Pope Benedict XVI in Frascati: the value of the Council

Pope Benedict XVI has paid a visit to Frascati, celebrating Mass on there on Sunday. The homily preached on that occasion (no English translation yet available) has attracted comment for reasons of Vatican politics (it expresses confidence in Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, one of Pope Benedict's closest collaborators are time when Cardinal Bertone is seen to be under criticism) and for reason of its coincidence with the general chapter of the Society of St Pius X (its affirmation of the importance of the documents of the Second Vatican Council was seen as a statement of principle in respect of the discussions between the Society and the Holy See which was one of the subjects being discussed at the general chapter).
There is a third interesting point.

Il vostro Vescovo mi ha informato circa l’impegno pastorale che maggiormente gli sta a cuore, che è in sostanza un impegno formativo, rivolto prima di tutto ai formatori: formare i formatori. E’ proprio quello che ha fatto Gesù con i suoi discepoli: li ha istruiti, li ha preparati, li ha formati anche mediante il «tirocinio» missionario, perché fossero in grado di assumere la responsabilità apostolica nella Chiesa. Nella comunità cristiana, questo è sempre il primo servizio che i responsabili offrono: a partire dai genitori, che nella famiglia compiono la missione educativa verso i figli; pensiamo ai parroci, che sono responsabili della formazione nella comunità, a tutti i sacerdoti, nei diversi campi di lavoro: tutti vivono una prioritaria dimensione educativa; e i fedeli laici, oltre al ruolo già ricordato di genitori, sono coinvolti nel servizio formativo con i giovani o gli adulti, come responsabili nell’Azione Apostolica e in altri movimenti ecclesiali, o impegnati in ambienti civili e sociali, sempre con una forte attenzione alla formazione delle persone.

[Your bishop has informed me about the pastoral effort that he has at heart, which in susbtance is an effort for formation, dedicated first of all to those responsible for formation: to form those responsible for formation. This is exactly what Jesus did with his disciples: he taught them, he prepared them, he formed them also through a missionary "apprenticeship", that they might be gradually able to assume the apostolic responsibility in the Church. In the Christian community, this is always the first service that leaders offer: on the part of parents, who in the family have a mission of education towards children, we think of parishes, which are responsible for formation in the community, of all priests, in their different fields of work: all live with a first importance an educative dimension; and the lay faithful, in addition to the role of parents already mentioned, are involved in the service of formation, with young people or with adults, as leaders in Azione Apostolica and in other ecclesial movements, or working in civil and social environments, always with a strong attention to the formation of persons].

It does seem to me that Pope Benedict has a very clear view of the importance of the documents of the Second Vatican Council for the life of the Church in our times, and his statements about this need to be read alongside his suggestions of a "hermeneutic of continuity" with regard to the Council. The acceptance of the teaching of the Council in this sense seems to me vital for a correct understanding of Pope Benedict's intentions with regard to the Year of Faith.

 I Documenti del Concilio contengono una ricchezza enorme per la formazione delle nuove generazioni cristiane, per la formazione della nostra coscienza. Quindi leggetelo, leggete il Catechismo della Chiesa cattolica e così riscoprite la bellezza di essere cristiani, di essere Chiesa di vivere il grande «noi» che Gesù ha formato intorno a sé, per evangelizzare il mondo: il «noi» della Chiesa, mai chiuso, ma sempre aperto e proteso all’annuncio del Vangelo.

[The Documents of the Council contain an enormous richness for the formation of new generations of Christians, for the formation of our consciousness. Therefore, read them, read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and so rediscover the beauty of being Christian, of being Church, of living the great "we" that Jesus has established on himself, to evangelise the world: the "we" of the Church, never closed, but always open and committed to announcing the Gospel.]

But an orientation towards "forming those responsible for formation" suggests an interesting orientation of this perceived importance of the teaching of the Council in the light of the forthcoming Year of Faith.