#deiverbum

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"From the Eucharist comes the strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others." - #SaintJohnPaulII

Today, January 25, is the Sunday of the Word of God -  #DeiVerbum 

📷 Catholic Liturgical Prayer Life / © Zolnierek via #GettyImages #Catholic_Priest #CatholicPriestMedia #WordofGodSunday

[ianspirations]

DEI VERBUM: Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation

The aim of this document is to “set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love.” (DV 1)

God chose to reveal himself as a friend by living among human beings and inviting them “into fellowship with Himself” (DV 2). God revealed Himself through Words and Deeds: the deeds refer to the things He did through history that have added credibility to the spoken Words. Since God chose to reveal Himself most powerfully through Jesus, Jesus becomes “both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation” (DV 2).

God the creator, offers human beings a glimpse of Himself in the created realities around them (cf. Rom 1:19-20). Knowing that nature itself wasn’t revealing enough, He chose to reveal Himself personally to humankind. The first chapters of Genesis record this initial revelation. The Great Fall gave humankind hope that God’s promise of salvation would be fulfilled. God carefully guided the human race and offered ‘eternal life to those who persevered in doing good.’ Through the patriarchs like Abraham the prophets from Moses onwards, “He taught this people to acknowledge Himself the one living and true God, provident father and just judge, and to wait for the Saviour promised by Him, and in this manner prepared the way for the Gospel down through the centuries” (DV 3).

Finally, God chose to speak to human beings as one among them and therefore “He sent His Son, the eternal Word” who came as ‘a man to men’ speaking the words of God and completing the work of salvation (DV 4). “Jesus perfected revelation by fulfilling it through his whole work of making Himself present and manifesting Himself: through His words and deeds, His signs and wonders, but especially through His death and glorious resurrection from the dead and final sending of the Spirit of truth” (DV 4). Jesus through all of these actions confirmed what God had been revealing all along, namely that He is with us and wishes to free us from the darkness of sin and death, and to give us eternal life. Since God revealed Himself fully through Jesus, we ought to expect no further new public revelation until Jesus manifests Himself fully and finally at the end of time.

God’s revelation requires “the obedience of faith” (Rom 16:26) by which human beings commit themselves wholly and freely to God. This act of faith cannot be exercised without Divine Grace and the assistance of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in the understanding of revelation by strengthening faith through His gifts. (DV 5)

“Through divine revelation, God chose to show forth and communicate Himself and the eternal decisions of His will regarding the salvation of men” (DV 6). This simply means that God wanted human beings to know and love Him that is why He revealed Himself to them. God can be known by human reason and reflection on created reality but through revelation we are able to grasp “those religious truths which are by their nature accessible to human reason…with solid certitude and with no trace of error” (DV 6).

God wanted that His revelation reach all people and all nations “in its full integrity.” Therefore, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to preach the Gospel “which is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching and to impart to them heavenly gifts” (DV 7). The Gospel was foretold by the prophets and was fulfilled by Jesus. The Apostles faithfully carried out the Divine mandate by their preaching and some of them, along with other inspired persons “committed the message of salvation to writing” (DV 7). The Apostles appointed Bishops as their successors and charged them with the authority to preserve the Gospel and its tradition and teach in their own settings. Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are like the two lenses with which the Church looks at God.

In order to ensure faithfulness to the tradition, the Apostles would offer exhortations and teachings either through their preaching or through letters. “What was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes” (DV 8). This tradition is guided by the Holy Spirit evidenced by the fact that there is a growth in understanding revelation. The teachings of the Fathers of the Church and the successors of the Apostles (bishops) are drawn from and influence the life of the Church. Tradition has given us the canon of sacred books and also provides the background for understanding and interpreting them. God continues to reveal Himself to the Church through the Scriptures.

Scripture and Tradition are closely connected since they spring up from the same Divine source and culminate in the same end. Scripture is the Word of God since it is written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit while Tradition takes the Word of God and hands it down from generation to generation faithfully and purely. Thus, both of them have “to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence” (DV 9).

Both of them together form “one sacred deposit of the word of God.” (DV 10). Both the clergy and the laity participate in faithfully observing and practicing the heritage of the faith. The task of authentically interpreting the word of God is entrusted exclusively to the ‘teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ (Bishops). This teaching office is not above the Scriptures but serves it by teaching only what has been handed down and what is inspired by the Holy Spirit. This widens the deposit of the word of God to also include the teaching authority of the Church which is also called the Magisterium or teachings of the Bishops.

