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APOSTOLIC JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND VISIT TO THE UNITED NATIONS ORGANIZATION HEADQUARTERS MEETING WITH CATHOLIC EDUCATORS ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI Conference Hall of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. Thursday, 17 April 2008 Your Eminences, Education is integral to the mission of the Dear Brother Bishops, Church to proclaim the Good News. First Distinguished Professors, Teachers and and foremost every Catholic educational Educators, institution is a place to encounter the “How beautiful are the footsteps of those living God who in Jesus Christ reveals his who bring good news” (Rom 10:15-17). transforming love and truth (cf. Spe Salvi, With these words of Isaiah quoted by 4). This relationship elicits a desire to Saint Paul, I warmly greet each of you – grow in the knowledge and understanding bearers of wisdom – and through you the of Christ and his teaching. In this way staff, students and families of the many those who meet him are drawn by the and varied institutions of learning that you very power of the Gospel to lead a new represent. It is my great pleasure to meet life characterized by all that is beautiful, you and to share with you some thoughts good, and true; a life of Christian witness regarding the nature and identity of nurtured and strengthened within the Catholic education today. I especially community of our Lord’s disciples, the wish to thank Father David O’Connell, Church. President and Rector of the Catholic The dynamic between personal University of America. Your kind words of encounter, knowledge and Christian welcome are much appreciated. Please witness is integral to the diakonia of truth extend my heartfelt gratitude to the entire which the Church exercises in the midst community – faculty, staff and students – of humanity. God’s revelation offers every of this University. generation the opportunity to discover the ultimate truth about its own life and the goal of history. This task is never easy; it and the nation. Some, like Saint involves the entire Christian community Katharine Drexel, devoted their lives to and motivates each generation of educating those whom others had Christian educators to ensure that the neglected – in her case, African power of God’s truth permeates every Americans and Native Americans. dimension of the institutions they serve. Countless dedicated Religious Sisters, In this way, Christ’s Good News is set to Brothers, and Priests together with work, guiding both teacher and student selfless parents have, through Catholic towards the objective truth which, in schools, helped generations of transcending the particular and the immigrants to rise from poverty and take subjective, points to the universal and their place in mainstream society. absolute that enables us to proclaim with This sacrifice continues today. It is an confidence the hope which does not outstanding apostolate of hope, seeking disappoint (cf. Rom 5:5). Set against to address the material, intellectual and personal struggles, moral confusion and spiritual needs of over three million fragmentation of knowledge, the noble children and students. It also provides a goals of scholarship and education, highly commendable opportunity for the founded on the unity of truth and in entire Catholic community to contribute service of the person and the community, generously to the financial needs of our become an especially powerful institutions. Their long-term sustainability instrument of hope. must be assured. Indeed, everything Dear friends, the history of this nation possible must be done, in cooperation includes many examples of the Church’s with the wider community, to ensure that commitment in this regard. The Catholic they are accessible to people of all social community here has in fact made and economic strata. No child should be education one of its highest priorities. denied his or her right to an education in This undertaking has not come without faith, which in turn nurtures the soul of a great sacrifice. Towering figures, like nation. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton and other Some today question the Church’s founders and foundresses, with great involvement in education, wondering tenacity and foresight, laid the whether her resources might be better foundations of what is today a remarkable placed elsewhere. Certainly in a nation network of parochial schools contributing such as this, the State provides ample to the spiritual well-being of the Church opportunities for education and attracts committed and generous men and clear (cf. Gaudium et Spes, 22)? Are we women to this honorable profession. It is ready to commit our entire self – intellect timely, then, to reflect on what is and will, mind and heart – to God? Do we particular to our Catholic institutions. How accept the truth Christ reveals? Is the do they contribute to the good of society faith tangible in our universities and through the Church’s primary mission of schools? Is it given fervent expression evangelization? liturgically, sacramentally, through prayer, All the Church’s activities stem from her acts of charity, a concern for justice, and awareness that she is the bearer of a respect for God’s creation? Only in this message which has its origin in God way do we really bear witness to the himself: in his goodness and wisdom, meaning of who we are and what we God chose to reveal himself and to make uphold. known the hidden purpose of his will (cf. From this perspective one can recognize Eph 1:9; Dei Verbum, 2). God’s desire to that the contemporary “crisis of truth” is make himself known, and the innate rooted in a “crisis of faith”. Only through desire of all human beings