Online Edition – November 2005
Vol. XI, No. 8
Pope Benedict XVI Reflects on Dei Verbum
Pope Benedict XVI, addressing an international congress on “Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church” in September, observed that through prayer and “diligent reading of the Sacred Scripture” the Lectio divina will bring to the Church a “new spiritual springtime”.
The congress, held September 16, commemorated the 40th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum. One hundred bishops were among the 400 scripture scholars participating in the congress.
The principal part of the Holy Father’s address appears here.
(Holy See translation)
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The Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum, whose drafting I personally witnessed as a young theologian, taking part in the lively discussions that went with it, begins with a deeply meaningful sentence: “Dei Verbum religiose audiens et fidenter proclamans, Sacrosancta Synodus…” [“Hearing the Word of God with reverence, and proclaiming it with faith, the Sacred Synod…”]. (Dei Verbum 1)
With these words the Council points out a descriptive aspect of the Church: she is a community that listens to and proclaims the Word of God.
The Church does not live on herself but on the Gospel, and in the Gospel always and ever anew finds the directions for her journey. This is a point that every Christian must understand and apply to himself: only those who first listen to the Word can become preachers of it.
Indeed, they must not teach their own wisdom but the wisdom of God, which often appears to be foolishness in the eyes of the world. (cf. I Corinthians 1:23)
The Church knows well that Christ lives in the Sacred Scriptures. For this very reason — as the Constitution stresses — she has always venerated the divine Scriptures in the same way as she venerates the Body of the Lord. (cf. DV 21)
In view of this, Saint Jerome, cited by the conciliar document, said that ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ. (cf. DV 25)
The Church and the Word of God are inseparably linked. The Church lives on the Word of God and the Word of God echoes through the Church, in her teaching and throughout her life. (cf. DV 8) The Apostle Peter, therefore, reminds us that no prophecy contained in Scripture can be subjected to a personal interpretation. “Prophecy has never been put forward by man’s willing it. It is rather that men impelled by the Holy Spirit have spoken under God’s influence”. (II Peter 1:20)
We are grateful to God that in recent times, and thanks to the impact made by the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum the fundamental importance of the Word of God has been deeply re-evaluated. From this has derived a renewal of the Church’s life, especially in her preaching, catechesis, theology and spirituality, and even in the ecumenical process. The Church must be constantly renewed and rejuvenated and the Word of God, which never ages and is never depleted, is a privileged means to achieve this goal. Indeed, it is the Word of God, through the Holy Spirit, which always guides us to the whole truth. (cf. John 16:13)
In this context, I would like in particular to recall and recommend the ancient tradition of Lectio divina: “the diligent reading of Sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer brings about that intimate dialogue in which the person reading hears God who is speaking, and in praying, responds to Him with trusting openness of heart”. (cf. DV 25) If it is effectively promoted, this practice will bring to the Church — I am convinced of it — a new spiritual springtime.
As a strong point of biblical ministry, Lectio divina should therefore be increasingly encouraged, also through the use of new methods, carefully thought through and in step with the times. It should never be forgotten that the Word of God is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path. (cf. Psalm 119[118]:105)
In invoking God’s Blessing upon your work, your projects and the Congress in which you are taking part, I join in the hope that enlivens you: “May the Word of the Lord make progress” (cf. II Thessalonians 3:1) to the very ends of the earth, so that through the proclamation of salvation the whole world through hearing it may believe, through belief it may hope, and through hope it may come to love. (cf. DV 1) I thank you with all my heart!
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