The Year of Faith Begins

Pope Benedict XVI has proclaimed a “Year of Faith” to run from today, 11 October 2012, through to 24 November 2013.

Pastoral guidelines have been published that call for prayer, celebrations, pilgrimages, catechetical events, missions, and new forms of evangelization.

The Pope calls us to profess the faith, celebrate the faith, and witness to the faith.

Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy.

(Pope Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei)

I am particularly struck by the recommendation that

…there will be a renewed creative dialogue between faith and reason in the academic and artistic communities, through symposia, meetings and days of study, especially at Catholic universities, in order to demonstrate that “there cannot be any conflict between faith and genuine science, because both, albeit via different routes, tend towards the truth”

The Vatican has established a comprehensive web site to help coordinate the many activities and events of the year. The FAQ is particularly helpful in getting started.

In addition, a Plenary Indulgence has been granted for the occasion of the Year of Faith.

A special hymn has even been composed (English text).

Other folks have set up assorted resources as well. Here are just a few:

USCCB Resources – Includes a ton of stuff: prayers, parish resources, videos, etc.

Read the Catechism in a Year – Just what it says. Every day, they will e-mail you a couple of sections from the Catechism.

CatholicYearOfFaith.com – holy cards and other materials.

Various dioceses around the world have set up their one information pages. My home Archdiocese of Seattle is no different.

Fr. Mitch Pacwa SJ has even published a new Bible study: The Year of Faith: A Bible Study Guide for Catholics. Check it out!

As for me, God willing I’ll be making my pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in April.