to know the faith can we freely give our assent to truth, provide the context for human God’s testimony and acknowledge him as inquiry into the meaning of life. This the transcendent guarantor of the truth he unique encounter is sustained within our reveals. Again, we see why fostering Christian community: the one who seeks personal intimacy with Jesus Christ and the truth becomes the one who lives by communal witness to his loving truth is faith (cf. Fides et Ratio, 31). It can be indispensable in Catholic institutions of described as a move from “I” to “we”, learning. Yet we all know, and observe leading the individual to be numbered with concern, the difficulty or reluctance among God’s people. many people have today in entrusting This same dynamic of communal identity themselves to God. It is a complex – to whom do I belong? – vivifies the phenomenon and one which I ponder ethos of our Catholic institutions. A continually. While we have sought university or school’s Catholic identity is diligently to engage the intellect of our not simply a question of the number of young, perhaps we have neglected the Catholic students. It is a question of will. Subsequently we observe, with conviction – do we really believe that only distress, the notion of freedom being in the mystery of the Word made flesh distorted. Freedom is not an opting out. It does the mystery of man truly become is an opting in – a participation in Being itself. Hence authentic freedom can never The Church’s primary mission of be attained by turning away from God. evangelization, in which educational Such a choice would ultimately disregard institutions play a crucial role, is the very truth we need in order to consonant with a nation’s fundamental understand ourselves. A particular aspiration to develop a society truly responsibility therefore for each of you, worthy of the human person’s dignity. At and your colleagues, is to evoke among times, however, the value of the Church’s the young the desire for the act of faith, contribution to the public forum is encouraging them to commit themselves questioned. It is important therefore to to the ecclesial life that follows from this recall that the truths of faith and of reason belief. It is here that freedom reaches the never contradict one another (cf. First certainty of truth. In choosing to live by Vatican Ecumenical Council, Dogmatic that truth, we embrace the fullness of the Constitution on the Catholic Faith Dei life of faith which is given to us in the Filius, IV: DS 3017; St. Augustine, Contra Church. Academicos, III, 20, 43). The Church’s Clearly, then, Catholic identity is not mission, in fact, involves her in dependent upon statistics. Neither can it humanity’s struggle to arrive at truth. In be equated simply with orthodoxy of articulating revealed truth she serves all course content. It demands and inspires members of society by purifying reason, much more: namely that each and every ensuring that it remains open to the aspect of your learning communities consideration of ultimate truths. Drawing reverberates within the ecclesial life of upon divine wisdom, she sheds light on faith. Only in faith can truth become the foundation of human morality and incarnate and reason truly human, ethics, and reminds all groups in society capable of directing the will along the that it is not praxis that creates truth but path of freedom (cf. Spe Salvi, 23). In this truth that should serve as the basis of way our institutions make a vital praxis. Far from undermining the contribution to the mission of the Church tolerance of legitimate diversity, such a and truly serve society. They become contribution illuminates the very truth places in which God’s active presence in which makes consensus attainable, and human affairs is recognized and in which helps to keep public debate rational, every young person discovers the joy of honest and accountable. Similarly the entering into Christ’s “being for others” Church never tires of upholding the (cf. ibid., 28). essential moral categories of right and wrong, without which hope could only conscience which, enriched by faith, wither, giving way to cold pragmatic opens a sure path to inner peace and to calculations of utility which render the respect for others. person little more than a pawn on some It comes as no surprise, then, that not just ideological chess-board. our own ecclesial communities but With regard to the educational forum, the society in general has high expectations diakonia of truth takes on a heightened of Catholic educators. This places upon significance in societies where secularist you a responsibility and offers an ideology drives a wedge between truth opportunity. More and more people – and faith. This division has led to a parents in particular – recognize the need tendency to equate truth with knowledge for excellence in the human formation of and to adopt a positivistic mentality their children. As Mater et Magistra, the which, in rejecting metaphysics, denies Church shares their concern. When the foundations of faith and rejects the nothing beyond the individual is need for a moral vision. Truth means recognized as definitive, the ultimate more than knowledge: knowing the truth criterion of judgment becomes the self leads us to discover the good. Truth and the satisfaction of the individual’s speaks to the individual in his or her immediate wishes. The objectivity and entirety, inviting us to respond with our perspective, which can only come whole being. This optimistic vision is through a recognition of the essential found in our Christian faith because such transcendent dimension of the human faith has been granted the vision of the person, can be lost. Within such a Logos, God’s creative Reason, which in relativistic horizon