The Church holds that scripture in its entirety (Old and New Testaments) was written under Divine inspiration by human authors who used their own abilities to write down everything that God wanted them to. Thus, the Church considers the scriptures to be without error with regard to those things pertaining to God. (DV 11).

However, since God chose to communicate through human authors, those who desire to understand and interpret Scripture must pay careful attention to “what God wanted to communicate… (and) should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended” (DV 12). In order to better grasp the intention of the writers, it would help to pay attention to ‘literary forms’ among other tools. In order to get a better idea, “due attention must be paid to the customary and characteristic styles of felling, speaking and narrating which prevailed at the time of the sacred writer, and to the patterns men normally employed at that period in their everyday dealings with one another” (DV 12). In doing this, one must not neglect looking at a particular passage within the context of the whole of scripture. The tradition of the Church must also be taken into consideration.

Scripture reveals to us the humility of God who chose to convey His truth and identity through human language; in a similar fashion, he chose to share human nature (DV 13).

In order to initiate His plan of salvation for the whole human race, the Lord of infinite wisdom chose a people for Himself to whom He entrusted His promises. Through Abraham and Moses, He entered into a covenant with the people of Israel. He manifested Himself to them through words and deeds. This history is recorded in the Old Testament and therefore remains “permanently valuable” (DV 14).

The principal aim of the Old Testament was to prepare for the coming of Christ. The Old Testament reveals “the knowledge of God and of man and the ways in which God, just and merciful, deals with men” (DV 15). The Old Testament with its limitations shows us “true divine pedagogy” (DV 15). “These same books, then, give expression to a lively sense of God, contain a store of sublime teachings about God, sound wisdom about human life, and a wonderful treasury of prayers, and in them the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way” (DV 15).

God, the divine author, wisely chose that the New Testament be hidden in the Old. The Old Testament is fulfilled by the New and help by shedding light on the New Testament and explaining it. (DV 16). The New Testament is a witness to the revelation of God in the person of Jesus. Jesus’ words and deeds and the fulfilment of His work by His death, resurrection and ascension are all contained in the New Testament. (DV 17). The Gospels hold a central place among all of the Scriptures even among the New Testament because “they are the principal witness for the life and teaching of the incarnate Word, our saviour” (DV 18). The Gospel is the ‘foundation of faith’ and is ONE though fourfold, according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

The four gospels faithfully hand on the story of Jesus which was enriched by their witness of Christ’s life and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. They wrote the Gospels, “selecting some things from the many which had been handed on by word of mouth or in writing, reducing some of them to a synthesis, explaining some things in view of the situation of their churches and preserving the form of proclamation but always in such fashion that they told us the honest truth about Jesus” (DV 19). Besides the Gospels, the New Testament contains the epistles of Paul and other apostolic writings which deal with matters concerning the Church and Christ the Lord (DV 20).

The Church venerates the Scriptures as she venerates the body of the Lord. Through the liturgy she offers the faithful both ‘God’s word and Christ’s body.’ The scriptures offer the word of God Himself and make the voice of the Holy Spirit heard in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, all preaching must be founded on Scripture. Through the Scriptures, “the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life” (DV 21).

The Church desired that the Scriptures be easily accessible to all the faithful. For this reason, she accepted the very ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament called the Septuagint while also giving due honour to the Eastern Latin translation known as Vulgate. Keeping in mind her responsibility for providing correct translations into other languages, the Church is careful in approving translations and recommends certain translations (DV 22). The Church desires to arrive at a deeper understanding of the Scriptures so that she can offer her children more solid food to use a Pauline expression. To this end, she encourages the study of the writings of the Church Fathers both Eastern and Western. She directs Catholic exegetes and students of sacred theology to “devote their energies, under the watchful care of the sacred teaching office of the Church, to an exploration and exposition of the divine writings” (DV 23). The aim of this should be to equip people to be ‘ministers of the divine word’ who are able to effectively enlighten people’s minds, strengthen their wills and set their hearts on fire with the love of God.

“Sacred theology rests on the written word of God, together with sacred tradition, as its primary and perpetual foundation” (DV 24). Theology should scrutinize the truth contained in them with the light of faith and in turn be rejuvenated by them. Since the scriptures contain the word of God, their study forms the soul of theology. “By the same word of Scripture the ministry of the word also, that is, pastoral preaching, catechetics and all Christian instruction, in which the liturgical homily must hold the foremost place, is nourished in a healthy way and flourishes in a holy way” (DV 24).

