection of Christ in St. Paul's
preaching. St. Paul brings us from the apparent absurdity of the Cross
to the power of the resurrection, by which the divinity of Christ is
proclaimed.
12. On the
Lord's Second Coming
On 12 November 2008, at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, the
Holy Father continued his commentary on the Apostle to the Gentiles by
focusing on St. Paul's teaching of the Lord's second coming. The
expectation of Our Lord's return does not dispense us from working in
this world, as shown by the parable of the talents.
13.
Justification in Christ: God's
Free Gift
At the General Audience on 19 November 2008, in St. Peter's Square, the
Holy Father spoke on St Paul's teaching on our justification. We are
made just not by the Mosaic Law, but by faith in Christ, which includes
conforming to Christ in His charity.
14.
Faith Active in Love Witnesses to
the Free Gift of Justification in Christ
On 26 November 2008, in the
Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father continued his
Catechesis on St. Paul by commenting on the Apostle's teaching on faith
and works in regard to justification. The apparent difference, the Pope
observed, between St. Paul and St. James is one of emphasis, not of
substance.
15. Nothing Triumphs over Christ's Light
On 3 December 2008, at the
General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall, the Holy Father
considered St. Paul's teaching on the relationship between Adam, the
first man, and Christ, the second Adam.
16. The
Mystical Body of Christ Comes Alive in the Sacraments
On 10 December 2008, at the General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI
Audience Hall, the Holy Father spoke on the theology of the sacraments
in St. Paul's writings. It is through the sacraments, primarily of
Baptism and the Eucharist, that we enter into the new humanity
established by Christ.
Christmas
2008: Rediscover Simplicity and Solidarity
On 17 December 2008, at the General Audience in the Vatican's Paul VI
Audience Hall, the Holy Father interrupted his Catecheses on St. Paul to
speak of Holy Christmas. The Pope spoke of God's humility, who became a
Baby to overcome our arrogance.
17. The Time
Has Come for True Worship
On 7 January 2009, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience Hall,
continuing his Catecheses on the teaching of St Paul, the Holy Father
focused on the meaning of "true worship" as highlighted in Paul's Letter
to the Romans. True worship is not abstract moralizing, but the concrete
offering of our daily lives.
18. The
Church: A Body Vitalized by Christ's Commandments
On 14 January 2009, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience
Hall, continuing his Catecheses on the teaching of St Paul, the Holy
Father focused on the "twin" Letters, Colossians and Ephesians, which
uniquely develop the theme of Christ as "Head".
19. St.
Paul's Devotion to the One Lord and the Unity of His Church
At the General Audience, held in the Paul VI Auditorium on 21 January
2009, in the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity on the
theme: "That they may become one in your hand" (Ez 37:17), the Holy
Father thanked God for the progress made on the way to full unity.
20. The
Essential Catholic Structure: Scripture and Tradition
On 28 January 2009, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience
Hall, continuing his Catecheses on the teaching of St Paul, the Holy
Father turned to the Pastoral Letters, focusing on the interdependence
of Scripture and Tradition, as well as the universality of the Church
and its hierarchy.
21. St.
Paul: Our Guide to Christian Life
On 4 February 2009, at the General Audience in the Paul VI Audience
Hall, the Holy Father commented on St. Paul's life and legacy. The Pope
spoke of the Apostle's death, the early inclusion of his epistles in the
liturgy, his impact on the Church Fathers and later theologians.
|