Church’s need for renewal
In the pastoral letter to mark the beginning of Advent our bishops urged the Christian community to renew itself. They insisted that we are still speaking in yesterday’s language and using methods of the past. It is a pity that the good news that our...
In the pastoral letter to mark the beginning of Advent our bishops urged the Christian community to renew itself. They insisted that we are still speaking in yesterday’s language and using methods of the past. It is a pity that the good news that our Lord Jesus Christ came to proclaim is being hindered and distorted because it is being communicated in a language that is alien to today’s generation.
We need priests who are spiritual and men of prayer- Ray Azzopardi, Xemxija
Besides adapting to the needs of today we have to realise that what is also important is the change from within. We need to be people of faith. Unfortunately, we have priests who because of their lack of zeal and conviction are not able to communicate to the congregation the living spirit of God.
There is need for the Church to update its structures to make Mass more appealing as Fr Rene Camilleri commented in The Times (November 29). But we need priests today who are not only well-versed in theology and Sacred Scripture but who are also primarily imbibed with the spirit of Christ. We need priests who are spiritual and men of prayer. Even we, lay people, need to believe in the reality of the spiritual realm. We have to attend Mass with greater devotion and with an attitude of humility and faith. Our comportment in Church during religious functions should be such that it exhibits our deep faith in God.
What an example of faith, humility and spirituality has Bishop Annetto Depasquale been for the whole Catholic Church! Wasn’t it not his deep sense of spirituality and union with God that made an impact on all who came in contact with him?
It is this deep sense of spirituality that is lacking today from both those who celebrate the sacraments and from us who attend these functions. Yes, of course the Church needs to change. It needs to be renewed and adapt itself to the changing world but let us all, as the people of God, first renew ourselves from within because the outer signs and language should be an expression of what is within us.