Benedict XVI’s message for World Youth Day 2008 presents the Holy Spirit to young people and the world as the “great unknown.”
The Pope’s message is a reflection on the theme he chose for the event to be held in Sydney, Australia, next July: “You Will Receive Power When the Holy Spirit Has Come Upon You; and You Will Be My Witnesses.”
“The common thread of the spiritual preparation for the appointment in Sydney is the Holy Spirit and mission,” explains the papal message, published in Italian and French by the Vatican press office. Translations into other languages are forthcoming.
The message continues: “Therefore it is important that each one of you young people, in your communities and with your educators, reflect on this protagonist in the history of salvation which is the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of Jesus.
“There are many Christians for whom he remains the ‘great unknown.'”
Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Jesus”? Sounds like no one in Rome’s giving up the Filioque any time soon.
Heh heh, as some have said, one benefit that has come out of the Anglican crisis is everyone learning a lot more about the Bible and theology. I wouldn’t have had a clue about what the Filioque was a year ago.
“There are many Christians for whom he remains the ‘great unknown.'”
I think the caption is a bit misleading, the pope did not characterize the Holy Spirit as the great unknown, but correctly observed that many Christians have only a vague understanding of the Holy Spirit.
[blockquote]He invites them to “recognize the true identity of the Spirit by listening to God’s word in the revelation of the Bible.”
[/blockquote]
Jeff Thimsen, I agree that the caption is misleading. I’m a big fan of Benedict XVI’s and I when I saw that caption I was disappointed, I’m glad I read the rest of the story. I got to hear Fr. Cantalamessa, the Preacher to the Papal Household preach a little under a year ago. He was a wonderful preacher and one of his emphases is the Holy Spirit. He has a book called “The Baptism in the Holy Spirit” which I plan to read when I get a chance.
In re: # 1, [blockquote]Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Jesus� Sounds like no one in Rome’s giving up the Filioque any time soon.[/blockquote]
I don’t think the Easter Church wouldn’t have any problem with Pope Benedict’s designation of the Holy Spirit as “the Spirit of Jesus”. Scripture does the same (see, for example, Acts 16:7 and Phil. 1:19). The filioque debate has more to do with procession than it does with activity. As the Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit unites us with Christ, imparts the life of Christ to his people and reveals Jesus to the world. Activity is the key. I don’t write as an Eastern Christian– I’m Anglican; Perhaps they can add to the above.
There seems to have been some positive developments in Eastern/Western discussions on the filioque clause, incidentally– a shift towards saying that the Spirit proceeds from the Father, through the Son, (rather than AND the Son). This isn’t really new news, but it [i]is[/i] good news.
I’m glad others have noted the misleading headline. I remember the Rev. Dr. Clifford Stanley, then theology professor at the Virginia Theological Seminary, commenting some 45 years ago that for many the Holy Spirit was “a vague oblong blur.” I am also glad Pope Benedict has witnessed to the Spirit’s speaking through the Scriptures. One of the problems in the contemporary Episcopal church is that some seem to confuse the Holy Scripture and the editorial page of the New York Times.
Tom Rightmyer – living in Asheville, NC, but vacationing on the coast of Maine.