All clergy must engage in ‘diligent sacred reading and careful study’ of Scripture especially priests, deacons and catechists who are active in the ministry of the word. This is important so as to avoid becoming empty preachers who preach without practicing. The Church encourages all its faithful but especially the religious to “learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures” the knowledge of Jesus (DV 25). It is important that every Christian keep in touch with the word either proclaimed in the liturgy or read personally. Prayer should always accompany the reading of scripture “so that God and man may talk together” (DV 25). It is the responsibility of the Bishops to give to the faithful instructions regarding the use of divine books especially the New Testament and the Gospels in particular. Editions of the scriptures with suitable footnotes could help the faithful and other Christians to “become conversant with the Sacred Scriptures and be penetrated with their spirit” (DV 25).

The reading and study of scripture will ensure that “the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men” (DV 26).

[deiverbumcarita]

NOVENO DÍA NOVENA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA Oración para todos los días Oh Dios Todopoderoso y Misericordioso, que en defensa del pueblo cristiano estableciste admirablemente en la Bienaventurada Virgen María un perpetuo auxilio; concédenos propicio, que, fortalecidos con tal protección, luchando en esta vida podamos conseguir la victoria sobre el enemigo maligno, por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Amén. NOVENO DÍA En la peor de nuestras preocupaciones, recordemos que cuando la tormenta haya llegado hasta el auge, es hora de preparar el incienso y todo lo necesario para cantar el “Magníficat”. Porque cuando el sufrimiento llega al auge, María Auxiliadora interviene y nos salva, pues cuando su socorro parece más distante, es allí la hora de las gracias mayores. Oh Señora y Madre mía, ayúdame. Padrenuestro, Avemaría y Gloria (3 veces) SÚPLICA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA. Necesitando un favor especial, y confiando en tu bondad, a ti recurro, poderoso Auxilio de los Cristianos. Conocedor de las innumerables gracias que diariamente concedes a tus devotos, he puesto siempre en ti toda mi confianza; y hoy, humildemente postrado a tus plantas, te suplico, con todo el fervor de mi alma, remedies mi necesidad... (Aquí se pide la gracia deseada). Bien sé, Madre querida, que yo no merezco nada; y aún temo que mis culpas sean un obstáculo a tu bondad. Pero este temor se me disipa al pensar que tú me atenderás no porque soy bueno, sino porque tú eres buena. Por tanto, tú puedes, dulcísima Señora, sacarme de mi lastimosa situación y hacer que sirva con fidelidad a ti y a tu Divino Hijo, a fin de que yo también pueda experimentar la maravillosa eficacia de tu santo auxilio. Amén. #NovenaaMaríaAuxiliadora #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/CAjubLvnULL/?igshid=audzlosbao35

[deiverbumcarita]

SEXTO DÍA NOVENA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA “Tengan mucha fe en Jesús Sacramentado y en María Auxiliadora y estén persuadidos de que la Virgen no dejará de cumplir plenamente sus deseos, si éstos han de ser para la gloria de Dios y bien de sus almas. De lo contrario, les concederá otras gracias iguales o mayores”. San Juan Bosco Oración para todos los días Oh Dios Todopoderoso y Misericordioso, que en defensa del pueblo cristiano estableciste admirablemente en la Bienaventurada Virgen María un perpetuo auxilio; concédenos propicio, que fortalecidos con tal protección, luchando en esta vida podamos conseguir la victoria sobre el enemigo maligno, por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Amén. SEXTO DÍA Oh María Auxiliadora: no me olvides cuando yo me olvide de ti; no me abandones cuando te abandone; sígueme con tu celestial mirada y llámame cuando me aparte de ti, búscame cuando me esconda; sigue mi rastro cuando huya; levántame cuando caiga y recondúceme por el buen camino cuando me extravíe. Con la certeza en tu protección, atiende Madre Santa mi oración. Padrenuestro, Avemaría y Gloria (3 veces) SÚPLICA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA. Necesitando un favor especial, y confiando en tu bondad, a ti recurro, poderoso Auxilio de los Cristianos. Conocedor de las innumerables gracias que diariamente concedes a tus devotos, he puesto siempre en ti toda mi confianza; y hoy, humildemente postrado a tus plantas, te suplico, con todo el fervor de mi alma, remedies mi necesidad... (Aquí se pide la gracia deseada). Bien sé, Madre querida, que yo no merezco nada; y aún temo que mis culpas sean un obstáculo a tu bondad. Pero este temor se me disipa al pensar que tú me atenderás no porque soy bueno, sino porque tú eres buena. Por tanto, tú puedes, dulcísima Señora, sacarme de mi lastimosa situación y hacer que sirva con fidelidad a ti y a tu Divino Hijo, a fin de que yo también pueda experimentar la maravillosa eficacia de tu santo auxilio. Amén. #NovenaaMaríaAuxiliadora #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/CAbvEdjnZ4q/?igshid=1s7jeqnpzdra2

