Pope’s latest document complements diocesan mission and priorities
Kalamazoo, Mich., (April 9, 2018): The Diocese of Kalamazoo welcomed the latest teaching from
Pope Francis’ with the release of his third Apostolic Exhortation (papal letter to the people
), “Gaudete et Exsultate”/Rejoice and Be Glad.
In receiving the document, Bishop Paul J. Bradley welcomed the Pope’s beautiful work as a pastoral guide and reflection upon our call to holiness and how the Pope’s letter affirms the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and priorities.
“I am particularly pleased that this Apostolic Exhortation has been published at the very time that our Diocese is focused on the continued implementation of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan with our recently-identified Diocesan priorities, which include fostering priestly vocations, accompanying families toward holiness and activating missionary discipleship,” said Bishop Bradley.
See below for the full text of Bishop Bradley’s statement on “Gaudete et Exsultate”/(Rejoice and Be Glad): One the Call to Holiness in Today’s World:
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Bishop Paul J. Bradley statement on “Gaudete et Exsultate”/Rejoice and Be Glad:
“Today’s publication of the third Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, entitled, “Gaudete et Exsultate” (Rejoice and Be Glad), provides all of us with substantially good reason to do just that. Oftentimes papal Apostolic Exhortations are academically written and theologically charged documents that many people (clergy and lay) might find difficult to comprehend and irrelevant. That cannot be said about Pope Francis’ newest gift to the Church. In fact, he expressly writes: “What follows is not meant to be a treatise on holiness…; my modest goal is to re-propose the call to holiness in a practical way for our own time, with all its risks, challenges and opportunities. For the Lord has chosen each one of us ‘to be holy and blameless before Him in love’. (Eph.1:4)” [2]
“In five relatively brief chapters, Pope Francis deals with “The Call to Holiness”, “Two subtle enemies of Holiness”, “In the Light of the Master” (a reflection on the Beatitudes and Matthew 25), “Signs of Holiness in today’s World” and “Spiritual Combat, Vigilance and Discernment”.
“In his opening explanation on holiness, Pope Francis affirms the many examples of ordinary saints. Pope Francis writes, “I like to contemplate the holiness present in the patience of God’s people: in those parents who raise their children with immense love, in those men and women who work hard to support their families, in the sick, in elderly religious who never lose their smile. In their daily perseverance I see the holiness of the Church militant. Very often it is a holiness found in our next-door neighbors, those who, living in our midst, reflect God’s presence. We might call them ‘middle class of holiness.” [7]
“I am particularly pleased that this Apostolic Exhortation has been published at the very time that our Diocese is focused on the continued implementation of our Diocesan Pastoral Plan with our recently-identified Diocesan priorities, which include fostering priestly vocations, accompanying families toward holiness and activating missionary discipleship. I encourage all our priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful to prayerfully read this Apostolic Exhortation as another wonderful spiritual resource to help us all continue moving forward in advancing the mission of the Church here in the Diocese of Kalamazoo.
“In this Easter Season, as we rejoice and are glad in the Resurrection and the Hope Jesus gives to all who follow Him, Pope Francis has given us one more reason to “Rejoice and Be Glad” as each of us responds to Jesus’ call to grow in holiness.”