From the book: FATHER OF
ALL MANKIND
Authored by: Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez
Published by: The International Group for Peace, La Paz,
Bolivia 1999
Dr.
Ricardo Castañón Gómez has assisted with the formation and implementation of
the “Apostolate of the New Evangelization”. He has devoted considerable time, energy and
resources in traveling to many countries in the Americas and to all the
continents of the world making other people aware of the pressing need for all
to respond to Pope John Paul II’s call to a New Evangelization.
In
his book “Father of All Mankind”, Dr. Castañón focuses primarily on God the
Father. Dr. Castañón uses the parable
of the Prodigal Son to illustrate the journey that of all God’s “sons” (all His
children), are called to take with Jesus, the Son, back to the House of the
Father. But the journey does not end
with the return for there is more work to do, more children to find and bring
back to the Father.
In
Chapter 13 of his book Dr. Castañón writes about the “Apostolate of the
New Evangelization” and finding more children to bring them back to the
Father:
CHAPTER XIII
IN THE HOUSE OF
GOD:
Apostles of The
New Evangelization
The march back Home, unites the Son with the Father,
the Father with the son. With this
return man fulfills the meaning of his existence. He was not created to populate hell, but to populate Heaven.
The return Home, unites the son with the intimate Heart
of the Father. His pilgrimage had a
supreme meaning, during his march his mind was invaded by nuances that can be
expressed as follows:
“I am heading
to the House of My Father.
I am alone and
have fears along the way.
I am not
worthy of returning Home.
I have
profoundly offended my Father.
I have broken
his rules and transgressed His Commandments.
I have hurt
myself and have hurt my soul.
I have
darkened the Light of God in me.
I do not
deserve a welcome in the House of My Father.
But I see he
awaits me now at the end of the road.
He cries as he
runs to me.
He picks me
up, embraces me, holds me in his chest.
And he tells
me that everything will be fine because now I am Home.
I am Home with
My Father God!
(B. Rose,
1998).
And what does
the son that has returned to the House of the Father do?
He lives with the Father, loves him, shares with
him, feels and loves for Him. But he
also takes care of his things, and commits himself to having more children
return to the House of the Father. If
you have found the Way back Home, what can we do for others?
13.1.
THE NEW
EVANGELIZATION
On May 30, 1998, John Paul II met with the New
Movements and the lay Communities of the world. It is a glorious day for him and for laymen, it is the renewal of
commitment. Our ecclesiastical father
invites us vehemently to be the Apostles
of the New Evangelization.
“And suddenly
there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind: and it filled all
house where they were sitting. And there
appeared to them cloven tongues, like as of fire: and it sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost.” (Acts
2, 2-3)
Based on this quotation, our Pastor says: “It is
as though this happening in Jerusalem two thousand years ago now is being
renovated this afternoon in this Square (Saint Peter's), the center of the Christian world. As the Apostles then, we also are gathered
in a great cenacle of Pentecost, yearning for the effusion of the Holy
Spirit. Here we want to profess with
the entire Church that “now there are diversities of gifts, but the same
Spirit. And there are diversities of
administrations, but the same Lord. And
there are diversities of operations, but it is
the same God, which worketh all in all”
(1 Cor 12, 4-6).
Today’s is
truly a hitherto-unheard-of event: for
the first time movements and new ecclesiastical communities are all gathered
together, with the Pope.” “The Holy
Spirit is here with us! He is the soul
of this admirable event of ecclesiastical communion. This is the day in which the Lord has acted: let us rejoice and
exult” (John
Paul II, 31.5.1998, - 2).
This is the enthusiasm of our guide and pastor. He is interested in the commitment of modern
laymen to their living God. He wants us
to assume a task not only for our conversion but for all the children of God.
To underline the importance of that definition and
commitment he expresses: “...the day of Pentecost, in front of a
petrified and mocking multitude because of the unexplainable noted change in
the apostles, Peter bravely proclaims: ‘Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of
God among you...you by wicked hands have crucified and slain: whom God hath raised up’” (Acts 2,
22-24). Peter's words reveal the Church's self-awareness, founded on the
certainty that “Christ is alive, works
in the present and changes life”.
