Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 86 No. 3, 2016.
Pregledni rad
Mercy: the Way of the Church to the Human Being and Contemporary Outskirts
Valentina Mandarić
; Katolički bogoslovni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
In the first chapter the author points out Pope Francis´ new image of the Church that is oriented towards missionary activities. The missionary activity of the Church is directed towards contemporary outskirts that strongly mark human existence. Outskirtsare the new challenge for the Church; while the main mission of the Church is to reveal more strongly signs of God´s presence and closeness in the world, and this is achieved in the best way through living out and testifying for mercy. The missionary outreach to contemporary outskirts is becoming an imperative that has been put in front of the Church by Pope Francis. Mercy is becoming today more than ever the fundamental criterion of authenticity of the Church. Pope Francis has the vision of the Church that goes out, that is on the way, that is not oriented towards itself, but towards God´s glory and salvation of human beings. In the second chapter the author defines the term outskirts and detects various outskirts that mark the existence of contemporary human being. Among many outskirts a special place belongs to the poor and marginalised. They do not only live on outskirts of big cities, but also in developed societies. Practicing mercy is, therefore, the only way to challenge culture of exclusion and rejection, and to promote culture of integration. Among many outskirts, in the third chapter the author chose to focus on sinners, while identifying them as the privileged addressees of God´s mercy. On the basis of Church documents and especially New Testament stories, the author points out the necessity of the change of our attitude towards sinners, who have been privileged addressees of Jesus´ activity. In the last chapter the author points out the forgotten works of mercy as a possible response to contemporary outskirts. She is reflecting on spiritual and physical works of mercy in the perspective of Matthew´s report on the last judgement. Mercy is emphasised not only as the fundamental criterion of authenticity of the Church, but also as the fundamental criterion of recognition at the last judgement.
Ključne riječi
mercy; outskirts; God´s mercy; sin/sinner; Pope Francis; works of mercy
Hrčak ID:
170884
URI
Datum izdavanja:
17.12.2016.
Posjeta: 1.836 *