[deiverbumcarita]

QUINTO DÍA NOVENA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA Oración para todos los días Oh Dios Todopoderoso y Misericordioso, que en defensa del pueblo cristiano estableciste admirablemente en la Bienaventurada Virgen María un perpetuo auxilio; concédenos propicio, que fortalecidos con tal protección, luchando en esta vida podamos conseguir la victoria sobre el enemigo maligno, por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Amén. QUINTO DÍA Las Sagradas Escrituras nos presentan insignes mujeres de fe y virtud, vírgenes y madres santas, cuyo elogio los autores sagrados se complacen en cantar. Sin embargo, ninguna otra sino tú mereció la incomparable alabanza de Dios “Dios te salve María, llena eres de gracia”. Confiante en tu intercesión, escucha María Auxiliadora mi oración. Padrenuestro, Avemaría y Gloria (3 veces) SÚPLICA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA. Necesitando un favor especial, y confiando en tu bondad, a ti recurro, poderoso Auxilio de los Cristianos. Conocedor de las innumerables gracias que diariamente concedes a tus devotos, he puesto siempre en ti toda mi confianza; y hoy, humildemente postrado a tus plantas, te suplico, con todo el fervor de mi alma, remedies mi necesidad... (Aquí se pide la gracia deseada). Bien sé, Madre querida, que yo no merezco nada; y aún temo que mis culpas sean un obstáculo a tu bondad. Pero este temor se me disipa al pensar que tú me atenderás no porque soy bueno, sino porque tú eres buena. Por tanto, tú puedes, dulcísima Señora, sacarme de mi lastimosa situación y hacer que sirva con fidelidad a ti y a tu Divino Hijo, a fin de que yo también pueda experimentar la maravillosa eficacia de tu santo auxilio. Amén #NovenaaMaríaAuxiliadora #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/CAZM5n1Hnnr/?igshid=jd4z8iwca0ag

[deiverbumcarita]

PRIMER DÍA NOVENA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA “Tengan mucha fe en Jesús Sacramentado y en María Auxiliadora y estén persuadidos de que la Virgen no dejará de cumplir plenamente sus deseos, si éstos han de ser para la gloria de Dios y bien de sus almas. De lo contrario, les concederá otras gracias iguales o mayores”. San Juan Bosco ORACIÓN PARA TODOS LOS DÍAS Oh Dios Todopoderoso y Misericordioso, que en defensa del pueblo cristiano estableciste admirablemente en la Bienaventurada Virgen María un perpetuo auxilio; concédenos propicio, que fortalecidos con tal protección, luchando en esta vida podamos conseguir la victoria sobre el enemigo maligno, por Nuestro Señor Jesucristo. Amén. PRIMER DÍA Madre mía, Auxiliadora, Reina del Cielo y de la Tierra, dame la gracia de nunca sentirme lejos de ti, porque si es verdad que muchas cosas están lejos, tú Señora, siempre estás cerca. Y quien a ti reza confiadamente lo consigue todo. Convénceme, Señora, que tú estás al alcance no de manos que caen a lo largo del cuerpo, sino de manos que se ponen juntas para rezar, rezar, rezar seriamente. Llegue hasta ti Señora mi oración. Padrenuestro, Avemaría y Gloria (3 veces) SÚPLICA A MARÍA AUXILIADORA. Necesitando un favor especial, y confiando en tu bondad, a ti recurro, poderoso Auxilio de los Cristianos. Conocedor de las innumerables gracias que diariamente concedes a tus devotos, he puesto siempre en ti toda mi confianza; y hoy, humildemente postrado a tus plantas, te suplico, con todo el fervor de mi alma, remedies mi necesidad... (Aquí se pide la gracia deseada). Bien sé, Madre querida, que yo no merezco nada; y aún temo que mis culpas sean un obstáculo a tu bondad. Pero este temor se me disipa al pensar que tú me atenderás no porque soy bueno, sino porque tú eres buena. Por tanto, tú puedes, dulcísima Señora, sacarme de mi lastimosa situación y hacer que sirva con fidelidad a ti y a tu Divino Hijo, a fin de que yo también pueda experimentar la maravillosa eficacia de tu santo auxilio. Amén. #NovenaaMaríaAuxiliadora #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/CAPCfpdHM9X/?igshid=4kztquw0wt3y

