Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Seoul (Agenzia Fides) - "The priesthood of Christ is practiced in the world" is the title of the message released by the Biblical Commission of the Korean Bishops' Conference and sent to Fides, on the occasion of the National Bible Week to be celebrated throughout the Korean this November 22 to 28.
The message is signed by Benedictine Abbot Simon Peter Ri Hyong-U, Apostolic Administrator of the territorial Abbey of Tokwon and Chairman of the Commission, and highlights the issues specific to the Bible Week, putting it in the context of the Year for Priests, which the universal Church is celebrating: "All Christians have the right and duty to live the common priesthood which makes them sharers in the priesthood of Christ as baptized. By regeneration and the consecration in the Holy Spirit, they are consecrated as a spiritual temple and a holy priesthood" .
The message calls the faithful to be aware of this priesthood and to act as consecrated and messengers of the Gospel. The priesthood is fed through frequent reading and the meditation of Sacred Scripture, which is the "daily bread" for all the baptized.
Bible Week will especially focus on promoting Biblical apostolate in parishes, forming ministers, organizing seminars and spiritual retreats in the territory, in the certainty that "the biblical apostolate is an effective instrument of mission."
The week aims at restoring the centrality of the Word of God and reading and meditation of Sacred Scripture, which must become a familiar and everyday practice for all lay faithful, and not only remain the prerogative of priests and religious. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 14/11/2009)