(John Paul II, 1998, §3).
This statement is important: Christ is alive and works in the present and
changes life. Why then are his actions
in modern life discussed and doubted?
If there are such widely-spread, extraordinary events, could it not be
that there is so much sin or confusion in man?
“To the Church
which, according to Fathers is the place “where the Spirit blooms” (CCC749), the Paraclete has donated recently with the Second Vatican Council a
renewed Pentecost, promoting a new and unanticipated dynamism” (§ 4).
Today's laymen are part of that renewal. We have left the ways of pleasure, of
materialism, of egocentricity, to direct our eyes to heaven raising our hands,
falling on our knees and begging forgiveness.
We want to return to the House of the Father and we want to help others
do the same. We want to assume our role
in the part corresponding to our vocation within the Mystical Body of our Holy
Church.
The Pope continues:
“Today, the Church rejoices
because of the renewed verification of the words of the prophet Joel, which we
have heard not long ago: ‘I will pour
out of my Spirit upon all flesh...’ (Acts 2, 17). By being present here you
are the tangible proof of that effusion of the Spirit. Each movement is different from the other,
but they are all united in the same communion and the same mission” (§ 5).
“Today before
you, a new stage begins: that of
ecclesiastical maturity. This does not
mean all problems have been solved.
Most of all, it is a challenge, a way to travel. The
Church expects from you “ripe” fruits of communion and commitment” (§ 6). Jesus
has said: “I have come to bring fire
over the earth and how I wish it was already burning”, while the Church
prepares to cross the threshold of the third millenium let us accept the
invitation of the Lord, so his fire ignites in our heart and in those of our
brothers”. (§ 9).
This quotation reminds us of the words dictated by
Jesus to Catalina on May 7, 1998 when he asks:
“Do you accept this Great Crusade
of Love, Mercy and Salvation? Do you
want to be a part of it? Do you really
want to help me save humankind? If so,
light your little torch of incommensurable light that my hand places in your
reach and run to light up the world...”
(CS 145).
It is God again who invites man today through His
representative to take this word that burns and consumes the limits of the
world. The Pope concludes by
saying: “To Mary, Mother of Jesus and Wife
of the Holy Spirit, Mother of the Apostles, who accompanied them in
Pentecost, we direct our eyes so she will assist us in learning from her “fiat”
docility to the Spirit. Today from this
Square, Jesus Christ repeats to each one of you: “Go ye into all the world and
preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16, 15). He is counting on each one of you! The Church is counting on you! The Lord assured you: “And lo I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world”. (Mat 28, 20). Amen. (§ 9).
The concept of the New Evangelization, “is the typical formula of today’s
pontificate that invites us not to fear opening doors to Christ because only in
Him human life has any sense”
(Civiltá Cat. Editoriales:3.9.1994).
The model presented by John Paul II is very direct
because he immediately makes clear what the answer of the Church to the
challenges of the Third Millenium should be.
The field compromises different dimensions of human surroundings: geographical, social and cultural, with
special reference to the individual as a person and a community.
The NE invites us to announce the same message with
new strength and impetus, recurring to the new methodological and strategic
expressions: In fact, Jesus Christ and His
gospel are the answer to the crisis and search of contemporary man, so
influenced by technological power, surrounded by a nihilism that confuses him
more and more.
If the Gospel has not reached many countries yet,
and in others it has been buried by ideologies, tendencies, sects, it means
that the transmission system is not being effective enough, therefore the NE
must assume that role of determining theoretical and practical forms of
ANNOUNCING EFFECTIVELY the same kerygma as always.
Christ Himself developed an intervention
strategy: he prepared in silence,
assumed then his personal mission, chose 12 apostles, then 72 more, He worked
with the lost sheep of Israel, and afterwards came to the entire world. And the Apostles' acts show us the different
plans of action carried out to fulfill his mission and consolidate
evangelization forming disciples and creating community structures. (Benvenuto, 1997).
