From 14 to 16 november 2013, on the initiative of the Chair of St. Josemaría Escrivá active in the School of Theology, the International Conference San Josemaría ant Theological Thought" took place.

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International Conference “St. Josemaría and Theological Thought”

AN EXPERIENCE OF GOD: WHAT SAINTS BRING TO THEOLOGY

Rome, Nov. 19, 2013 – Saints have had an “experience of God” and are therefore able to illuminate and enrich Theology. This was the main theme of the international Conference on “St. Josemaria and Theological Thought,” organized in Rome by the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross from November 14-16.

The Conference owes its inspiration to the Magisterium of Benedict XVI; it is not by chance then, that Joseph Ratzinger was one of the authors most frequently mentioned by participants during their three days of study. First as a theologian and later as a Pastor, the Pope Emeritus emphasized on multiple occasions that the work of a theologian is always secondary to the real experience of the saints.

Cardinal Kurt Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, as well as Professor François-Marie Lèthel, from the School of Theology at the Teresianum (Rome), expressly dedicatd their sessions to Benedict XVI, who firmly maintains that “God’s Truth is not a theory, but a Person.”

In 1993, Cardinal Ratzinger was concretely referring to the figure of St. Josemaría, inviting further reflection on the impulses that Theology could take from the teachings of Opus Dei’s Founder. Pope Francis, in his recent message to conference participants, said that St. Josemaria’s teachings, were “precursors to the Second Vatican Council, since they propose the universal call to holiness.”

LIFE IN NAZARETH

It is precisely to St. Josemaria’s contribution to the Second Vatican Council, now celebrating its 50 year anniversary, that the introductory session was dedicated. Msgr. Javiér Echevarría, Bishop and Prelate of Opus Dei spoke, having been a direct witness of the facts he was recounting. Even though St. Josemaría did not personally participate in Vatican II, he exercised a concrete influence on the Council, not only through his preaching and writing, but also by means of the echo that his words produced in many of its participants. He maintained for example, various conversations with the Conciliar Fathers.

Clearly, St. Josemaría’s teachings are not exhausted by the questions faced by the Council, however. Msgr. Fernando Ocáriz, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and Vicar General of Opus Dei, synthesized several of the most important topics found in St. Josemaria’s thought, such as the call to holiness, the Christian sense of temporal activity, and the identity and mission of the laity in the Church. In this regard, he pointed out that the theological root that gives “unity, and therefore, special inspiring strength to Theology,” is a profound contemplation of the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation, the fact that God became man.

This "Christocentrism" is at the base of other essential aspects in St. Josemaría’s thought, such as the centrality of divine filiation in the life of Christians, the Mass as the center and origin of Christian life, the sanctification of work, the relation between the common and ministerial priesthoods, as well as unity of life and the original goodness of the world, among others.  

Javier López, Professor of Spiritual Theology and Coordinator of the Conference, highlighted the idea that St. Josemaría’s teachings fundamentally refer to how to lead a Christian life. At the same time, they offer a vision of Christ that can illuminate theological research.  According to the founder of Opus Dei, the redemption of Christ, culminating with His death and resurrection, was already being realized during the years of his family life in Nazareth.  This fact shows that Christ has redeemed all human realities from the consequences of sin.

THE BEST TRANSMITTORS OF FAITH

Msgr. Ocáriz also commented that Theology, as the study of faith, follows a double principle: on one hand, theologians "listen to the faith." That is, they assume faith’s contents which proceed from Tradition, Scripture and the Church’s Magisterium. On the other hand, they "reason through the faith," or reflect on that faith´s content. The contribution of the saints - manifested in their words and actions – is found on both levels. 

Saints are the best transmitters of faith. They help theologians, for example, understand certain passages of Scripture in a new light. This was explained by Giuseppe De Virgilio, a Professor of Biblical Theology at Santa Croce. Just as Benedict XVI mentioned in one of his Papal documents, Professor De Virgilio referred to St. Josemaría as one of the witnesses of the Church that has interpreted and embodied the Word of God in an exemplary manner.

"To speak of holiness is, for the Church, a difficult theme"- affirmed Giuseppe Tanzella Nitti, Professor of Fundamental Theology at the Holy Cross. Yet it is a task that cannot be left aside; indeed, it is more than necessary "to return and speak of it even more explicitly, since it is unique and indispensible to the life of the Church."  Facing voices that place the aspiration to Christian holiness in an ideal realm that is seperate from social and civil life, St. Josemaría shows that it is possible to live a holy life inside history.  In reality, the saints’ lives offer the People of God reasons for their faith and for their perseverence in truth and goodness.  

CHRISTIAN FAITHFUL, UNITY AND DIVERSITY

Particular attention was dedicated to Moral Theology in the sessions given by Professors Réal Tremblay, from the Alfonsiana Academy of Rome, and Angel Rodríguez Luño, from the Holy Cross. "The contribution of St. Josemaría to Moral Theology," according o Rodríguez Luño, "resides in the overall style of Christian life that he proposed with strength and incisiveness." It is a style that suggests a positive and realistic moral Theology, he added, one that is open and full of love for freedom and pluralism.

What image of the Church emerges from the preaching and pastoral activity of St. Josemaría? For José Ramón Villar, Professor of Ecclesiology at the University of Navarra, it means a Church in which all the faithful have the same dignity in virtue of Baptism. In the work of St. Josemaría –he explained—the condition of being a “faithful Christian” is common to laity, religious, and consecrated ministers. Therefore, a unity in vocation exists alongside a diversity in functions and charisms within the same mission.

During the Conference, the first edition of the “Dictionary of St. Josemaría” was also presented. A joint collaboration of 230 specialists, the Dictionary gathers together a total of 288 voices concerning Theology and History. Many of the themes contained in this work were treated in the sessions. The inspiration that St. Josemaría offers to other areas of Theology, is one example, as well as how he can contribute to philosophy or even the juridical sciences.

To close the conference, Cardinal Koch, coming back to the words of Benedict XVI, affirmed that the saints are the most credible witnesses of the Christian faith, the true reformers of the Church, and the first interpreters of Sacred Scripture. In his message, Pope Francis also expressed the desire that the Founder of Opus Dei’s example might inspire a “renewed awareness that the believer, in virtue of his Baptism that incorporates him into Christ, is called to be a saint and to collaborate, through daily work, to the salvation of humanity.”