03/11/2009

A milestone for Ecumenism

A milestone for Ecumenism

Several events were planned in Augsburg, Germany on 30 and 31 October to celebrate the joint declaration of on the Doctrine of Justification. It was signed there ten years ago on 31 October 1999 by the World Lutheran Federation and the Roman Catholic Church.

“A milestone” and “a sign of hope in a suffering world” were how the event on 31 October 1999 was described at the time, respectively by Pope John Paul II and Pastor Noko, the secretary of the World Lutheran Federation. The signing of the “joint declaration” brought down one of the bastions of the 450 year old division between Lutherans and Catholics.

Chiara Lubich was present that day as a witness, and as a leading figure in a growing ecumenical journey based on the “dialogue of life” that helped prepared the ground for the doctrinal agreement.

Even before receiving the “Augustinian peace prize” in 1988, twenty years previously, together with Pfarrer Hess, she had founded the ecumenical centre of Ottmaring (near Augsburg), which in over 40 years of activity has become a sign of hope for Christian unity.

The Focolare President, Maria Voce is in Germany from 29 October until 4 November to mark the anniversary of the historic agreement, and to commemorate another important event in the story of Focolare’s ecumenical work: the start of the process of communion among movements from different churches.

On the day the declaration was signed, 31 October 1999, forty leaders of movements and communities born within the last 100 years in the Evangelical Lutheran church met with Chiara Lubich and Andrea Riccardi, the founder of the St Egidio Community.

These were the prelude to “Together for Europe” a process now shared by more than 240 movements and communities of various Christian traditions all over Europe.

After the great gatherings of 2004 and 2007, similar events have taken place in many European countries. Following on from those in France, Slovakia, Ireland and Italy is the event in Würzburg, Germany, on 7 November. Their common aim: to witness that fraternity in Europe is possible. This is demonstrated by “unity in diversity,” where each one brings a specific contribution of practical service and spiritual experience arising from a common desire to live the gospel life.