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website-edition www.iccrs.org/europe version March 23rd-2006
HOPE
FOR A NEW EUROPE
HOPE FOR A NEW EUROPE
Booklet to meditate on Pope John Paul’s
Ecclesia in Europa
On Jesus Christ, Alive in His Church,
the Source of Hope for Europe
Booklet to meditate on Pope John Paul’s
post-synodal apostolic exhortation
Ecclesia in Europa (EiE)
On Jesus Christ, Alive in His Church, the Source of Hope
for Europe
INCLUDES:
36 quotations accompanied by
quotations from the Holy Scripture
and responding prayers
written by young Europeans
• Excerpts from Ecclesia in Europa
• Scripture reflections
• Responding prayers
• Action responses .
Produced by the European Sub-Committee of the
International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services
2005
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website-edition www.iccrs.org/europe version March 23rd-2006
CONTENT
Page
Content 2
Preface by mgr. Aldo Giordano 3
Structure and suggestions 4
Foreword by Michelle Moran 5
Introduction 6
Chapter 1
Jesus Christ is our hope
7
Chapter 2
The gospel of hope
entrusted to the church of the new millennium 11
Chapter 3
Proclaiming the gospel of hope
15
Chapter 4
Celebrating the gospel of hope
19
Chapter 5
Serving the gospel of hope
23
Chapter 6
The gospel of hope for a new Europe
27
Conclusion
31
Prayer to Jesus
31
Prayer for Europe
31
Authors of this booklet
31
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Call to ary
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website-edition www.iccrs.org/europe version March 23rd-2006
PREFACE
remains with us "until the end of time", we cannot do
otherwise than to live in hope. If we believe in a God who
has already given his life and has risen again, we cannot
allow our faith to collapse.
Aldo Giordano
I had the pleasure of participating in the second special
European synod of bishops in Rome from 21st to 23rd
October 1999. The theme of the synod was "Jesus Christ
alive in his Church, source of hope for Europe" which is
the opening of the apostolic exhortation of Pope John
Paul II's "Ecclesia in Europa" published in June 2003.
This is why I believe that the small volume which outlines
the document "Ecclesia in Europa" is particularly useful
and up to date as a source of meditation and daily prayer.
The combination of quotations from "Ecclesia in Europa"
with passages from the Word of God and other forms of
prayer allows us to move from historical-cultural
reflections to a philosophical-theological vision, and so to
arrive at a direct dialogue with God.
In European literature John Paul II is often portrayed as a
"founding father" and "prophet of a new Europe". He has
never hidden his "passion" for our continent. From just
two synods of Europe there are about a thousand
statements which he has dedicated to Europe, totally or
in part. This is quite an extraordinary statistic when we
remember that from 1938 to 1978 there have been only
136 statements from previous popes on this subject.
During the synod I experienced a surprise which I still
carry in my heart. On the one hand, the analysis of the
European situation by the participants was rather
negative and pessimistic: one had the impression that
they had distinguished Europe as living in a kind of
"apostolic silence". On the other hand, the closing
message of the synod was full of hope. I asked myself
how this were possible. The answer was that the synod
fathers had been seeing with the eyes of faith. If we seek
to understand our history through prayer, with the eyes of
the Word of God, of the "Good news" of Jesus Christ,
crucified and risen, of the Spirit of the resurrection which
The booklet helps us to put ourselves on the pathway
towards becoming protagonists for our history within
Europe. In the booklet there are signals or "signs of the
times" showing that, for Europeans, too it is a matter of
some urgency that we search, with humility, for the light. I
think of the questions raised by the series of recent
historical events, turned into true life spectacles by the
global media: 9-11 in New York 2001, terrorism, the
tsunami of South East Asia, the succession of destructive
hurricanes, the emergence of China and India in world
markets and politics, and the death of John Paul II. I think
of the process of European unification going through one
of its most profound crises. For example, the French
referendum of 29th May, and that of Holland on 1st June,
on the treaty for a European constitution, with their
negative results, have amounted to a political and cultural
shock forcing a profound rethinking of the idea of a
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website-edition www.iccrs.org/europe version March 23rd-2006
European union. I think about the question of Europe's
borders. The European Union has grown but in fact
noone knows precisely where its borders are. The current
debate about the entrance of Turkey into the Union and
the relationship of the EU with its neighbours (Russia, the
Balkans, and North African as far as Israel) is significant.
