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Evangelii Nuntiandi, Chapter VI
The Agents of Evangelization
Nos. 63-65, An Ecclesial Action
No. 63 is about the translation of the truths of our faith into other languages. The local Churches are concerned with all the aspects of life of the people belonging to them. One aspect of their concern is the announcement of the faith in the languages that are spoken within them. The local Churches must interiorize the fullness of the faith and then put it into the languages of the people of those local Churches.
A large part of that transfer from the universal truths of the faith to the local languages will be the translation of the Old and New Testaments of Holy Scriptures into the local languages.
In making this transfer, the local Church must exercise much wisdom and discernment. The truths of the faith must be preserved in all their width and depth. When they are translated, they must be rendered into a language that preserves their substance. Two dangers must be avoided. The first is the danger of disregarding the language, attitudes and ways of thinking of the people who are to receive the Good News. This takes away much of the effectiveness of the message. It will not seem to speak to the life and concerns of the people who hear it if it is not in a language that conveys the wholeness of the message.
The other danger is trying too hard to make the message relevant. If, in trying to adapt the message to the thought patterns and expectations of people, the local Church “trivializes or denatures its contents,” it cuts itself off from the universality of the message, i.e. from the universal Church... Our faith, if it is preserved in its entirety, is suitable for all people of good will. Our Church is a universal church. Its truths are for all peoples in all ages. If we break that universality of our faith, we cut ourselves off from the universal Church.
No. 64 describes what happens when a local Church cuts itself off from the universal Church. History shows that, when a Church does that, it can hardly avoid two dangers. The first is secession from the universal Church and disintegration as parts of it fall away from it, as it fell away from the universal Church. The second is that it loses its freedom as it falls prey to the forces that seek to enslave and exploit it.
In no. 65 Pope St. Paul VI states that the successor of Peter, i.e. the pope, is the principle of unity among the churches. He also speaks of the great responsibility which he has as pope of “preserving unchanged the deposit of faith.” It is a responsibility which he shares with the bishops. The deposit of faith is be translated into every language, but it must not be mutilated or shortened. It must be explained with the help of the thought patterns and images of each culture, but it must remain the same message.
Mary, let every nation and tongue praise your Son. Amen.
The Agents of Evangelization
Nos. 63-65, An Ecclesial Action
No. 63 is about the translation of the truths of our faith into other languages. The local Churches are concerned with all the aspects of life of the people belonging to them. One aspect of their concern is the announcement of the faith in the languages that are spoken within them. The local Churches must interiorize the fullness of the faith and then put it into the languages of the people of those local Churches.
A large part of that transfer from the universal truths of the faith to the local languages will be the translation of the Old and New Testaments of Holy Scriptures into the local languages.
In making this transfer, the local Church must exercise much wisdom and discernment. The truths of the faith must be preserved in all their width and depth. When they are translated, they must be rendered into a language that preserves their substance. Two dangers must be avoided. The first is the danger of disregarding the language, attitudes and ways of thinking of the people who are to receive the Good News. This takes away much of the effectiveness of the message. It will not seem to speak to the life and concerns of the people who hear it if it is not in a language that conveys the wholeness of the message.
The other danger is trying too hard to make the message relevant. If, in trying to adapt the message to the thought patterns and expectations of people, the local Church “trivializes or denatures its contents,” it cuts itself off from the universality of the message, i.e. from the universal Church... Our faith, if it is preserved in its entirety, is suitable for all people of good will. Our Church is a universal church. Its truths are for all peoples in all ages. If we break that universality of our faith, we cut ourselves off from the universal Church.
No. 64 describes what happens when a local Church cuts itself off from the universal Church. History shows that, when a Church does that, it can hardly avoid two dangers. The first is secession from the universal Church and disintegration as parts of it fall away from it, as it fell away from the universal Church. The second is that it loses its freedom as it falls prey to the forces that seek to enslave and exploit it.
In no. 65 Pope St. Paul VI states that the successor of Peter, i.e. the pope, is the principle of unity among the churches. He also speaks of the great responsibility which he has as pope of “preserving unchanged the deposit of faith.” It is a responsibility which he shares with the bishops. The deposit of faith is be translated into every language, but it must not be mutilated or shortened. It must be explained with the help of the thought patterns and images of each culture, but it must remain the same message.
Mary, let every nation and tongue praise your Son. Amen.