From conceptual point of view the intention is:
a. To profoundly motivate the
protagonists of the evangelization.
b. To reach pertinent environments considering their particular social,
psychological, cultural, economical characteristics, etc.
c. To propose EFFECTIVE specific plans of action. And this subject is important because you
can talk and act without reaching a conclusion, in our case conversion and
commitment. THE NEW EVANGELIZATION must be FUNCTIONAL, that is, DIRECTLY
RELATED TO CAUSE AND EFFECT. How can it
be possible that we make the Word of God, which is Life, into something passive
or static?
This urgency in Latin-American countries, as well as
in others of the world, becomes urgent because the world lives a CHANGE OF
CULTURAL AGE (not necessarily of millenium) that has questioned values
eliminating many of them, without substituting them for others of equal
value. Moreover, the values that are
immanent have been ignored, such as life (against abortion), matrimony (against
divorce), and we continue to act in that direction, almost submerged in a
darkness that does not announce any light.
Many events have affected this “change” accelerating
the process: the village has been
globalized, materialism did not meet expectations, walls fell down, and
rationalism with its economies and suggestive philosophies has not brought the
expected balance.
That living expression of the Pope in Poland on June
9, 1979 when raising his Cross he said: “a
New Evangelization has begun”, was renewed on January 28, 1979 in Puebla,
when he requested Latin-American bishops to give a “new boost to evangelizing”,
and has gradually assumed solid meaning of commitment and action.
In Santo Domingo on October 12, 1984, he explains
that the calling to the NE must be communicated with more vigor, as in its
beginning, stressing the following:
1. Greater potential for sanctity,
2. missionary impulse,
3. greater catechizing creativity,
4. fruitful manifestation of collegiality and communion,
5. an evangelical struggle that will grant more dignity to man...
All of this with the purpose of generating a future of
hope, that should converge in the CIVILIZATION OF LOVE, that will give space to
a CHRISTIAN CULTURE.
We cannot say that on the verge of the new century
we have created a society breathing love, justice and peace. A model of a Christian Culture and a civilization
based on love, should not be an unreachable objective for a committed Catholic
who moves through faith and unconditional trust in His God, and also expects
that together with oxygen, love should be a daily condition of life in the
world.
This means in our cultures:
1.
To
promote the integral condition of man:
body, mind, soul, spirit.
2.
To
restore the soul to the secularized world, to rediscover the hidden Spirit.
3.
To
cultivate sanctity in persons and in thought.
Here lies the value of fervor, instead of the superficiality and
lukewarmness with which, in many cases, divine things are treated. This fervor should be implemented not only
in individuals but in the community.
This implies too a sanctity amongst the consecrated, so their sanctity
will be the light for those at whom it is directed. This renewal “demands priests radically submerged in the mystery
of Christ and capable or having a new pastoral lifestyle, distinguished by a
profound communion with the Pope, bishops and between them, and a fruitful
collaboration with faithful laymen, regarding the promotion of different roles,
charisma and ministries within the ecclesiastical community” (Cfr. Pastores dabo vobis, n. 18).
4.
To
rediscover the values of the first models of apostles.
5.
Every
new evangelizer unites with the Church.
Jesus says: “That they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee;
that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent
me” (John 17, 21). The last thing our Church needs is a new
fracture of the Body of Christ. A
Church that divides does not grow, and those who persist in doing their own
thing... only want to take Christ’s Body elsewhere.
6.
It
requires teamwork, reciprocal collaboration at every level. They cannot allow themselves the luxury of
displacing forces, which instead must be educated so they will teach the
desired common objectives.
7.
We
must work on structures giving them the necessary dynamism. We refer to territorial or stable
structures, such as parishes, groups, movements, etc.
8.
