Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) - “It is a widespread opinion today that Christianity is a European religion which exported the culture of this continent to other countries. But the truth is much more complex since the Christian religion has its roots in the Old Testament and therefore in Jerusalem and in the Semitic world”. With these words the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI began his catechesis during the Wednesday general audience on 28 November in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of about 8,000 visitors. His teaching was dedicated to the figure of Saint Ephrem, the Syrian. “Christianity constantly draws nourishment itself from these Old Testament roots- the Pope said -. The spread of Christianity in the early centuries was directed both westwards - to the Greco-Latin world where it later inspired European culture - and eastwards
to Persia and India, where it contributed to the formation of a specific culture, in Semitic languages and with its own identity”.
To underline “this cultural pluriformity of the one Christian faith from the early times” the Pope said he chose to speak at the Audience about Saint Ephrem the Syrian, born at Nisibi to Christian parents about the year 306, “the most important Syrian speaking representative of Christianity ” who succeeded in “combining in a unique manner the vocation of the theologian with that of the poet”. He was educated and grew up close to James, Bishop of Nisibi (303-338). Ordained a deacon, he lived the life of the local Christian community intensely until 363, when Nisibi fell into the hands of the Persians and Ephrem emigrated to Edessa, where he continued his activity as a preacher. He died in that city in the year 373, a victim of the plague contracted while assisting the sick. It is not known for certain if he was a monk, but we are sure he remained a deacon and embraced virginity and poverty for the whole of his life.
“Saint Ephrem left us a great theological legacy - the Holy Father explained -: his considerable production can be grouped in four categories: works written in ordinary prose (his polemical works and his biblical comments); works in poetic prose; homilies in verse; lastly hymns, certainly Ephrem's most abundant production… The specificity of his work is that in it we encounter theology and poetry. If we wish to approach his doctrine, from the outset we must insist on this: the fact that he does theology in a poetic form. Poetry enables him to engage in more profound theological reflection by means of paradoxes and images. At the same time his theology becomes liturgy, it becomes music: he was in fact a great composer and musician.”
The Pope said that the poetry of Saint Ephrem is difficult to translate but nevertheless he wished to quote part of his hymns on the Nativity of Christ, the Eucharist and the beauty of the faith. “The figure of Ephrem is still fully relevant for the life of the different Christian Churches today - the Holy Father said -. We discover him first as a theologian who on the basis of Sacred Scripture poetically reflects on the mystery of the redemption of mankind achieved by Christ, the incarnate Word of God. His is a theological reflection expressed with images and symbols taken from nature, from daily life and from the Bible. Ephrem confers a didactic and catechetical character on poem and hymns for the liturgy; these are theological hymns suitable for liturgical recitation or chanting. Ephrem uses these hymns to teach, on the occasion of liturgical feast days, the doctrine of the Church. At the same time they proved to be an extremely effective means of catechesis for the Christian community.”
The Pope then underlined the importance of Ephrem's reflection on the theme of God the Creator and the role of the Woman: “For Ephrem, just as there is no Redemption without Jesus, there is no Incarnation without Mary”. He “was a deacon, that is a a servant, both in the liturgical ministry and, more radically, in love for Christ… as in charity towards others, whom he introduced with rare expertise to knowledge of divine Revelation”.
At the end of today's general audience, the Pope launched an appeal for everything possible to be done to halt the spread of AIDS. "December 1," he said, "marks World AIDS Day. I remain spiritually close to everyone suffering from this terrible sickness, and to their families,
especially those who have lost a loved one. To everyone I give assurances of my prayers. Furthermore, I wish to exhort all people of good will to increase their efforts to halt the spread of the HIV virus, to combat the disdain which is often directed towards people who are affected by it, and to care for the sick, especially those who are still children.”. (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 29/11/2007 - righe 52, parole 754)
