New York Cultural Center
HUMAN AFFAIRS
Dialogues on events
that shape our world
Dialogues on events
that shape our world
May 16th, 2005, 7pm The Italian Academy at Columbia University 1161 Amsterdam Avenue CROSSROADS and Rizzoli USA present: MEMORY AND IDENTITY Reflections on the 20th Century A dialogue on the last book by Pope John Paul II Speakers: H.E. Edward Cardinal EGAN Archbishop of New York Msgr. Lorenzo ALBACETE Theologian, Author, Columnist Mr. Carl A. ANDERSON Supreme Knight, Knights of Columbus Ft. Richard John NEUHAUS Editor in chief, First Things |
MEMORY AND
IDENTITYExploring our
heritage
Testing our tradition
IDENTITYExploring our
heritage
Testing our tradition
BEAUTY WILL SAVE
THE WORLD
Discovering the world
of arts: performances
and presentations
THE WORLD
Discovering the world
of arts: performances
and presentations
MEETINGS AT
THE CROSSROADS
Face to face with...
THE CROSSROADS
Face to face with...
(From the introduction speech) As you may well imagine, when we started planning our 2005 activities several months ago we had no foreknowledge of the momentous events that were to come, starting with John Paul II's final sickness and exemplary death, followed by his moving funeral and the election of Pope Benedict XVI. What we knew full well was that our whole effort to start a "cultural center," was shaped by what John Paul II had taught us about the Christian event and its cultural value, going back to the memorable mandate that he entrusted to us when he visited the Rimini Meeting of Communion and Liberation in August 1982: "Faith, lived as a reflection and a continuation of those first encounters documented in the Gospel, lived as certainty and entreaty of the presence of Christ in every situation and occasion in life, makes one able to create new forms of life for man, makes one able to communicate and to know, to meet others and to value them." The Pope's affirmation of the profound cultural dimension of the Christian faith, of its capacity "to create new forms of life for man," was deeply consonant with the charism of Msgr. Luigi Giussani. Through all of his ministry Fr. Giussani exalted what he called "the cultural dignity of Christ's companionship to us," which "tends to illuminate and determine everything, according to the very definition of culture, which is a critical and systematic awareness of reality, so that reality may be transformed and used in a way that is more perfect, more intense, more adequate to man." These words and the Christian witness of these great men, including our new Pope, have been the inspiration to our initiative here in New York. We would like to offer a cultural contribution that goes beyond "Catholic issues," but embraces every aspect of life in the light of Christ, according to the suggestion of Saint Paul: "Test everything and retain what is good." |
"Certainly there were many
evils that
the men of ancient times
suffered.
But there were, however, the
men of wisdom.
These would teach to other
men the principle
of mutual cohabitation and
of mutual support.
These wise ones chose their
rulers and teachers.
They put to flight the reptiles,
serpents and wild beasts,
and they established man's
primacy.
For those who were cold,
they made clothes;
for those who were hungry,
they prepared food;
for those who lived in trees ...
or in caves ... they made
houses.
They instructed the workers
that they might make utensils;
the merchants that they
might trade things
that they had or of which
they were lacking;
the doctors who would use
the medicines ...
They inculcated recognition
toward benefactors;
they instituted norms that
would assign each to his
proper place.
They created music that
would dissipate the sadness
built up in the
heart,
the government that would
give a shock to negligence,
the punishments that would
break down obstinance.
And since men were
cheating one another
the wise ones dictated to
them...
bushels, liters, weights and
scales in order that they keep
faith in
selling.
And now there are those who
say:
"let's smash these bushels, let's
smash these scales
and then the people won't
have anything to argue
about anymore."
Han Yu (768-824 B.C.),
Fragments of
Chinese Doctrine
evils that
the men of ancient times
suffered.
But there were, however, the
men of wisdom.
These would teach to other
men the principle
of mutual cohabitation and
of mutual support.
These wise ones chose their
rulers and teachers.
They put to flight the reptiles,
serpents and wild beasts,
and they established man's
primacy.
For those who were cold,
they made clothes;
for those who were hungry,
they prepared food;
for those who lived in trees ...
or in caves ... they made
houses.
They instructed the workers
that they might make utensils;
the merchants that they
might trade things
that they had or of which
they were lacking;
the doctors who would use
the medicines ...
They inculcated recognition
toward benefactors;
they instituted norms that
would assign each to his
proper place.
They created music that
would dissipate the sadness
built up in the
heart,
the government that would
give a shock to negligence,
the punishments that would
break down obstinance.
And since men were
cheating one another
the wise ones dictated to
them...
bushels, liters, weights and
scales in order that they keep
faith in
selling.
And now there are those who
say:
"let's smash these bushels, let's
smash these scales
and then the people won't
have anything to argue
about anymore."
Han Yu (768-824 B.C.),
Fragments of
Chinese Doctrine
A place where roads meet. A time of change.
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