[deiverbumcarita]

OCTAVO DÍA NOVENA A NUESTRA SEÑORA DE FÁTIMA María, Reina del Rosario ORACIÓN PREPARATORIA Oh santísima Virgen María, Reina del Rosario y Madre de misericordia, que te dignaste manifestar en Fátima la ternura de vuestro Inmaculado Corazón trayéndonos mensajes de salvación y de paz. Confiados en vuestra misericordia maternal y agradecidos a las bondades de vuestro amantísimo Corazón, venimos a vuestras plantas para rendiros el tributo de nuestra veneración y amor. Concédenos las gracias que necesitamos para cumplir fielmente vuestro mensaje de amor, y la que os pedimos en esta Novena, si ha de ser para mayor gloria de Dios, honra vuestra y provecho de nuestras almas. Así sea. Rezar la oración del día correspondiente: ORACIÓN DE ESTE DÍA ¡Oh santísima Virgen María!, que en vuestra última aparición te diste a conocer como la Reina del Santísimo Rosario, y en todas ellas recomendaste el rezo de esta devoción como el remedio más seguro y eficaz para todos los males y calamidades que nos afligen, tanto del alma como del cuerpo, así públicas como privadas. Infundid en nuestras almas una profunda estima de los misterios de nuestra Redención que se conmemoran en el rezo del Rosario, para así vivir siempre de sus frutos. Concédenos la gracia de ser siempre fieles a la práctica de rezarlo diariamente para honraros a Vos, acompañando vuestros gozos, dolores y glorias, y así merecer vuestra maternal protección y asistencia en todos los momentos de la vida, pero especialmente en la hora de la muerte. ORACIÓN FINAL ¡Oh Dios, cuyo Unigénito, con su vida, muerte y resurrección, nos mereció el premio de la salvación eterna! Os suplicamos nos concedas que, meditando los misterios del santísimo rosario de la bienaventurada Virgen María, imitemos los ejemplos que nos enseñan y alcancemos el premio que prometen. Por el mismo Jesucristo nuestro Señor. Amén. #NovenaaNuestraSeñoradeFátima #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/CAEKkBiHdo9/?igshid=3f4m5t22759e

[deiverbumcarita]

SEXTO DÍA NOVENA A NUESTRA SEÑORA DE FÁTIMA María, refugio de los pecadores ORACIÓN PREPARATORIA Oh santísima Virgen María, Reina del Rosario y Madre de misericordia, que te dignaste manifestar en Fátima la ternura de vuestro Inmaculado Corazón trayéndonos mensajes de salvación y de paz. Confiados en vuestra misericordia maternal y agradecidos a las bondades de vuestro amantísimo Corazón, venimos a vuestras plantas para rendiros el tributo de nuestra veneración y amor. Concédenos las gracias que necesitamos para cumplir fielmente vuestro mensaje de amor, y la que os pedimos en esta Novena, si ha de ser para mayor gloria de Dios, honra vuestra y provecho de nuestras almas. Así sea. Rezar la oración del día correspondiente: ORACIÓN DE ESTE DÍA ¡Oh santísima Virgen María, refugio de los pecadores!, que enseñaste a los pastorcitos de Fátima a rogar incesantemente al Señor para que esos desgraciados no caigan en las penas eternas del infierno, y que manifestaste a uno de los tres que los pecados de la carne son los que más almas arrastran a aquellas terribles llamas. Infundid en nuestras almas un gran horror al pecado y el temor santo de la justicia divina, y al mismo tiempo despertad en ellas la compasión por la suerte de los pobres pecadores y un santo celo para trabajar con nuestras oraciones, ejemplos y palabras por su conversión. ORACIÓN FINAL ¡Oh Dios, cuyo Unigénito, con su vida, muerte y resurrección, nos mereció el premio de la salvación eterna! Os suplicamos nos concedas que, meditando los misterios del santísimo rosario de la bienaventurada Virgen María, imitemos los ejemplos que nos enseñan y alcancemos el premio que prometen. Por el mismo Jesucristo nuestro Señor. Amén. #NovenaaNuestraSeñoradeFátima #DeiVerbum https://www.instagram.com/p/B__RptnHDkV/?igshid=1l9z6x4zwjdzf