Evangelii Gaudium

Question 1

What are the themes to be discussed in EG?

Answer 1

a) the reform of the Church in her missionary outreach;
b) the temptations faced by pastoral workers;
c) the Church, understood as the entire People of God which evangelizes;
d) the homily and its preparation;
e) the inclusion of the poor in society;
f) peace and dialogue within society;
g) the spiritual motivations for mission

Question 2

What is the context of EG?

Answer 2

13th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (Oct. 7-28, 2012)
Topic: The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith

Question 3

What is the purpose of EG?

Answer 3

“Here I have chosen to present some guidelines which can encourage and guide the whole Church in a new phase of evangelization, one marked by enthusiasm and vitality” (EG 17)

Question 4

Why must an evangelizer be joyful?

Answer 4

ii. Evangelization = source of personal fulfillment
1. Life is attained and matures in the measure that it is offered up in order to give life to others.
2. An evangelizer must be joyful!

Question 5

Evangelization is primarily the work of?

Answer 5

Christ, the “first and greatest evangelizer”

Question 6

What is newness? Is it leaving the past behind?

Answer 6

Newness is not forgetfulness

1. Memory is a dimension of our faith (Deuteronomic)
2. Joy of gospel emerges from grateful remembrance
3. The believer is essentially “one who remembers”.

Question 7

What are the 3 principal settings for the New Evangelization?

Answer 7

1. Ordinary pastoral ministry
2. Baptized but do not live as such = need conversion
3. Ignorant or Rejectful of Christ (first and primary object)

Question 8

What are the characteristics of an evangelizing community?

Answer 8

i. Takes the initiative because the Lord has taken initiative
ii. Gets involved by word and deed in people’s lives
iii. Supportive
iv. Concerned with fruits
v. Filled with joy

Question 9

What is ecclesial conversion?

Answer 9

self-renewal born of the fidelity to Jesus Christ

Question 10

What is a “missionary option”?

Answer 10

everything can be suitably channeled for evangelization

1. To make them mission-oriented
2. To make them more inclusive and open
3. To have a constant desire to go forth

Question 11

What is the heart of the Gospel? (EG, Chapter 1)

Answer 11

faith working through love

Question 12

What is the greatest among virtues, in terms of external works?

Answer 12

Mercy

Question 13

Characteristics of a missionary heart

Answer 13

1. never close itself
2. never retreat into its own security
3. never opts for rigidity and defensiveness
4. grow in its understanding of the Gospel
5. discern the paths of the Spirit
6. always does what good it can

Question 14

Who are privileged recipients of the Gospel?

Answer 14

the Poor

Question 15

What is an inauthentic form of popular piety?

Answer 15

1. Concerned with outward expressions
2. Focus on alleged private revelations
3. Not concerned with advancement of society
4. For economic benefits or power