It
will also have to consider its MODELS OF EXPRESSION, for today’s man has a
special mentality: he is more
technical, is better informed, has a more consumer profile than in the
past...then these aspects have to be considered when approaching him. They cannot be spoken to in a boring,
tiring, outmoded way. If the Word of
God is acclaimed, it must be alive, innovative, not boring or routine. The Word is alive...
9.
Expression
is carried out through a METHODOLOGY, that will orient transmission
systems. It is important here for them
to be living testimonies, images presented through dialogue, interaction. EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY is required to reach
man and society. Our groups have found
very effective the organization of conferences on social, cultural, human
subjects, that conclude with spiritual subjects, which has allowed to conclude
with the integration of prayer groups.
And all this converges on a purpose that John Paul
II announced in his Christifideles laici (cf. N. 37):
NE is such because its objective is the announcement
of the Death and Resurrection of Jesus, from which comes the need, amongst
others, to “rediscover and help to
rediscover the inviolable dignity of every human person” as:
a.
Personal dignity is the most
precious good that man possesses, thanks to which he transcends in value all
the natural world.
b.
His dignity acquires greater
sense when remembering he was created by God in image and likeness.
c.
Therefore man “is always a
value in himself and by himself”, and as such he must be treated, and therefore
never as an object, instrument or thing.
This dignity is fundamental to equality between men.
d.
Finally, we must become
aware in a renewed way, that man is called to be the authentic son of God, the living temple of the Spirit and is
destined to eternal life in communion with the Father.
e.
The Church and life of man,
dressed in majesty and sanctity, in thought and behavior, must be a “reflection
of the goodness itself of the Lord”. (Cf. Veritatis Splendor, n 107).
With his evangelizing work and his travels around
the world, the Holy Father has given us an example of what New Evangelization
is. He has become a differential “sign”
in the history of the world, whether Christian or not. With the force of his convictions and with a
great sense of liberty he has crossed most walls. He has revealed Christian and human values for man. He has raised his voice warning about the
risk of neoliberalism without faith nor laws that oppresses the weak and mostly
hurts the weak in society, mainly dividing the world into more sub-worlds,
forgetting the dignity each person deserves.
He is the “First Apostle and Pilgrim of the Gospel”,
thus one of the greatest defenders of man.
He knows that to deny man of dignity, is to deny it to God.
13.2.
THE APOSTOLATE OF
THE NEW EVANGELIZATION (ANE):
The reason why every person who has been baptized is
responsible for evangelizing has been repeated on several occasions. And this dimension associates this work to
the dignity man assumes as an image and likeness of the Creator. Therefore we are talking about something
Good –Gospel- the object of which is something else good -man.
The sun rises to cover the entire world, not only
some regions. Just as the Word of God
is life, it is for all and we should assume the responsibility of making sure
that it reaches where it is not yet known.
To begin the Apostle of New Evangelization (ApNE) learn about the content of the Word of God,
learns, comprehends, knows, but is also a man or prayer. How could he talk about God, if he does
not talk to Him?
The apostle is
not necessarily an individual who speaks a lot about God, but rather “lives”
the word of God and most of all “loves and serves” which is why he will be
recognized as an apostle.
Also, he is
“sensitive” to the Voice of the Spirit that naturally whispers, regularly
guiding his steps. He knows how to perceive this inspiration
and is capable of translating it into
facts. He knows how to listen, which is
why he learns correctly what he must say.
Without Grace the Apostle is
nothing.
Although most of us do not live in a desert, the
apostle remembers the firm evangelizing word of John the Baptist who defined
his voice as the one “that cries in the
desert” (Mat 3, 3). Let us never
lose the point of view. What is taken
is the Word of God, not ours. So any
act of presumption is useless before the applause and recognition of those who
listen. When presumption is tempting it
is good to think: everything is IN THE
NAME OF THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT.
We are not the Word, but it requires of a concrete,
present and sensitive means of expression...it is here where the work of the
apostles comes in. The Gospel invites
us to be spokespersons, messengers, instruments of the Word.
