Summary of Verbum Domini

On November 11th, Pope Benedict released an encyclical entitled Verbum Domini.

Verbum Domini addresses the Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church. It has been
called the most important document on the Word of God since Vatican II’s Dei Verbum. This
document was created after the Bishop’s Synod in 2008 on the Word of God. While the Bishops
obviously contributed to much of the document, it is apparent that Pope Benedict had a great
deal to do with it. The document is broken up into three main sections:
➢ Verbum Dei--a more academic analysis of the Word of God found in Scripture and
Tradition
➢ Verbum in Ecclesia--a look at how the Word of God influences the life of the Church
➢ Verbum Mundo--an examination of how the Word of God can be used to preach the
Gospel to the world

The introduction begins with some reflections on the overall theme of the document
and some notes on the Synod itself. The bishops placed the text of the Bible at the centre of the
assembly, “in order to stress anew something we risk taking for granted in everyday life: the
fact that God speaks and responds to our questions” (no. 4). The introduction ends by
announcing that the Prologue of John’s Gospel will be a constant reference throughout the
document. The Word, in this Prologue, was with God from the beginning and comes to dwell
among us. In a sense, this Prologue is a Scriptural meditation as you read through the document.

Section One--Verbum Dei (The Word of God)

The Holy Father looks at the Word of God throughout Salvation History. The Salvation
History, presents God’s plan of salvation throughout history. Pope points out that “The
Christian is not a ‘religion of the book’: Christianity is the religion of the word of God”, not of
‘a written and mute word, but of the incarnate and living Word” (no. 7). The pope takes care
to present the bible in a few sentences which speaks about the events from the creation to the
resurrection of Christ. He remarks that “Calling to mind these essential elements of our faith,
we can contemplate the profound unity in Christ between creation, the new creation and all
salvation history… The Son of Man recapitulates in himself earth and heaven, creation and the
Creator, flesh and Spirit. He is the centre of the cosmos and of history, for in him converge
without confusion the author and his work” (no. 13).
 Pope also takes care to present Mary's relationship to Scripture: “Mary is the image of
the Church in attentive hearing of the word of God, which took flesh in her. Mary also
symbolizes openness to God and others; an active listening which interiorizes and assimilates,
one in which the word becomes a way of life (no. 27). The Word of God is not dead, but is
alive and powerful. This will set up the other two sections as they will focus on how to live out
the Word of God.

Section Two--Verbum in Ecclesia (The Word in the Church)

This section focuses on the role of Scripture in the life of the Church. In particular, it
looks at Scripture's relationship to the liturgy. This section seems to address some very practical
and specific areas. There was a call to forgo giving generic and abstract homilies which obscure
the directness of God’s Word (no. 59). When we fail to preach the Word of God, we either
intentional avoid its message or do not proper use the power of God’s Word. Rather, the
document stresses presenting Christ as the centre of homilies. The document also addresses
Scripture and its relation to music. “Preference should be given to songs which are of clear
biblical inspiration and which express, through the harmony of music and words, the beauty of
God’s word.” (no. 70). Here we find a call to move back to a tradition of Scripture-based music
which gives the faithful another opportunity to encounter the Word of God during the liturgy.
The document also added some practical notes for marriages and families. The Synod
suggested that every family have a Bible and that it be kept in a worth place for reading and
prayer (no. 85). It also stresses forming small communities of families, where common prayer
and meditation on passages of Scripture can be cultivated. Finally, there is a great section on
lectio divina (no. 87).

Section Three--Verbum Mundo (The Word in the World)

This section is the most important part of the encyclical. The Word of God and the new
evangelization take centre stage in this section as the mission of the Church. The title of this
section is: “The Church’s Mission: To Proclaim the Word of God to the World.” Notice the
proclamation of the Word of God is not one element of the mission or one piece of the mission
but the mission of the Church. In a sense, this section appears to sum up many of the missionary
documents we have seen in the past and presents them in a higher level. The encyclical reminds
us about the basic nature of the church i.e. the missionary work (no. 91). The council asks the
faithful to revive the missionary zeal of the first church and reminds us that there are areas in
the world where the gospel has not yet reached.
 The council ask the church to take up measures to proclaim the gospel to the youngsters
of the new millennium. She also reminds that we cannot rely upon the traditional means but
take up their methods to answer their questions and concerns that haunt them during this period
of youth (no. 104).Evangelization on campus should be considered and measures should be
taken from the church to proclaim the gospel she remarks that : “It is not a matter of preaching
a word of consolation, but rather a word which disrupts, which calls to conversion and which
opens the way to an encounter with the one through whom a new humanity flowers” (no. 93).
With regards to the need of forming a character to study bible among the youngsters
the council points out that “In a particular way, young people need to be introduced to the
word of God ‘through encounter and authentic witness by adults, through the positive influence
of friends and the great company of the ecclesial community” (no. 97). Here the church regards
the elder generations as the torch bearers to the youth to take up bible seriously and study it.
The Christian life is one that fulfils its goal when one lives the faith that he or she received.
With regard to the matter of a true witness the document points out that “Young people need
witnesses and teachers who can walk with them, teaching them to love the Gospel and to share
it, especially with their peers, and thus to become authentic and credible messengers” (no. 104).
Conclusion
The conclusion continues the theme of the Word of God and the new evangelization:
“Our own time, then, must be increasingly marked by new hearing of God’s word and a new
evangelization. Recovering the centrality of the divine word in the Christian life leads us to
appreciate anew the deepest meaning of the forceful appeal of Pope John Paul II: to pursue the
missio ad gentes and vigorously to embark upon the new evangelization, especially in those
nations where the Gospel has been forgotten or meets with indifference as a result of
widespread secularism” (no. 122).
The document closes in a very compelling and fitting way. Pope Benedict practices
what he preaches by using the Word of God to take part in the missio ad gentes and the new
evangelization: “Finally, I turn to every man and woman, including those who have fallen away
from the Church, who have left the faith or who have never heard the proclamation of salvation.
To everyone the Lord says: ‘Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice
and opens the doors, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me’” (Rev. 3:20) (no.
124).