My Interpretation of the New Evangelization

The glossary of the Catechism defines evangelization as “The proclamation of Christ and his Gospel (Greek: evangelion) by word and testimony of life, in fulfillment of Christ’s command”.

John Paul II “sanctioned and defined” new evangelization in his first discourse to the bishops of Latin America in 1983 (The New Evangelization for the Christian Faith).  John Paul II taught us that personalism and encounter are essential to the new evangelization.

The Church is a spiritual and social institution.  Human dignity, solidarity, and subsidiarity are sources of the Church’s doctrine that must be lived in the spiritual and social life (The New Evangelization).

Using John Paul II’s teachings of the new evangelization as a basis for my thought, I am going to give my interpretation of the new evangelization.

For me, the new evangelization is about having a well-defined self and knowing how to use it in the world for Jesus.

Esteem and happiness come from right action.

Jesus has a specific mission he wants us to accomplish.  We have to accomplish it in a certain way.

We can’t be successful without Jesus.  We can’t be successful without being ourselves.

This is a healthy self-image.

Authenticity is key to the new evangelization.  Our authority and power come from Jesus.  Anything that is false will not have authority and power—regardless of position or title.

The world needs a new evangelization today, just as it did in John Paul’s time.  Today’s new evangelization must be current with what is going on in the world.  So culture, norms, and values matter.

Today’s new evangelization must be strategic.  It can’t be based on the letter of the law.  It must be based on the spirit of the law.

The call for a new heaven and earth is continuous.  All Catholics are called.  All the time and everywhere.

God will be provide the energy to evangelize.  It is up to us to inherit eternal life from him.

Reference

Centesimus Annus.  Pope St. John Paul II.  Encyclical Letter.  Available at https://capp-usa.org/centesimus-annus/#5  .  Last accessed on 05/06/2025.