The Education of Children in Amoris Laetitia in Light of Thomist Philosophy

This article deals with the essentially human and personal meaning of education presented to us by Pope Francis' Apostolic Exhortation Amoris Laetitia. This work is carried out because of the "Family Year" established to be celebrated from March 2021 to June 2022. It is intended to show that the Exhortation is a true response to the "educational emergency" denounced by Pope Benedict XVI since 2008. A study of chapter VII of the above-mentioned letter, entitled "Towards a better education of children", analyzes and compares with the philosophical principles universally recognized in history about education, especially in St. Thomas Aquinas, with regard to the moral formation of children, recognizing the significant and fundamental responsibility of parents in this important matter. At the end of the analysis it is concluded that the magisterial text is rooted in the tradition of Christian philosophical thought and that, as such, it collaborates, as a light and guide, in the educational work of parents and, therefore, in providing solutions to the problems facing education today; but with regard to the philosophy of the Thomistic being, we cannot say that there is a basis in this metaphysics, although it is perfectly complementary. Este artículo se ocupa del significado esencialmente humano y personal de la educación que nos presenta la Exhortación Apostólica Amoris Laetitia del Papa Francisco. Se realiza este trabajo en razón del “Año de la Familia” establecido para celebrarse desde marzo de 2021 a junio de 2022. Verdadera respuesta a la “emergencia educativa” denunciada a partir de enero de 2008 en el Mensaje del Santo Padre Benedicto XVI a la Diócesis de Roma. Mediante un estudio del capítulo VII de la mencionada carta (Papa Juan Pablo II, 1998), denominado “Fortalecer la educación de los hijos”, se analiza y compara con los principios filosóficos universalmente reconocidos en la historia acerca de la educación, especialmente en Santo Tomás de Aquino, en lo que se refiere a la formación moral de los hijos, reconociendo la significativa y fundamental responsabilidad de los padres en esta importante materia. Al finalizar el análisis se concluye que el texto magisterial está enraizado en la tradición del pensamiento filosófico cristiano y que, como tal, colabora, como luz y guía, en la labor educativa de los padres y, por tanto, en dar solución a los problemas que enfrenta la educación hoy en día; pero respecto de la filosofía del ser tomista, no podemos decir que exista un fundamento en esta metafísica, aunque es perfectamente complementaria (Pontificia Academia Sancti Thomae Aquinatis, 2010).

HANS KÜNG DAN JOSEPH RATZINGER – DUA PANDANGAN TENTANG YESUS KRISTUS

<p><em>Hans Küng and Joseph Ratzinger are two well-known figures whose biography runs parallel to the end of the Second Vatican Council, but since the 1970s they have been sharply separated and since then they have developed into representatives of the two currents of development in the Catholic Church after the Second Vatican Council.</em><em> </em><em>In this article the author describes the characteristics of their respective views on Jesus Christ.</em><em> </em><em>Hans Küng's views are described according to the concise description in the book “20 Thesen zum Christsein” and his views are summarized under the title Jesus of Nazareth – an exemplary Man.</em><em> </em><em>Meanwhile, Joseph Ratzinger's view is taken from his book Jesus of Nazareth, which was published after Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI and is summarized under the title Jesus Christ – the Son of God.</em><em> </em><em>After describing the two positions, the writer gives a brief response to the two views. </em></p><p><strong>Keywords:</strong> Hans Küng, Joseph Ratzinger, christology, historical Jesus, critical historical method.<strong><em></em></strong></p>

Moral Calls Resulting from the Gift of the Eucharist in the Teaching of Pope Benedict XVI

The role of the Eucharist in shaping the moral life is enormous and in fact, thanks to the Eucharist, the essence of Christian life can be read. Therefore, it is not surprising that Pope Benedict XVI has often addressed the Eucharist in his teachings. In this way, he wanted to deepen and revive the worship of Eucharistic Jesus. In his teachings, he showed the Eucharist as the greatest treasure given to man for shaping the moral life. He constantly reminded us of the obligations arising from the participation in the Eucharist. Because of its specificity, the Eucharist contains moral calls: to sacrifice, to feeding on the bread of life, to praise and giving thanks, and to living in faith and love. Fulfilling all these attitudes and moral calls in everyday life is a way to progress in the Eucharistic life.

