)
THE CROSS STANDS AS THE WORLD REVOLVES
“Stat Crux dum Orbis Revultur” – The Cross Stands as the World Revolves. With these words, the sons of Saint Bruno have, for almost a thousand years (since 1084), devoted […]
September 19, 2023)
Hail to the Cross of our Salvation! Hail to the Crucified King! Reflecting on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Most Holy Cross [Numbers 21:4b-9; Philippians 2:6-11; John 3:13-17]
In the homily which the then Cardinal Ratzinger delivered during the Mass before the Conclave of 2005, during which he was elected as Pope, he begins by noting that the […]
September 14, 2023)
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES Jesus Christ MAKE? (Part Three) Maurice Agbaw-Ebai
We ended our previous section by pointing out that human brokenness, or existential wretchedness, could often times serve as the raw material thanks to which the need for God enters […]
September 6, 2023
Morality Truly Christian, Truly African: Engagements with the Theology of Paulinus Odozor
Co-organized by Maurice Agbaw-Ebai and Matthew Levering Mundelein Seminary November 2-4, 2023 1. Paulinus Odozor, C.S.Sp. (University of Notre Dame) – Respondent at end of event 2. Maurice Ashley Agbaw-Ebai (St. […]
September 6, 2023
What difference does Jesus Christ make? (Part 2)
In the first part of our reflection on the topic of what difference Jesus makes, we ended on the position that the Temptations constitute, in their innermost core, a theological […]
September 3, 2023
The Resurrection of Jesus: God’s Verb in the Grammar of Human Existence
When we studied English Grammar at St. Joseph’s Primary School in Mamfe, Cameroon several years ago, we were taught that a verb is a word that it used to describe […]
April 28, 2023
What difference does Jesus Christ make?
It is not uncommon to find persons that have been Christian for much of their life relapse from the practice of the Christian faith. Life can be very challenging, especially […]
March 25, 2023
The Beautiful Catholic Priesthood Today
Perhaps of all the days in the Liturgical Calendar, it might appear out of sync for one to reflect on the meaning of the Catholic Priesthood on Ash Wednesday. After […]
March 2, 2023
The Spiritual Testimony of Pope Benedict XVI
The Holy See releases this document, the Spiritual Testament of Pope Benedict XVI, dated August 29th, 2006
January 8, 2023)
Three Lessons from Pope Benedict XVI
An old pastor once told me that many priests enjoy a special relationship with theman serving as Pope when they were in the seminary. At least in the contemporaryperiod, it […]
January 4, 2023
Benedict XVI Institute for Africa Organizes a Theological Colloquium
Joseph Ratzinger / Benedict XVI at 95 “Introduction to Christianity: Engagement by African Scholars” Wednesday 23 – Friday 25, November 2022 At Paul VI Pastoral Centre You are welcome!
November 22, 2022
Men of Sorrows
Every Good Friday, the Church’s Liturgy turns her gaze upon the face of Christ, the suffering servant; the One whom Isaiah describes as “a man of suffering, knowing pain.” Or, […]
October 15, 2022
Why God Must Not Be Set Aside
“There is no saint without a past; there is no sinner without a future” Meditations on the Life of Augustine of Hippo (AD 354 – 430) I love the month […]
August 30, 2022
Benedict XVI at 95: Searching for the Face of the Lord
Towards the end of the Book of Signs in the Gospel of John, the Evangelist narrates an intriguing request from a somewhat unexpected source: “Among those who went up to […]
April 16, 2022
Joseph Aloysius Ratzinger – Benedict XVI at 95th
On this same Saturday Easter Vigil 95 years ago a young Bavarian was Born. One who will become a Christian, Priest , Bishop , Cardinal and the 265th Successor of […]
April 16, 2022
Theologians gather to discuss ‘Africae Munus, Ten Years Later’
Africae Munus Ten Years LaterNovember 4-6, 2021, Mundelein Seminary Co-organized by Maurice Agbaw-Ebai and Matthew LeveringSponsored by the Benedict XVI Institute for Africa and the Center for Scriptural Exegesis, Theology, […]
November 6, 2021)
Fr. Zifac: Never Give Up Looking Up
Yes. Never give up in looking up. Refuse to be discouraged. No bad condition is permanent with Jesus. Solve your problems the Bartimaeus’ way. When Zacheus could not see Jesus […]
October 24, 2021
Father Zifac: it is well in Jesus’ name
With the uncertainty and political and cultural volatility of nowadays it can be easy to become overwhelmed. It can easy to lose hope and to give in to despair. Thankfully, […]
September 6, 2021Requiescat in pace, Pope Benedict XVI, our teacher, friend, and father
“Ratzinger and the Future of African Theology” by Tegha Afuhwi Nji
What I intend to do in these few pages is to present my reflections on, and a panoramic synthesis of the theological discussions at the conference, while the publication of the papers that were presented is awaited next year.A Welcome by Bishop Arthur Kennedy
It is well known that there are a large number of Institutes throughout the world that ground their interests and programs in some aspect of the broad range of contributions that Pope Benedict XVI provided the church in his ministry as priest, scholar, Bishop, Prefect and Pope. Many of these Institutes focus on one aspect of his studies, for example, on liturgy, or beauty; on Revelation, Inspiration or theology; on the interrelationship of history and ontology with its crucial consequence in moral theology, or on faith, Church and cultures.What is unique about the Institute for Africa is that it seeks to appropriate for the Church in Africa, and ultimately through insights of African theologians, clergy and laity, the inner coherence of Pope Benedict’s learning of, and teaching about, the mysteries of Christian truth and the consequences, not only for the Church in Africa, for the larger world. Thus, being shaped by the liturgy and revelation, by the tradition of doctrines and systematics, and by relating these to the situations in Africa, it is to be hoped that families, societies and culture will be graced by living in, and thinking out, their faith, hope and charity in the shaping of present and future societies and culture.
It is perhaps best captured by Chaucer’s testimony of the imperfect cleric in The Canterbury Tales: they will “gladly learn and gladly teach.”
+ Most Rev. Arthur L. Kennedy
Episcopal Vicar for New Evangelization
Archdiocese of BostonFr. James Burns, Board Member
The Benedict XVI Institute for Africa is called to play a crucial role in this task of helping the African Church to remain in the truth of Jesus Christ. By remaining in the Truth of Christ, the Truth that is Christ, you will show that the Church is alive in Africa. In fact the Church is as much Africa as it is anywhere else though perhaps it is more so here as its rapid growth proves. Thus let Africa speak loudly to and for the Church. Do not let her voice be silenced. If you do all this you will have captured the hearts and minds of all people of good will and have won them over to the Lord.– Fr. James Burns, IVD, PhD, President of St Mary’s University, Minnesota
This exciting new institute will help to assure that the massive growth of Christianity in Africa will be guided and nourished by the thought of one of the greatest theologians of modern times. May the light of what Benedict XVI called Africa’s profoundly religious soul illuminate souls longing for truth everywhere!