Speaking of borders it is also significant to ask ourselves
about relations with other continents. The churches are
not interested in a European fortress closed in its own
self-interest, but in a continent which is becoming more
stable and therefore better equipped to implement trade
with other parts of the globe and to contribute to justice
and peace in the world. The true point of interest is
universal brotherhood and not the exclusive well being of
one continent. I think of the debate about the values and
problems of biotechnology: embryo and stem cell
experiments and brain research. I think about the fact
that in our post-ideological Europe the basic existential
questions can be heard anew: Is there a meaning to life
and history? Is there goodness, or someone to whom I
can entrust my life because he can respond to my desire
for existence, for happiness, for joy, for affection and for
eternity? Are pain and death the last word for man and as
such, the check on my every desire? Does pain have
meaning? We mustn't forget that in 7 out of 8 European
countries suicide accounts for the greatest percentage of
the deaths of young people. Faced with these
fundamental European questions we ask ourselves
where the light, the source or the medicine, may be.
Christianity has something essential to offer. Christians
learn from their school desks, from the outset, of a love
which is the true secret to living together, that comes
from the unexpected and scandalous story of Christ
crucified. The Resurrection which lives with us until the
end of time tells us that truth, love and beauty do exist;
that evil and death don't have the last word; that there is
meaning. The Resurrection holds open the blue sky over
our countries, over our families and our lives. The
Resurrection tells us that eternity does exist, paradise,
and therefore life, continues into the light of eternity. It is
not confined to the years which pass on this earth.
Paradise is our true home. The prospect of eternity gives
a completely new light to life. How can we bear witness to
this good news for Europe?
Mons. Giordano, secretary of the Council of European
Episcopal Conferences , December 2005
STRUCTURE AND SUGGESTIONS
This booklet has the same format as Ecclesia in Europa. The
chapters in this booklet have the same titles as the six chapters of
Ecclesia in Europa.
This booklet can be used in daily personal prayer. It can also be
used in a group, by introducing one chapter, followed by a week or
two weeks homework. Coming together again to share experiences
and hear an introduction to the next chapter and so on. Ecclesia in
Europa and this booklet can help to develop a vision and pastoral
plans in your own situation.
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website-edition www.iccrs.org/europe version March 23rd-2006
Foreword
On behalf of the European sub-committee of ICCRS, I
welcome you to this publication. We pray that you may find it a
helpful resource individually or in a group setting. As you may
know, an Apostolic Exhortation was published in each of the
continents following their synod of bishops. Ecclesia in Europa
encourages us to focus upon Jesus Christ alive in his Church,
as the source of hope for Europe. The European situation is
also something that Pope Benedict XVl has spoken about by
highlighting the dangers of secularisation and relativism.
Indeed, as a continent we face many challenges but Ecclesia
in Europa encourages us not to be afraid but to be confident
because we have hope in Jesus. We must also be certain that
the Gospel of hope will not disappoint us.
It is the hope of the ICCRS sub-committee that through
reading the document in a prayerful and reflective way you will
also feel called to regularly pray for our continent and do what
you can in your local situations to help proclaim that Jesus is
indeed the hope of Europe.
The compiling of this booklet has involved good collaboration
between brothers and sisters throughout Europe and we are
particularly encouraged by the contribution of our young
people who wrote the prayers. May you be blessed as you
read, reflect and study.
With prayers and good wishes,
Michelle Moran,
chairperson of the European Sub-committee of ICCRS
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