The man chosen to be the newest doctor of the Catholic Church, St. John of Avila, was remembered at this book presentation in Rome this month.   These Spanish experts on his life and teaching believe, as does Pope Benedict XVI, that he has something to say to the people of today.   Archbishop Juan Del Río Martín Military Archdiocese of Spain: "St. John of Avila is far from us in time, but nearby for his figure, his life, his evangelizing witness and for his teaching. So, when the Church of the 21st century led by Pope Benedict XVI is called to a new evangelization, we find in the Apostle of Andalusia and 'maestro' of Avila a model of how to evangelize.   How do we evangelize in the 21st century? Feeling like he felt, leased by Christ, that is to say in love with Jesus Christ. Secondly, in Jesus Christ was revealed a God of love, who preaches and sends out love, and that love must be shown to men through the word, the sacraments and charity -- There is no piece of land on God's earth that has not been touched by the the 'maestro' of Avila. That's why he is not just a clerical saint, but a universal saint, because he spoke to priest but he also spoke of the consecrated life, of parents and family, and he aslo spoke to the poor and needy, to all those, he announced the single mystery that give our lives meaning: That God loves us because he redeemed us in the mystery of Jesus Christ. The Church was born in the manger of Bethlehem and was consecrated in the nuptials of Jesus Christ on the Cross."   A Church doctor is someone whose writings and preachings are deemed useful to Christians "in any age"   Last August, Pope Benedict XVI announced at World Youth Day that St. John of Avila will be elevated as a Doctor of the Church. He will be the 34th.   The announcement came while he was here in Madrid's Almudena cathedral with priests and seminarians.   Msgr. Juan Esquerede Bifet Professor Emeritus, Pontifical Urbanianum University: "St. John of Avila was a priest of the 16th century, that century that was so important  for Spain and all of humanity because it's when globalization began. The circumnavigation of the globe, commerce, the discovery of America and such. There was also a sort of doctrinal, cultural and reilgious turmoil in this period in which we also see great saints like St. Teresa, St. John of the Cross and St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. John of Avila is among these. He was a great writer, a holy man, a preacher and catechist. He directed universities and colleges, helped the poor. He was a many of many facets, we could say, but above all it all came from his love of Jesus Christ, in which his inheritance has been left behind in his writings, his figure and the works he instituted."   And, this Spaniard, who was in charge of promoting the great saint's cause to become a "doctor" is happy that all the hard work has paid off.   María de la Encarnación González Author, Postulator for Doctorate: "Beginning in 1970, the Spanish bishops' conference commenced a series of tasks necessary to verify that the doctrine of St. John of Avila was eminent, which is required to be a "doctor." "Eminent" means that he rises above the common. He must also know how to live it out, it can't just be a theoretical knowledge of the Christian mystery, of the faith. And, he also must know how to communicate it.   St. John of Avila was a great communicator. Therefore, the work he did has led him to this point where the Pope considers that he demonstrated all of the requisites to become a Doctor of the Church and he has said that he will appoint him soon."   It remains to be announced when in 2012 his installation as the newest doctor of the Church will come.

The man chosen to be the newest doctor of the Catholic Church, St. John of Avila, was remembered at this book presentation in Rome this month.   These Spanish experts on his...leggi tutto