{"id":1152,"date":"2012-09-24T20:53:00","date_gmt":"2012-09-24T20:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.catholicnewsagency.com\/news\/catholics-encouraged-to-participate-in-year-of-faith-through-sacraments-prayer\/"},"modified":"2012-09-24T20:53:00","modified_gmt":"2012-09-24T20:53:00","slug":"catholics-encouraged-to-participate-in-year-of-faith-through-sacraments-prayer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicnews\/2012\/09\/catholics-encouraged-to-participate-in-year-of-faith-through-sacraments-prayer\/","title":{"rendered":"Catholics encouraged to participate in Year of Faith through sacraments, prayer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

Washington D.C., Sep 24, 2012 \/ 02:53 pm (CNA\/EWTN News<\/a>).- The leader of the U.S. bishops' evangelization committee has offered suggestions on ways for the faithful to take part in the upcoming Year of Faith through sacramental participation, prayer and action.<\/p>\n

\tThe Year of Faith offers an opportunity for \u201ca renewal of faith and evangelization for the whole Church,\u201d said Bishop David L. Ricken of Green Bay, Wis., who chairs the U.S. bishops\u2019 Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis.
\n\t\u00a0
\n\tOn Sept. 24, Bishop Ricken issued recommendations on ways for Catholics to live the Year of Faith, which begins on Oct. 11 and runs through Nov. 24, 2013.<\/p>\n

\tAnnounced by Pope Benedict XVI in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the upcoming year is intended to \u201cstrengthen the faith of Catholics and draw the world to faith by their example.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tAmong Bishop Ricken\u2019s suggestions \u2013 which were founded upon the guidelines issued by Vatican\u2019s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith \u2013 was regular participation in the Mass.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThe Year of Faith is meant to promote the personal encounter with Jesus,\u201d he said. \u201cThis occurs most immediately in the Eucharist.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe explained that regular Mass attendance can strengthen one\u2019s faith \u201cthrough the Scriptures, the Creed, other prayers, sacred music, the homily, receiving Communion and being part of a faith community.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn addition to simply attending Mass themselves, the faithful can also invite their friends to Mass, the bishop added, explaining that although the Year of Faith has a global focus, \u201creal change occurs at the local level.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cA personal invitation can make all the difference to someone who has drifted from the faith or feels alienated from the Church,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\tFurthermore, the Sacrament of Reconciliation can play an important role in spiritual growth, Bishop Ricken added.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cConfession urges people to turn back to God, express sorrow for falling short and open their lives to the power of God\u2019s healing grace,\u201d he said. \u201cIt forgives the injuries of the past and provides strength for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe bishop also encouraged Catholics to learn about the saints, whose witness offers us hope and teaches us how to live as Christians. These holy men and women were sinners who continually strove to grow in their relationship with God, he said, and they give us an example of service through ministry, charity, prayer and everyday life.<\/p>\n

\tBishop Ricken encouraged Catholics to read the Bible every day during the Year of Faith in order to \u201cbecome more attuned to the Word of God\u201d and to study the Catechism to deepen their understanding of the Church\u2019s \u201cbeliefs, moral teachings, prayer and sacraments.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe also recommended reading the documents of the Second Vatican Council, which \u201cushered in a great renewal of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tThe council affected the celebration of the Mass, the laity\u2019s role and the Church\u2019s understanding of itself and those of other faiths, he said, adding that Catholics must understand the council in order to \u201ccontinue this renewal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tIn addition to prayer and study, the bishop emphasized, the foundational Church teachings \u201cmust translate into action.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tHe suggested participation at the parish level, in roles such as lector, liturgical musician or catechist, to contribute to the community. He also recommended donations to charity and volunteering to aid those in need.<\/p>\n

\t\u201cThis means to personally encounter Christ in the poor, marginalized and vulnerable,\u201d he explained. \u201cHelping others brings Catholics face-to-face with Christ and creates an example for the rest of the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

\tFinally, Bishop Ricken encouraged Catholics to work in their daily lives to adhere to the Beatitudes, which offer an example of virtue and \u201ca rich blueprint for Christian living.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\u201cIt\u2019s precisely the example of lived faith needed to draw people to the Church in the year ahead,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n

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Washington D.C., Sep 24, 2012 \/ 02:53 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- The leader of the U.S. bishops' evangelization committee has offered suggestions on ways for the faithful to take part in the upcoming Year of Faith through sacramental participation, praye…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1031,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1152","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","category-us"],"yoast_head":"\nCatholics encouraged to participate in Year of Faith through sacraments, prayer<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Washington D.C., Sep 24, 2012 \/ 02:53 pm (CNA\/EWTN News).- The leader of the U.S. bishops' evangelization committee has offered suggestions on ways for the faithful to take part in the upcoming Year of Faith through sacramental participation, praye...\" 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