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Our Patron Saints

A NEW EVANGELIZATION

Pope St. John Paul II (1920-2005) first gave voice to the New Evangelization in Redemptoris Missio where he delineated as its central task the re-evangelization of a culture that previously had strong Christian roots. This is the culture we live in today in Boston, and in much of the western world. Our once vibrant Catholic culture, whose roots are still there, needs to be re-awakened. And that task of re-awakening our faith, and forming hearts and minds in the truths of Jesus Christ, is the central task of The Institute for the New Evangelization. Let us ask Pope St. John Paul II to pray for us that TINE might be an instrument through which God can help His children to be courageous and bold so as to evangelize with new ardor, methods, and expression. Pope St. John Paul II, our patron saint, pray for us!

THE INTERIOR LIFE AND BEAUTY

St. Hildegard (1098-1179), Doctor of the Church, was a German Benedictine abbess, writer, poet, composer, philosopher, theologian, pharmacist, mystic, visionary, and polymath. She is one of the best-known composers of sacred monophony, as well as the most-recorded in modern history. Her witness reminds us of two key components needed to engage the New Evangelization: a robust spiritual and intellectual life and the use of beauty as a gateway into the faith for those we are called to evangelize. Bishop Robert Barron (Auxiliary Bishop of Los Angeles and Word on Fire), in referring to the power of beauty, says, "it does seem to me advisable to commence the evangelical process with the winsome attractiveness of the beautiful."" And in talking about the spiritual and intellectual life, "Stop dumbing down the faith. We who would evangelize simply have to become better theologians, that is to say articulators of the truth about who God is."" Let us ask St. Hildegard to pray for us that TINE might be an instrument through which God can help His children to grow in knowledge and experience in the good, true and beautiful. St. Hildegard of Bingen, our patron saint, pray for us!