the goals of education the Incarnation, is revealed as Goodness are inevitably curtailed. Slowly, a lowering itself. Far from being just a of standards occurs. We observe today a communication of factual data – timidity in the face of the category of the “informative” – the loving truth of the good and an aimless pursuit of novelty Gospel is creative and life-changing – parading as the realization of freedom. “performative” (cf. Spe Salvi, 2). With We witness an assumption that every confidence, Christian educators can experience is of equal worth and a liberate the young from the limits of reluctance to admit imperfection and positivism and awaken receptivity to the mistakes. And particularly disturbing, is truth, to God and his goodness. In this the reduction of the precious and delicate way you will also help to form their area of education in sexuality to management of ‘risk’, bereft of any Catholic universities and schools. First, reference to the beauty of conjugal love. let me thank you for your dedication and How might Christian educators respond? generosity. I know from my own days as These harmful developments point to the a professor, and I have heard from your particular urgency of what we might call Bishops and officials of the Congregation “intellectual charity”. This aspect of for Catholic Education, that the reputation charity calls the educator to recognize of Catholic institutes of learning in this that the profound responsibility to lead the country is largely due to yourselves and young to truth is nothing less than an act your predecessors. Your selfless of love. Indeed, the dignity of education contributions – from outstanding research lies in fostering the true perfection and to the dedication of those working in happiness of those to be educated. In inner-city schools – serve both your practice “intellectual charity” upholds the country and the Church. For this I essential unity of knowledge against the express my profound gratitude. fragmentation which ensues when reason In regard to faculty members at Catholic is detached from the pursuit of truth. It colleges universities, I wish to reaffirm the guides the young towards the deep great value of academic freedom. In satisfaction of exercising freedom in virtue of this freedom you are called to relation to truth, and it strives to articulate search for the truth wherever careful the relationship between faith and all analysis of evidence leads you. Yet it is aspects of family and civic life. Once their also the case that any appeal to the passion for the fullness and unity of truth principle of academic freedom in order to has been awakened, young people will justify positions that contradict the faith surely relish the discovery that the and the teaching of the Church would question of what they can know opens up obstruct or even betray the university's the vast adventure of what they ought to identity and mission; a mission at the do. Here they will experience “in what” heart of the Church’s munus docendi and and “in whom” it is possible to hope, and not somehow autonomous or be inspired to contribute to society in a independent of it. way that engenders hope in others. Teachers and administrators, whether in Dear friends, I wish to conclude by universities or schools, have the duty and focusing our attention specifically on the privilege to ensure that students receive paramount importance of your own instruction in Catholic doctrine and professionalism and witness within our practice. This requires that public witness to the way of Christ, as found in the from the path of truth and genuine Gospel and upheld by the Church's freedom, the consecrated person’s Magisterium, shapes all aspects of an witness to the evangelical counsels is an institution’s life, both inside and outside irreplaceable gift. I encourage the the classroom. Divergence from this Religious present to bring renewed vision weakens Catholic identity and, far enthusiasm to the promotion of vocations. from advancing freedom, inevitably leads Know that your witness to the ideal of to confusion, whether moral, intellectual consecration and mission among the or spiritual. young is a source of great inspiration in I wish also to express a particular word of faith for them and their families. encouragement to both lay and Religious To all of you I say: bear witness to hope. teachers of catechesis who strive to Nourish your witness with prayer. ensure that young people become daily Account for the hope that characterizes more appreciative of the gift of faith. your lives (cf. 1 Pet 3:15) by living the Religious education is a challenging truth which you propose to your students. apostolate, yet there are many signs of a Help them to know and love the One you desire among young people to learn have encountered, whose truth and about the faith and practice it with vigor. If goodness you have experienced with joy. this awakening is to grow, teachers With Saint Augustine, let us say: “we who require a clear and precise understanding speak and you who listen acknowledge of the specific nature and role of Catholic ourselves as fellow disciples of a single education. They must also be ready to teacher” (Sermons, 23:2). With these lead the commitment made by the entire sentiments of communion, I gladly impart school community to assist our young to you, your colleagues and students, and people, and their families, to experience to your families, my Apostolic Blessing. the harmony between faith, life and culture. Here I wish to make a special appeal to Religious Brothers, Sisters and Priests: do not abandon the school apostolate; indeed, renew your commitment to schools especially those in poorer areas. In places where there are many hollow promises which lure young people away