© 11/29/2012, Jeffrey Bame – Content of this presentation may not be used without explicit permission.
“The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering
us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into
his Church. It is possible to cross that threshold when the word
of God is proclaimed and the heart allows itself to be shaped by
transforming grace. To enter through that door is to set out on a
journey that lasts a lifetime.”
– Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 1
What is faith?
 “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the
conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
 “Faith is man’s response to God, who reveals
himself and gives himself to man, at the same time
bringing man a superabundant light as he searches
for the ultimate meaning of his life.” (CCC 26)
 “By faith, man completely submits his intellect and
his will to God.” (CCC 143)
 “Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe
in God and believe all that he has said and revealed
to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief,
because he is truth itself.” (CCC 1814)
Some Facts About the Year of Faith:
 Initiated by Pope Benedict XVI in his apostolic letter
titled Porta Fidei (The Door of Faith).
 Dates: October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013
 This is the second time to celebrate a Year of Faith
– Pope Paul VI declared a Year of Faith in 1967.
 This Year of Faith marks the 50th anniversary of
Vatican II and the 20th anniversary of the release of
the Catechism of the Catholic Church
“A Christian may never think of belief as a private act.
Faith is choosing to stand with the Lord so as to live
with him. This “standing with him” points towards an
understanding of the reasons for believing. Faith,
precisely because it is a free act, also demands social
responsibility for what one believes. The Church on the
day of Pentecost demonstrates with utter clarity this
public dimension of believing and proclaiming one’s
faith fearlessly to every person. It is the gift of the Holy
Spirit that makes us fit for mission and strengthens
our witness, making it frank and courageous.”
- Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 10
Who said this?
“…we consider attentively the world of today, which is
so busy with politics and controversies in the
economic order that it does not find time to attend to
the care of spiritual reality, with which the Church's
Magisterium is concerned. Such a way of acting is
certainly not right, and must justly be disapproved.”
Who said this?
“…we consider attentively the world of today, which is
so busy with politics and controversies in the
economic order that it does not find time to attend to
the care of spiritual reality, with which the Church's
Magisterium is concerned. Such a way of acting is
certainly not right, and must justly be disapproved.”
- John XXIII, Homily to Open the Second
Vatican Council on October 11, 1962
Importance of Reviewing Vatican II Documents
“Even if the Council does not deal expressly with the
faith, it talks about it on every page, it recognizes its
vital and supernatural character, it assumes it to be
whole and strong, and it builds upon its teachings. We
need only recall some of the Council’s statements in
order to realize the essential importance that the
Council, consistent with the doctrinal tradition of the
Church, attributes to the faith, the true faith, which
has Christ for its source and the Church’s Magisterium
for its channel”
– Paul VI, General Audience on March 8, 1967
“With the passing of the years, the Council documents
have lost nothing of their value or brilliance. They need
to be read correctly, to be widely known and taken to
heart as important and normative texts of the
Magisterium, within the Church's Tradition…I feel more
than ever in duty bound to point to the Council as the
great grace bestowed on the Church in the twentieth
century: there we find a sure compass by which to
take our bearings in the century now beginning.”
– John Paul II, Novo Millennio Ineunte (2001), 57
Plenary Indulgence
"During the Year of Faith, which will last from 11
October 2012 to 24 November 2013, Plenary
Indulgence for the temporal punishment of sins,
imparted by the mercy of God and applicable also to
the souls of deceased faithful, may be obtained by all
faithful who, truly penitent, take Sacramental
Confession and the Eucharist and pray in accordance
with the intentions of the Supreme Pontiff.”
Plenary Indulgence – Four Ways
 Attend three sermons at a mission, or three lessons on
the Acts of the Council or the Catechism
 Make a pilgrimage to a papal basilica, Christian
catacomb, a cathedral church or a holy site designated
by the local ordinary for the Year of Faith (Shrine of the
True Cross in Dickinson is the closest site established by
Cardinal DiNardo).
 On a day designated by the local bishop, participate in a
solemn celebration of the Eucharist or the Liturgy of the
Hours, while adding the Profession of Faith
 Visiting a baptistery or place of one’s baptism and
renewing their baptismal promises in proper form
Goals for the Year of Faith:
 to profess the faith in fullness and with renewed
conviction
 to intensify the celebration of the faith in the liturgy
 to make witness of life may grow in credibility.
“To rediscover the content of the faith that is
professed, celebrated, lived and prayed, and to reflect
on the act of faith, is a task that every believer must
make his own, especially in the course of this Year.”
- Benedict XVI, Porta Fidei, 9
Session Topics and Dates
 11/29/12 - “The Church, the Light of the Nations”
 1/3/13 - “The Word of God: Interpreting Scripture and Tradition”
 2/7/13 - “Let Us Pray: The Liturgical Life of the Church”
 3/7/13 - “Call to Conversion: Sin and Penance”
 4/4/13 - “Know Yourself: The Relationship Between Faith and Reason”
 5/2/13 - “City on a Hill: The Church in the Modern World”