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VATICAN CITY, NOV. 21, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The Church's social doctrine is a treasure that needs to be better known and understood, said the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace.

In his Tuesday report to open the dicastery's plenary assembly, Monsignor Giampaolo Crepaldi explained that the promotion of Christian social doctrine is one of the group's key tasks.

“Within this perspective,” explained the secretary of the Pontifical Council, “all the activities have been planned as instruments to give a new momentum to social doctrine, in order to detect ways of relaunching it in the various social, economic and political fields."

Monsignor Crepaldi considered the reception of the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, presented for the first time publicly in October 2004, and now already officially released in countries all over the world. The compendium continues to be translated into more and more languages, he said.

"We should try to make a provisional review of the reception of the compendium three years since its publication,” affirmed Monsignor Crepaldi. "I dare say, that it has been welcomed with greater enthusiasm outside Europe -- in Asia, Africa, Latin America -- than on the European continent.”

According to the secretary of the Vatican dicastery, “There is still much to do so the compendium will be used systematically as a point of reference for a social pastoral plan adapted to these times, conforming to the teachings of the Church, and trusting that the light of the Gospel is still the principal motor of human development.”

Among the many places in which the compendium was presented, Monsignor Crepaldi emphasized Russia and Cuba.

“In Russia, in St. Petersburg and Moscow, the presentation of the compendium helped contact with the Orthodox Church,” the monsignor said. “In Cuba, because of the presence of a communist regime in that country, and on account of the vivacity of a Catholic Church very committed on the part of the laity, the presentation of the compendium was a very opportune initiative.”

For Monsignor Crepaldi, the compendium “can do much good because it helps to clarify, helps one understand and dialogue in search of the truth.”

ZE07112109 - 2007-11-21

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04 December 2022

Joachim and Anna Rejoice

Today the bonds of childlessness are loosed, * for God has heard Joachim and Anna * and He promises manifestly that they, against all hope, would give birth to the Maiden of God * from whom the Uncircumscribed One Himself would be born, becoming man, * and he commanded the Angels to cry out to her: * “Rejoice, O Full of Grace, the Lord is with you!” (Troparion - Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Today the whole world celebrates * the conception of Anne which was brought about by God, * for she gave birth to the one who, beyond understanding, * gave birth to the Word. (Kontakion - Tone 4)

Saint Nicholas of Myra

The truth of your deeds has revealed you to your flock, * as a rule of faith, an image of meekness, and a teacher of abstinence. * Therefore, you attained the heights through humility, * and riches through poverty. * O Father and Hierarch Nicholas, * pray to Christ God that our souls may be saved. (Troparion, Tone 4)

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

In Myra, You were shown to be a servant of the sacred things, O Holy Nicholas, * for, fulfilling the Gospel of Christ, you, O Venerable, laid down your life for your people, * and saved the innocent from death. * Therefore, you were sanctified as a great initiate of the grace of God. (Kontakion, Tone 3)