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proclaiming the gospel

September 1, 2011

"MOST PRECIOUS SERVICE"

[Proclamation of the Gospel] is the most precious service that the Church can render to humanity and to all individuals who are seeking the profound reasons to live their life to the full.

"INVIGORATES THE CHURCH"

Continuous proclamation of the Gospel ... invigorates the Church, her fervour and her apostolic spirit. It renews her pastoral methods so that they may be ever better suited to the new situations ... and enlivened by missionary zeal: "missionary activity renews the Church, revitalizes faith and Christian identity, and offers fresh enthusiasm and new incentive. Faith is strengthened when it is given to others!" (John Paul II)

GO AND PROCLAIM

The Liturgy is always a call "from the world" and a new missionary mandate "in the world" in order to witness to what has been experienced: the saving power of the word of God, the saving power of Christ's Paschal Mystery

SHARE THE GOOD NEWS

The Gospel is not an exclusive possession of whoever has received it but a gift to share, good news to communicate. And this gift -commitment is not only entrusted to a few but ... to all the baptized, who are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people" (1 Pt 2:9), so that they may declare His wondrous deeds.

ESSENTIAL MISSION

Attention to and cooperation in the Church's evangelizing work in the world cannot be limited to a few moments or special occasions nor can they be considered as one of the many pastoral activities: the Church's missionary dimension is essential and must ...always be borne in mind.

TOTAL INVOLVEMENT

It is important that both individual baptized people and ecclesial communities be involved in the mission, not sporadically or occasionally but in a constant manner, as a form of Christian life.

MISSIONARY REVIVAL

May World Mission Day revive in each one the desire to go and the joy of "going" to meet humanity, bringing Christ to all.

(Souce: Message for World Mission Sunday, 1/6/11)