The Conference

Well actually the Salesians call it the Lectio Magistralis, which opens officially their academic year. The Cardinal was to speak on "Doing Theology in the light of the Synod of Bishops' theme on the Bible in the Life and Misison of the Church".

It took place at our Franciscan Terra Santa College since the Salesians (living close by) do not have a hall large enough for such meetings. About 140 people attended, mostly representatives from all the religious families here in Jerusalem, together with the Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr. Franco.

On the whole, the cardinal's 35 minute speech (more a "familial sharing" in his words, than an academic Lectio Magistralis) can be reduced to one word (as Fr Spataro the Salesian rector put it) "reconciliation" or "harmony" - that is, a reconciliation between all the dichotomies that exist within the academic and pastoral worlds:
1. between the bible exegete and the theologian
2. between scholars and the laity
3. between academic methodology and Divine revelation
4. between the Bible and the Eucharist
5. between study and prayer

He said that doing theology is not talking about God but talking with God. More emphasis should be put on praying the Bible, encounter God through praying the Bible, but also stressed that experts on the Bible should be at hand to explain the passages that are being prayed so that prayer groups do not share errors instead of truths! He also spoke about the formation of seminarians and the need to put more biblical aspects into their formation programmes - including biblical prayer and biblical pastoral activities.

"It is humbly listening and joyfully accepting the Word of God"