The New Evangelization: Responding to the Challenge of Indifference

by ABP Rino Fisichella

The thrust for a so-called new evangelization has been one of the most important actions of the Pontificate of Benedict XVI. This expression is rooted in the Second Vatican Council and was used for the first time by John Paul II in 1979, to signify the desire to announce the Christian message with greater impact and freshness. In this era of ideological and cultural crisis within Western society, the Church has the delicate task of guiding man and society towards salvation, towards a life closer to the word of Christ. To this end, Benedict XVI has created a new Vatican department, dedicated specifically to the evangelization of the Western world, under the guidance of Archbishop Fisichella. In this important book, which is a cultural and religious manifesto for the Year of Faith, Archbishop Fisichella explains what constitutes the great task in which he, and the Church, are called upon to propose the centrality of the family, promoting the ethics of finance, redeveloping the presence of Catholics in politics and especially urging people not to get trapped in isolation and indifference. The fact that you call it "new" is not intended to qualify the content of evangelization, but the condition and the way in which it is made. Benedict XVI's Apostolic Letter Ubicumque et semper rightly emphasizes that it is considered appropriate "to provide adequate answers because the whole Church is present in the contemporary world and with a missionary zeal can promote a new evangelization."

164 pages, Paperback

First published October 18, 2011

Reviews

[Sunbea☀️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

«Per quanto a fondo si possa spingere la nostra verifica circa l'attuale situazione di permanente crisi in cui il mondo versa, è necessario ribadire che questa non è primariamente di ordine economico e finanziario. Se così fosse, potremmo guardare con disinvoltura al futuro perché le soluzioni, essendo di natura essenzialmente tecnica, potrebbero essere facilmente rinvenibili. La crisi che stiamo vivendo è, anzitutto, di ordine culturale e, senza troppi distinguo, dovremmo aggiungere antropologica. L'uomo è in crisi. Non è più capace di ritrovare se stesso dopo le lusinghe a cui aveva dato retta, soprattutto quando aveva creduto di aver raggiunto l'età adulta e di essere pienamente padrone di sé e indipendente da ogni autorità. In effetti, questo canto delle sirene era allettante. A un uomo sempre più al centro di tutto, sostenuto da un recuperato narcisismo offuscato per decenni, incapace di raggiungere la verità perché privo di ogni fondamento, mancava un ultimo tassello per essere pienamente autonomo: l'allontanamento da Dio» (p. 32).

[Vance J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great discussion. I think this book would be a superb book study for a parish wanting to engage with the foundation of the new evangelization.

[Ann Kerley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lot of wise food for thought here including, surprisingly, the suggestion that evangelisation should start with the topic of the mystery of the Incarnation and salvation by Jesus rather than the meaning of life/ existence of God, if this can be side-stepped. All committed Catholics need to be made aware of their collective responsibility to evangelise by word and deed in a gentle and loving fashion.