How to Gain Wisdom of Heart: The Meaning of the Rhetorical Structure of Psalm 90

The request for wisdom of heart that can be found in Psalm 90:12 conveys in a certain sense the essence of the spiritual search on which that the authors of the Old Testament Wisdom Books embarked. In the end, they arrived at the conclusion that true knowledge can be attained only as a gift from the Creator. The question that remains, however, is: how man can receive this knowledge? The analysis of Psalm 90 presented below is an attempt to respond to this question. This analysis focuses particularly on the literary structure of Psalm 90 because, by coming to a better understanding of the way in which the sections and respective elements of the poem relate to each other, one arrives at the psalm’s deeper meaning. In this regard, the psychologist Hubert Hermans’ valuation theory is particularly helpful.

The Holy Family as a Model of the Spiritual Life in Bl. Bolesława Lament’s Teaching

The Christian spiritual life, the essence of which is holiness, needs an example that sheds clear light on the path of love for God and neighbor. In her teachings, Bl. Bolesława Lament indicates that the example of the Holy Family of Nazareth’s life is especially helpful in for man’s spiritual development. The Holy Family’s example can help shape the spiritual life of believers according to the Incarnation. The essence of the Holy Family’s example is its deep focus on the mystery of Incarnation and, thus, union with Christ, the Incarnate Word. Moreover, the hidden life of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph provides a solid foundation on which apostolic life can take on form.

Pastoral Care of the Disabled in the Directory for Catechesis Published on March 23, 2020

The most recently published Directory for Catechesis addresses catechesis for the disabled within the totality of the Church’s pastoral ministry. The dignity of every person as a child of God, which is granted through the Sacrament of Baptism when a person is incorporated into the Body of Christ, is the basis for the Church’s pastoral care, which includes catechesis, of the disabled. The presence of the disabled within the ecclesial community and secular society is a gift, since such individuals enrich their environment and inspire others to perform good deeds. The disabled both receive and proclaim God’s word just as they also share in the priestly ministry of the faithful and participate in the liturgy. However, it is important for the Church to adjust how She ministers to the disabled in order to meet their personal needs and abilities and to adapt Her approach properly to apostolic activity, especially giving witness by living a Christian life.

The Archbishop of Białystok Romuald Jałbrzykowski and His Curia’s Efforts to Release Priests Arrested in the USSR After the Second World War

After World War II had ended, the Soviet authorities expelled the Metropolitan Archbishop of Vilnius Romuald Jałbrzykowski from Vilnius. He ended up in Białystok, where he established the structures of the local Church known today as the Archdiocese of Białystok. Persecuted and imprisoned by the NKVD, Archbishop Romuald Jałbrzykowski did not forget the priests of the Archdiocese of Vilnius, who were detained, imprisoned, and/or sent to labor camps in the summer of 1945. He made efforts to work with the Polish People’s Republic to release those who were being detained. The leaders of the Communist Party in Poland considered the archbishop an enemy of the socialist regime that prevailed in Poland after World War II had ended.

The Statutes of the Cathedral Chapter of Vilnius Before the Partition of Poland

After being canonically erected in 1388, the Cathedral Chapter of Vilnius did not have any recognized privileges or land grants. It subsisted exclusively off of the bishop of Vilnius’ bona mensae, and it followed the Cathedral Chapter of Cracow’s example with regard to its organization, internal structure, activities, and relationship with the diocesan bishop. Having certain privileges and revenue at its disposal in the 15th century, the canonical corporation of Vilnius began to seek greater legitimacy. It was not until 1515, however, that Bishop Wojciech Radziwiłł ordered that the Chapter write up its rights and duties in the form of statutes and that the Holy See approve them. Pope Leo X subsequently approved the Cathedral Chapter of Vilnius’ statutes through his legate Bishop Zacharias Ferreri on November 29, 1520. The papal confirmation gave the Cathedral Chapter of Vilnius strong legal standing that no one, with the exception of the Holy See, could violate or change. The statutes strengthened the Chapter’s position in relation to the diocesan bishop, which turned out to be both in accordance with the spirit of the times and, with time, affirmed by the Council of Trent (1545-1563).

Scientia Fidei – Science or Life?

A particular aspect of theological knowledge, which arises from the intellectual search based on faith, is the exceptionally favorable opportunity it provides to overcome the antimonies of science and life. After all, theology not only engages reason and faith but also the will and love. On this basis, scientia fidei (science of faith) claims to make sense of everything, meaning of wisdom, at the center of which can be found truth and life, which both accord with it. Moreover, any systematic reflection on faith should take place within specific context that is understood as its basic challenge. This does not mean that it is possible to evaluate or correct the faith according to so-called “life experience”, but rather that life can be ordered according to faith. In other words, any interest in human agere (act) should not lose sight of esse (being). From this point of view, science of faith should not only resolve the tension between rational knowing and mystery, but also protect against one-sidedness and superficiality through competent and particular knowledge that defines who man is and determines how he should act. A utilitarian approach to empirical science as well as contemporary philosophy, which does not consider wisdom and the question of truth, is incompetence in this regard.

Benedict XVI’s Ecumenical Dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox Church

The author of this article presents Benedict XVI’s ecumenical dialogue with the Eastern Orthodox Church as a whole through the speeches, declarations, and homilies that he delivered to representatives of the Eastern Church. This dialogue is undoubtedly significant. As a pope, Benedict XVI fostered and authoritatively promoted this interchange by initiating meetings, participating in communal prayer, teaching, treating those who he encountered with fraternal friendship and charity, and overcoming various obstacles. The Holy Father emphasized the theological studies that the two Churches share in common, because complete and visible communion cannot exist without unity of faith. As always – and particularly as the theologian and as the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith – he taught that both Churches could celebrate the Eucharist together only when they are fully united. When would this happen? According to Benedict XVI, such union is a gift from God for which the faithful must pray and toward which they must work by: evangelizing together, mutually resisting ideologies hostile to Christianity and humanity, ensuring peace and justice among Christians and those who follow other religions, and cooperating in charitable care of the poor, the sick, and the needy.

The Role of God’s Word in Priestly Formation: Selected Issues

The Word of God is the foundation that enables a young man to establish a deep bond with Christ while following the path of priestly formation. Daily prayer based on profound meditation on God’s word (lectio divina) helps a seminarian become rooted deeply in the Holy Scripture and to truly encounter Jesus in the books of the Gospel. The student also needs intellectual formation based on Holy Scripture in order to understand more the secrets of the Holy Scripture more profoundly and preach them in his ministry as reader.

St. Augustine’s Personal Experience of Marriage and Family and his Influence on the Theology of Marriage

This study presents St. Augustine’s personal experiences related to marriage and family that eventually influenced his views on these topics. Augustine of Hippo is considered one of the greatest theologians of the ancient Christian world. Although he was unmarried, he was born into a Christian family and experienced what it was like to live with a woman in a quasi-married state before he converted to Catholicism. Augustine left behind a large body of writings dedicated to the topics of marriage and family. Even though these works do not constitute a coherent treaty on marriage and family, they do shed light on these issues. They also reflect the current and pressing problems that affected not only St. Augustine but also the people of his time. St. Augustine’s views on marriage and family have had an immense influence on the entire Latin Church’s position on these issues. In this regard, the primary source that contains a lot of biographical information is Augustine’s Confessions. This study is made up of two parts. Part I describes Augustine’s childhood experiences and family life. Part II describes youth and his experience living with a female concubine. This original study presents the sources of St. Augustine’s views on human sexuality and his relationship with his family.