The Year Of Faith

The Year Of Faith

The Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI begins on 11 October 2012 and ends on 24 November 2013, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. The Pope chose October 11th as the start date given two important anniversaries which fall on this day: the 50th of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council and the 20th of the promulgation of the new Catechism of the Catholic Church. In his Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei the Holy Father highlights some of the shining examples of faith over two thousand years of Christianity. By faith, Mary accepted the Angel’s word, the Apostles left everything to follow their Master, the disciples formed the first community, the martyrs gave their lives... Men and women in every part of the world dedicate their daily lives to Christ and witness to their faith in the Lord Jesus in the family, in public life, in carrying out the activities and ministries to which they are called upon. It is a year to be marked by reflection and especially a renewed effort of evangelization so that all Church members may give witness to the living Christ and show others the way to faith. The image chosen to celebrate the Year of Faith is a symbolic representation of faith depicted in this oil painting by Raffaello Sanzio dated 1507. The work is housed in the Pinacoteca of the Vatican Museums and is one of the predella panels of the “Pala Baglioni” altarpiece. The image is featured in the minisheet consisting of three triptychs.