The Criteria of “Authentically” Catholic Theology: Reading Theology Today a Decade Later

In light of the fecundity and diversity of Catholic theology since Vatican II, a 2012 report of the International Theological Commission (ITC) identified perspectives, principles, and criteria—distinctive family traits—of Catholic theology, what Pope Benedict XVI called its “genetic code”: primacy of the Word of God; the faith of the Church as its source, context, and norm; the science of faith; drawing constantly on the canonical witness of Scripture; fidelity to the Apostolic Tradition; attention to the sensus fidelium; responsible adherence to the ecclesiastical magisterium; practiced in collaboration with the whole company of theologians; in dialogue with the world; giving a scientifically and rationally argued presentation of the Christian faith; integration of plurality in the intellectus fidei; and sapiential. This article marks the 10th anniversary of the ITC report by offering a critical commentary on the criteria, examining the possibilities, limitations, and tensions inherent in each, and the ongoing relevance of these criteria for contemporary Catholic theology. It argues that although the aim of the ITC report is not to promote uniformity but to avoid fragmentation, and its framework is an ecclesiology of communion, when the interpretative possibilities of theology are discussed, the report tends to retreat from these possibilities and adopt a restrictive emphasis on conformity. The article then examines what Pope Francis (2013–) says about the characteristics of Catholic theology and the role of theologians in his major documents and his addresses to faculties of theology. It argues that Francis makes a distinctive contribution to consideration of what is “authentically” Catholic theology, and may offer a less restrictive understanding of such theology for the diverse academic, cultural, and ecclesial contexts in which Catholic theologians find themselves.

Terroryzm z perspektywy nauczania trzech papieży — Jana Pawła II, Benedykta XVI i Franciszka

The aim of this study was to indicate the position taken on the phenomenon of terrorism in the teaching of the Catholic Church by three popes: John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis. It has been found that, apart from the common, unambiguously negative assessment of the analysed phenomenon by the hierarchy of the Church, each of them sets out his own observations on its nature and causes. In the teaching of John Paul II, the predominant conviction is that terrorism is an ideology of violence which spreads on the basis of technological and economic development and brings chaos on both a political and personal level. Benedict XVI states that terrorism promotes a civilisation of destruction, which above all questions the dignity of the individual, seeking their annihilation. Pope Francis, on the other hand, focuses on stressing the need for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in order to reduce the growing tensions that are the source of terrorist acts. All the Fathers of the Church, however, draw attention to the fundamental problem of the instrumental treatment of human life by terrorist organisations, for which human beings become a mere means to achieve their various aims.

The power of place-makers and merchants: Papal and Marian items in the political economy of pilgrimage

Based on two field studies on the micro level of items which place-makers and merchants display at holy sites, an argument about the supply side of the political economy of pilgrimage is proposed. Place-makers and merchants rely on the established pilgrims’ traditions but differ concerning innovations. Place-makers are the principals of the sites and invest in innovations in order to secure the site’s long-term performance. Merchants rely on short-term purchase decisions of the pilgrims. They prefer tried and tested products and look for novelties which fits in the pattern of success. While the resilience of placemakers demonstrate the power of the supply side, the cautiousness of the merchants hints to its limits. Rome during Francis’Jubilee of Mercy and the Bavarian Marian shrine Altötting in the years after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI are the case studies to illustrate these claims in the perspective of Marian and papal pilgrimage.

COMMENTARY ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND FAITH IN CHURCH TEACHING

The text analyzes the relationship between Science and Faith in the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. The analysis is based on the position of the Vatican Councils I and II about the importance of Faith and Reason for man, in his search for truth; simultaneously, the orientations of popes Leo XIII and John Paul II were taken into account, in their Encyclicals Aeterni Patris and Fides et Ratio, respectively; some speeches by Popes Paul VI, Benedict XVI and Francis before the Pontifical Academy of Sciences were also analyzed. The Church has sought from the First Vatican Council to the present to bring, harmonize and complement the relationship between Faith and Reason; its interest is not limited to promoting scientific research; it also aspires that knowledge be ordered to the welfare of the human being, and the horizon of faith is recognized in the search for truth.