【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2013 年 12 月 04 日羅馬慈幼總部訊】 ─ 教宗方濟各最近出版的《福音的喜樂》宗座勸諭，引起教會內外，對通諭的內涵及新穎處產生強烈的興趣。我們請求總會長查偉思神父，為這題材提供意見。

喜樂是慈幼神恩一個典型的特質。我們如何接受教宗的《福音的喜樂》勸諭？

教宗論及的喜樂是福音的喜樂，就是天主在我們當中降生為軟弱的嬰孩。這就是天主無比愛情的流露，屈尊就卑成為人，如同我們一樣，使我們提升為祂尊貴的子女。只有天主才能想得這樣徹底，完全相反我們人性的思想。因此我們不能不傳揚福音，並感到一份迫切性，向其他人，尤其是青年，傳揚信仰的喜樂與美妙，這信仰賦予我們生命意義、希望及前景，使我們致力合作，共同為眾人，尤其是貧苦者、弱勢社群及邊緣人士，建設一個更美好的世界。

這篇勸諭，甚麼地方特別打動你？

這是一篇獨特的文件，不是偶然地產生，它的出版是在由教宗本篤十六世宣佈的信德年結束時，以慶祝梵二在天主上智安排下讓教會得以更新。這是來自羅馬首牧方濟各由衷的說話，他的前線牧民經驗的結果，以及長期向今日世界福傳迫切性方面的默想。

教宗方濟各在勸諭中的言辭內容，與其個人風格完美協調，教宗說他不想撰寫一篇理論性的文章，卻要展示文中重要課題的實用性含義。他的目標十分明確：在各傳揚福音的活動中，協助建立福傳的確切風格。

這篇勸論完全與教宗保祿六世超凡的《在新世界中傳福音》勸諭互相呼應，如它的題目所激發的，部份內容可能直接發自教宗方濟各的內心深處。這真是今日教會的大憲章，勾劃出教會的政策及其基本後果。事物不能一成不變，教會應不斷處於皈依及奉行使命中。

《福音的喜樂》尤其對慈幼會有什麼指示？

我認為教宗方濟各的勸諭，讓我們在準備來屆全會代表大會的工作上，懷著正確的精神。對來屆大會來說，這份勸諭確實是必要及適時的，藉這份政策文件引領我們。勸諭讓我們看到教會應有的願景：不懼怕現代世界、尋求宣講福音的新方法，成為更有傳教精神及憐憫世人的教會，並勇於作出必需的轉變。

教宗號召教會克服畏懼，走出固有的框架，去除虛假的保障，因為這都讓我們成為固執的並減低福傳的成效。他要求教會棄絕經濟型模式，因為這使金錢掛帥，製造社會隔離，形成排斥與冷漠的文化。因此教會應特別關愛貧苦者，並致力社會公義及和平。

在此容許我請求你們細閱這《福音的喜樂》勸諭。要研讀並讓他人認識，使之成為我們祈禱的意向。讓這勸諭溫暖你們的心，尤其讓我們懷著一份喜樂，向青年傳遞這喜樂的信息。

Evangelii Gaudium: a Salesian Reading

 (ANS - RMG –Roma, 04 December 2013) – The recently published Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudiumby Pope Francis has sparked a huge interest in the whole Church and beyond, for its content and freshness. We asked the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez, for his contribution on the subject.

Joy is one of the typical features of the Salesian charism. How has the Pope's Apostolic ExhortationEvangelii Gaudium been received? 

The joy of which the Pope speaks is the joy of the Good News, of God who becomes weak as we are, coming among us as a child. It is the supreme manifestation of the love of God, who humbled himself to become a man like us, and so raise us to the dignity of his children. Only God could have thought of so radical a reversal of our human way of thinking. That is why we cannot fail to evangelize. That is why we feel within us the urgency to communicate to others, especially to young people, the joy and beauty of the faith that gives meaning, hope and a future to our lives and to our commitment to collaborate in building a better world for all, especially the poorest, most disadvantaged and marginalized.

What struck you in particular in this text?

It is an exceptional document, and it is not mere chance that it was issued at the end of the year of the Faith proclaimed by Benedict XVI to celebrate the Council that providentially renewed the Church. It comes from the heart of Francis, Bishop of Rome, the result of his pastoral experience at the forefront and his lengthy meditation on the urgency of proclaiming the Gospel to the world today.

In perfect harmony with the content of his speeches and in his own personal style, Pope Francis said he did not intend to write a theoretical treatise, but to show the practical implications of the important topics covered in the text. The purpose is very clear: to help to define a specific style of evangelization to be implemented in all evangelizing activities.

The new text is fully in line with Pope Paul VI’s incomparable Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi as evoked by its very title, and maybe some of it comes directly from the heart of Pope Francis. It is amagna carta for the Church of today, outlining policy and fundamental consequences. Things cannot be left as they are. The Church should be in a permanent state of conversion and mission.

What does Evangelii Gaudium have to say to the Salesian Congregation in particular?

I think this Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis puts us in the right spirit for the forthcoming General Chapter, which will necessarily and providentially be guided by this policy document. It gives us a vision of how the Church should be: without fear of the modern world, seeking new ways of preaching the Gospel, more missionary and more compassionate, and with more courage to make all the necessary changes.

The Pope calls on the Church to overcome its fear, get out of its own structures and let go of the false security which make us more rigid and less effective evangelizers. He calls on the Church to denounce an economic model that makes money an idol, generating social exclusion and creating a culture of rejection and indifference. The Church, therefore, has a special predilection for the poor and a strong commitment to social justice and peace.

Allow me at this point to ask you to read this Exhortation The Joy of the Gospel.  Study it and make it known  Make it the object of prayer. Let it warm your heart.  Above all, let us set out on a journey filled with joy to bring this happy message to young people.