But often we have listened this Word and it has had
no effect on us. This is true, because
we do not open our hearts, because we do not want to listen. But also because this Word is presented in a
routine, dull, weak way. And that
depends on the spokesperson, on the microphone. If this is deficient, how can it transmit the voice with all its
power?
Routine, boredom, asthenia, lack of motivation, make
the transmitted Word numb and the evangelizing way a well-worn way. That is why routine must be avoided so it
will be innovative.
Jesus says to Catalina(*): “Observe My daughter every
morning, even when it is still dark, the farmer walks down the path that takes
him to his land. His path is well-worn
from so much coming and going on the same place. Even his animals come and go alone to the field. His schedule is routine...The case of the
fisherman is very different. In the sea
there are no roads or paths, new ways will always be taken. Waves are never the same. Every day the wind blows in a different way
and a new way has to be invented. Every
morning the fisherman stands in front of the sea and wonders: “God, and now,
where should I go? Where are the fish today?
Therefore the fisherman repeats daily with psalmist: “Show me thy ways, O Lord. Teach me thy
paths” (Psalms 25, 4) (ER 1996, p.
9).
And that is how evangelizer must be, every day he
must speak with God, submit to and depend on Him and ask Him what direction to
follow. That is how he depends on his
God and not on a predetermined way, sated with routine. The Lord wants innovative men...that go
beyond. It is when Moses went
beyond...that he found God (Exodus 3, 1ss).
An apostle is a brave man, creative, capable of moving mountains,
walking on water, extracting water from
rock...for that he must live off faith and carry inside the living flame
of God. Only this kind of pastors are
the ones who can lead people to the promised land. Those who run from our Church, those who move away to sects, not
only denote the obscurantism and confusion of this age, but are also evidence
of our incapacity to retain them and show them the Truth in an efficient
way. NE is not new in its content, It
is new in its form, methodology, ardour... it wants to rediscover the inner passion with which we should take
the Word of God. We have to be intrepid
to awake if we are sleeping, or if we are agonizing to resuscitate before this
New murmur that announces to us a New Spring.
It is very illustrative when Jesus talks to Catalina
about unimaginative people: “They have turned the impetuous wind of
Pentecost into air conditioning, that can be regulated in accordance with
comfort of the moment. They carry out
their apostolic action as though they were walking down a routine little path,
where there is no place for the surprises of the Spirit” (RE p. 10).
The apostle is “functional”,
which means he produces causes to attain effects. In his best expression he is the one who produces fruits. We can be learned or not when we arrive to
town, what matters is a knowledge that does not get lost in human dialectic, a
knowledge that makes others have new aspirations for the Lord, those that by
virtue of the listened Word want to be more and more impregnated, beginning the
journey that leads to conversion and commitment.
Every baptized person has received the mandate: “Go
and announce the Gospel until the limits of the earth” (Mat 16, 15). Evangelization is a necessity in God's plan
for salvation. Saint Paul says: “How then shall they call on him in whom
they have not believed? And how shall
they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they be
sent?” (Romans 10, 14-15). He adds after: “Faith then cometh by
hearing; and hearing by the word of Christ”
(Romans 10, 17).
Of course Christ could have done everything in
another way. But he wanted to make use
of men: “You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you” (John 15, 16).
We are invited to help establish His Kingdom, to
make the world understand that it will not find peace away from Him. That only He is the Way, the Truth and the
Life.
We are nothing.
“And base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God
chosen...” (1 Corinthians 1, 28),
but He wants to make us participants in the task of the salvation that leads
back to the House of the Father.
This work is delegated, it does not depend on your
will. God entrusted it to the Son, He to His apostles and these to their
successors. There is a hierarchy from which
in obedience the apostle does not stray without hurting the whole and
disturbing his union with the Source.
It is the Kingdom of God that is proclaimed, not ours.
