austraLasia #2134

Vatican II revisted: 84 year old 'Father' breathes life into day devoted to the Word

JERUSALEM: 26th April 2008 -- You could swing a cat down Ben Yehuda and not touch a tassle. Some shawled figures were hurrying to synagogue, but for the rest, monks and ministers ruled the early morning route to the Old City. Not the City itself though.  The Israeli Armed Forces had it locked down, and the monks and ministers locked out until Franciscan representation at New Gate opened the breach for the lucky few.  Saturday 26th April was a special day in Jerusalem - a (holiday) week after Pesach in the Jewish Calendar, Easter for the Julians, and a Dies Academicus on the 'Word of God in the life and mission of the Church' for the Gregorians namely and especially, the Studium Theologicum Salesianum - Sts Peter and Paul, and the Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum-Studium Biblicum Franciscanum.  But the star of the show was an 84 year old 'Father' of Vatican II, Bishop emeritus Luigi Bettazzi of Ivrea (Italy).
   Actually, in terms of content, the opening address  - apart from preliminaries from the OFM hosts at St Saviour's Monastery - by the Nuncio and Apostolic delegate Archbishop Antonio Franco, was an indicator of good things to come. He claimed 'not to be an expert' but neatly framed the day, a day of preparation for the 12th Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Word of God, and did so in the light of Dei Verbum's insistence on a correct understanding of the Word of God in its relationship to Eucharist and Church, and the fact that it is subordinated to neither. The Word is to be venerated along with the Body of Christ. 
    After the scholar, the sage. Bishop Bettazzi had a wry sense of humour.  Truths of Vatican II were laced with off-the-record reminiscences of the likes of the 'tridentine' Ottaviani, but laced, too with enduring lines as he lectured the biblicists to stick to helping the lectio (and by implication letting others do the meditatio and contemplatio), and reminded the 250-300 listeners that the Church was not only Mother and Teacher but more desirably Sister and Companion on the journey. His perspective on Jesus was also attractive: 'He spent but the final three days of his life as High Priest; three years a 'Christian' but 30 years before that a human being, a man!'.
    The day saw direct and substantial Salesian input.  It began, indeed with a Salesian octet singing 'Regina Coeli, Jubila' under the direction of Maestro Aurelio Mulè Stagno sdb (and concluded with another) and was accompanied throughout by the Telepace representative, camera in hand Brother Lucio Savogin sdb. But more to the point, after an introduction by STS Dean, Dr Roberto Spataro sdb, Fr Enrico dal Covolo the Salesian Postulator General but also lecturer at the UPS, took the floor.  His clear and articulated Italian, and the topic (The Word of God and the holiness of future priests) offered his listeners something to grapple with, something immediately germane to their situation.
    It was a good day. The 1993 'Interpretation of the Bible in the Church' got more than a guernsey. It was a flag hoisted proudly by the Pontifical Biblical Commission's representative for the day, Fr Giuseppe Ghiberti (from Turin).  A good chance that the participants will 'stand' for the Word of God more strongly as a result. They stood most willingly, one noticed, for the papal brief of blessing at the outset of the day!

GLOSSARY
Ben Yehuda: well-known street (mall actually) in modern Jerusalem
germane: relvant
got more than a guernsey: got more than a mere mention
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Title: australasia 2134
Subject and key words: SDB General, Word of God
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2134