Closing Year Opens More About Encyclical

Pope Benedict closed the Year of Paul with Evening Prayer I of the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and Paul. The pope presided at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls. His homily Sunday evening also previewed his forthcoming encyclical due for release in next month.

Mr. John L. Allen Jr. pointed out at that the appearance of the encyclical "may well seem largely anti-climactic." Extracts of it have been appearing in the Italian press; however, the "pontiff actually scooped himself by devoting his remarks for the close of his “Pauline Year” to the theme of Caritas in Veritate, “Charity in Truth,” also the title of his long-awaited meditation on the economy."

Read Mr. Allen's remarks today to appreciate the forthcoming encyclical and its cosmic dimension for each Christian.

Benedict argued that because Christ’s love extends to the entire universe, Christian concern for the world must likewise have a cosmic dimension. Though the pontiff did not develop the point last night, on previous occassions that insight have provided the basis for a strong environmental message.

The link also redirects readers to more analysis of the soon-to-be-released encyclical.
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Wiki-image by Jakob Øhlenschlæger of statue of St. Paul at the basilica over the place where was martyred is used according to the Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 license.

Resources for the Year of St. Paul

The website of the Bishops of England and Wales has its own links of resources for the Year of St. Paul, which began after Evening Prayer on 28 June 2008, the Vigil of the Solemnity of Ss. Peter and St. Paul.

The sixth link is particularly rich. Listed early are four consecutive papal General Audiences of the Fall 2006, to which Pope Benedict devoted his prepared remarks to St. Paul.

The U.S. Bishops' Committee on Divine Worship offer a modest set of resources, chiefly papal homilies.
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Wiki-image of Michelangelo's Conversion of St. Paul is in the public domain.