Focus on the Word of God in the lives of believers, advises Cardinal George

Vatican City, Oct 8, 2008 / 19:46 pm

Over 250 Catholic bishops from around the world are continuing to offer their reflections on the Bible at their synod being held at the Vatican. Cardinal Francis George of Chicago addressed the assembly on Tuesday saying, “Pastors should attend to conversion of the imagination, the intellect and the will” of their people when they preach.

 

In his remarks to the assembled bishops and assorted experts, Cardinal George touched on the importance of preaching how the Word of God impacts the lives of the faithful.

“To speak of the Word of God in the Church is to speak of the Word of God in the lives of believers,” the leader of the Archdiocese of Chicago said.

 

Accomplishing this means that “Pastors should attend to conversion of the imagination, the intellect and the will of those to whom they proclaim the Word of God and for whom they interpret Scripture,” he explained.

 

“Too often,” Cardinal George remarked, “the contemporary imagination has lost the image of God as actor in history.” “The contemporary intellect finds little consistency in the books of the Bible and is not informed by the 'regula fidei' (rule of faith). The contemporary heart has not been shaped by worship and the submission to God's word in the liturgical year.”

 

He concluded his submission by emphasizing the need to make the power of God's word in Holy Scripture felt in the life and mission of the Church by having pastors focus on attending to “personal context as well as to inspired text."