Book Reviews: Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation: Amoris Laetitia

Abstract

The article is a presentation of Pope Benedict XVI's Post-SynodalApostolic Exhortation, Verbum Domini, The Word of the Lord, which is the fruit of the XIIOrdi-nary GeneralAssembly ofthe Synod ofBishops that convened in the Vaticanfrom 5 to 25 October 2008 to discuss the topic: The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. The document is composed of three parts, each inspired by the inexhaustible content of the Prologue of the Gospel of St John. The first part, entitled Verbum Dei, is a reflection on the analogy ofthe Word of God to a hymn of many voices which finds its sublime synthesis in the Person of Jesus Christ, the Word-Made-Flesh (cfJn 1:14), and on the hermeneutics ofSacred Scripture in the Church. The second part, entitled Verbum in Ecclesia, is devoted to the Word of God in the life of the Church. The best way to listen to and understand the Word of God is in the Liturgy, above all in the Eucharist, which is composed ofthe Liturgy ofthe Word and the Liturgy ofthe Eucharist. The Word of God, the basis of every kind of spirituality in the Church, is the underlying reasonfor evangelizing those near andfar, for missions,for charitable activity and for dialogue, all subjects which are further developed in the thirdpart entitled Verbum mundo. The author points to the close connection between Verbum Domini and the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum ofthe Second Vatican Council, visible in the title of the Post-SynodalApostolic Exhortation (cf 1 Pt 1:23-25; Is 40: 8). In addition, he highlights the various aims ofthe document in order to set forth the fruits of the XII Ordinary General Assembly; to rediscover the Word of God as the source of the Church's continual renewal; to give a Bible-basis to all pastoral activity; to allow Christians to become true witnesses ofthe Word of God; to undertake a new evangelization in the certainty ofthe effectiveness ofthe divine Word (VD, 96); to encourage ecumenical dialogue; and to foster greater devotion to the Word of God. For the faithful, the documents'goals are more than an obligation: they are an expression of the joy (cf 1 Jn 1: 4) of communicating to those near and far the unfathomable riches ofthe mystery ofGod-Revealed, so that all might have life in abundance (cf.Jn 10:10).