The task is not easy either. We have said it: the way is narrow and contains joy, passion and glory. That is why the apostle is brave, he knows
he will have to fight against opinions that oppose what he wants to say. Therefore he must know today’s world with
everything it contains. He will not
evangelize about supposed events, but the events people experience every
day. The Word applies to real life, not
fables. There is so much richness in
the Word of the Lord that sometimes we regret the lack of splendor and poverty
with which it is presented.
The following plan can help orient evangelizing
action from the point of view of participation and motivation (ER 57-59):
1. CALLING: The content invites people
to come closer to God. The riches of
the Father are presented, the marvels of His work. They must perceive the Love and Tenderness that exists in
God. The importance each of His
children has for Him.
2. EVANGELIZATION: Focusing on the message of
Salvation through the figure of Christ: birth, death and glorious
resurrection. The importance of living
in Him, the consequent emptiness for those who move away from Him.
3. CATECHESIS: This is important when a
solid instruction of a doctrinal or moral type is to be transmitted. In this way, an in-depth study is made of
the truths of our faith and the
teachings of the Church Teachers.
4. SPIRITUALITY: He is interested in inner
growth, takes care of a profound spiritual life, promotes union with God. Provides orientation in the life of prayer,
meditation, contemplation. Brings to light the dependency we must have on God,
the insecurity of self-management, and the security that comes from always
being united to the Hand of God.
5. COMMITMENT: They want to arouse an
attitude of commitment in people.
Individuals assume clear and consequent knowledge, want a more authentic
path made of love and service to others.
They want to be elements of change, conscious instruments available to
God and men. In these moments decision
making is promoted.
6. APOLOGETICS: Requires of apostles a good
preparation, for these messages make it possible to clarify doctrinal errors
that sects or other trends preach or even attribute to our Church. Our plan shows the truth, unique and
undeniable.
7. STRENGTHENING: It is motivating, a chant of
hope. It cheers the depressed, raises
the fallen, brings light to those who live in darkness. It strengthens hearts, sharpens minds,
identifies man with Christ, his excellent model, consecrates his heart to that
of blessed Mary. Man is not alone, the
Holy Trinity is beside him.
8. BREAKING: It questions men who have
forgotten the Truth. They have looked
for other ways but have not found what they were looking for. The parable of the prodigal son is a model,
conversion of Magdalene, etc. Man needs
to become aware that without God, he can do nothing. He must annul that presumptuousness that wants to make of himself
a semi-god.
The apostles knocks on the doors of the world so
they will open to God. The fruit of his
work should be that hearts open and listen.
Fatigue and humiliation does not matter. The Lord inspires us: you
do what you have to...and I will do the rest.
Also, he will not be pleased only by results, but also by all those
intentions that when evangelizing only seek the Glory of God!
And a final perspective:
If in our
work, we have spoken of God, let us always finish with a prayer. For there is an important mechanism: if people have heard of God...in the
end...God wants to hear from them, know about them, their anxieties, joys,
desires...
Apostles orient people towards a central message in which
God is asked for the strength to carry out what was heard, for commitments to
be fulfilled. It is the moment in which
the Father acts, liberates, heals, touches hearts, converts people. It is a thankful, living God....they have
heard of Him, now He admits them into His precious Heart. The evangelizer talks to people about God,
and to God about the people. He employs
half of his time speaking of God, and the other half he persists before God
interceding for the people.
The apostle should assume his role joyfully, because
it is a privilege to be invited and a grace to be able to accept the task. It is a joy to find Christ, but still
greater will be the joy of being an instrument so others will find Him.
Jesus said to Catalina in June, 1996:
“My beloved
daughter, the torch I received from My Father I give to you in these
pages. To you and to those who will be
in charge of transmitting My Messages, My Word, so the world ignites with the
fire that I came to light once more in this world...”
Do
you accept this Torch?
(*)
Catalina is a stigmatist from Cochabamba, Bolivia whom Dr. Castañón has studied
extensively. The Archbishop of
Cochabamba has given his Imprimatur to eight books of Catalina’s writing which
she attributes to receiving from Jesus and the Blessed Mother.