VATICAN - Papal Letter for the 16th centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom: “of outstanding missionary zeal; he sent missionaries to spread the Gospel among those who had yet to hear it ”

Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “I am happy…that the occasion of the 16th centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom offers me an opportunity to evoke his luminous figure and propose it to the universal Church for common edification” the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI said this in a Letter addressed to the Bishops and the faithful on the occasion of the 16th centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The Letter, dated 10 August 20007, was made public at the opening ceremony of an International Meeting on St John Chrysostom being held in Rome from the 8 to the 10 November.
The Holy Father recalls that John Chrysostom “is venerated by Christians of all times” and that in the early Church “he distinguished himself for a promoting ‘fruitful encounter between the Christian message and Hellenic culture' which ‘had a lasting impact on the Churches of the East and the West’… the Roman pontiffs always recognised him as a source of wisdom for the Church and their attention for his teaching increased in the past century”.
John Chrysostom was born at Antioch of Syria in the mid fourth century. While still young he asked to be baptised and embraced the ascetic life. After spending some time in the Syrian desert, he returned to Antioch where he served the Church as a lector and later as a deacon. In 386 hew as called to the priesthood by Flavianus, Bishop of Antioch. “During his 12 years of priestly ministry in the Antiochean Church, John distinguished himself for his capacity to interpret Scripture in a manner the faithful could understand.” He also sought “to strengthen the unity of the Church, ... at a historical moment in which it was threatened both internally and externally. He rightly felt that unity among Christians depends above all on a correct understanding of the central mystery of the Church’s faith: that of the Blessed Trinity and the Incarnation of the Divine Word.”.
In 398 John was consecrated Bishop of Constantinople, where “he concerned himself with the reform of the clergy, encouraging priests by word and example to live in conformity with the Gospel. He supported monks living in cities, provided for their material needs and sought also to reform their life style, underlining that they were supposed to dedicate themselves exclusively to prayer and a retired life”. John lived a modest style of life and was most generous to the poor. On Sundays and feast days he dedicated himself to preaching “tirelessly denouncing the contrast that existed in the city between the extravagant wastefulness of the rich and the indigence of the poor.” At the same time, he encouraged the wealthy “to welcome homeless people into their own houses. He saw Christ in the poor man; and therefore encouraged others to do the same and act accordingly”. This earned him the hostility of some of the rich people and those in power.
“Among the bishops of his time - the Pope's Letter continues - John stood out for his missionary zeal; he sent missionaries to spread the Gospel among people who had never heard it.. He built hospitals to care for the sick…he said the Church's material assistance should be for all those in need regardless of their religious beliefs”. Called, because of his position as Bishop in the capital of the Empire of the East, to “mediate delicate relations between the Church and the imperial court" and "negotiate a series of ecclesial matters involving other Bishops and Sees”, he was the object of intrigues concocted against him by powerful adversaries and was exiled twice. He died on 14 September 1600 years ago at Comana del Ponto during the journey to the final destination of his second exile.
With regard to the ministry of St John Chrysostom Pope Benedict XVI underlined his “courageous testimony to defend the faith of the Church…his selfless dedication to his pastoral ministry…outstanding efforts to promote reconciliation and full communion among Christians of East and West”. He spoke passionately of the unity of the Church spread throughout the world, stressing that she is “founded in Christ, the Divine Word, who with his Incarnation united himself with the Church as the head with the body... For Chrysostom, church unity is achieved in Christ and witnessed especially in the Eucharist”.
With great profundity, John Chrysostom develops his ideas on the effects of sacramental communion in believers. ... He tirelessly repeats that preparation for Holy Communion must include penitence for sins and gratitude for the sacrifice Christ made for our salvation. Thus, he exhorts the faithful to participate fully and devotedly in the rites of divine liturgy and to receive Holy Communion in the same way”. He also reminds the faithful that Communion with the Body and Blood of Christ “obliges them to offer material assistance to the poor and the hungry living in their midst”.
In the conclusion of his Letter, Pope Benedict XVI says “the 16th centenary of the death of St John Chrysostom is an opportunity to intensify studies about him, to rediscover his teaching and spread devotion to him”. “May the Fathers of the Church,” the Pope concludes, “become a stable point of reference for all Church theologians. To return to them, is to return to the beginnings of the Christian experience and savour its freshness and genuineness”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 9/11/2007; righe 63, parole 895)