Originally published 2001 | ||
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Novo Millennio Ineunte (English: At the beginning of the new millennium) is an apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II, addressed to the Bishops Clergy and Lay Faithful, "At the Close of the Great Jubilee of 2000".
The apostolic letter outlines the priorities for the Catholic Church for the third millennium and beyond. The priorities of the Church center on Jesus Christ,
It is not therefore a matter of inventing a "new program". The program already exists: it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the living Tradition, it is the same as ever. Ultimately, it has its center in Christ himself, who is to be known, loved and imitated, so that in him we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform history until its fulfilment in the heavenly Jerusalem. This is a program which does not change with shifts of times and cultures, even though it takes account of time and culture for the sake of true dialogue and effective communication. This program for all times is our program for the Third Millennium.
The highest priority is put on holiness or sanctity (no. 30): "First of all, I have no hesitation in saying that all pastoral initiatives must be set in relation to holiness."
The second priority is the basic means to arrive at holiness: "a training in the art of prayer" (no. 32): "This training in holiness calls for a Christian life distinguished above all in the art of prayer."