All of Christian theology depends on Jerusalem and not on Athens: this is where we must return to find our origins. Athens helps us to think, but what happened here in Jerusalem is not the highest level of human thought but it is the scandal of every human thought. All the scriptures must be read in the light of that scandal that is the cross.
Studying the Word in Jerusalem like those who put it into practice leads to a decision and a life that is not simply cognitive but performing, where the heart is touched; our theological work is necessary to make God grow in the hearts of believers.” These are only a couple of the numerous “asides” that the theologian and archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, Mons. Bruno Forte, gave to teachers and students during his inaugural speech of the 2010-2011 Academic Year of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (Faculty of Biblical Science and Archaeology and Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum) held on Monday 8th November in the Auditorium of the Convent of St. Saviour in Jerusalem.
As the Dean of the Faculty, Father Claudio Bottini said “Archbishop Bruno loves Jerusalem and the Holy Land where he periodically comes as a pilgrim, bringing with him faithful from his extensive diocese in the Abruzzi region. I can add to all this that he gladly and enthusiastically accepted the invitation to return for our inaugural lecture. I thank him for this together with the whole Faculty.”
The guests present included Mons. Antonio Franco, Nonce and Apostolic Delegate, Mons. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, the representatives of the academic institutions of Jerusalem, Father Hervé Ponsot, Director of the Ecole Biblique, Roberto Spataro, Head of the Salesian Theological Centre, Father Alain Marchadour and Father Frans Bouwen.
Sincere thanks to all for their participation were expressed in the conclusion by Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land. Father Pizzaballa recalled that it was the Custody of the Holy Land that created a Seminary of its own in 1866, which subsequently became Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum, and in 1924 the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum now the Faculty o Biblical Science and Archaeology and an important part of the Antonianum Pontifical University: “The Custody,” said Father Pierbattista, “consciously and willingly takes on the burdens and responsibilities from its commitment to support, economically and with personnel, these two academic institutions. And, whilst it offers special thanks to those who work there as formators, teachers, researchers and collaborators, it also encourages and supports all the students who attend it.”
In his introduction, Father Claudio Bottini listed the multiple academic results as well as the many publications and cultural initiatives of the Studium Biblicum, also giving some statistics: “Last academic year, ten students completed the first cycle, obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree and 10 were awarded a Degree in Biblical Sciences and Archaeology. One student took a Doctorate, discussing and publishing his thesis. In this regard, it is comforting to note that all our graduates so far have completed their studies publishing at least a “Pars dissertationis”. “At the start of this new academic year, a total of 124 students are enrolled in the Faculty as follows: 40 are enrolled in the two years of Philosophy and four years of Theology; 84 in the cycles of specialization in Biblical Science and Archaeology. Forty-five of them are taking courses for the degree and 16 for the doctorate; the remainder are enrolled for diplomas or are extraordinary students… Our students come from various parts of the world and mainly from dioceses and religious congregations. There are various laity, men and women, and we also have students belonging to Orthodox churches.”
The solemn inauguration of the Academic Year was however afflicted by a sudden and tragic event: just a few minutes before the start, the Emeritus Professor of the Studium, Father Lino Cignelli collapsed and in a few minutes passed away in the Auditorium of St. Saviour, despite the first aid of his brothers and the paramedical personnel of the Custody’s infirmary. “It was my intention to offer to God this moment in memory of Father Piccirillo,” Mons. Forte said at the start of his speech, “and I now add Father Lino who is close to us in the communion of the saints.
Father Cignelli was a theologian of that Word which touches our hearts and lives.” The memory of Father Cignelli was echoed several times in an exemplary way in the margin of the address by the archbishop on The Holy Scripture, soul of Theology: “The fundamental status of theology is a status of eschatology and pilgrimage.
The acceptance of the Word prepares and thus anticipates in time the last time, when words will disappear, received in the single Word, embraced by the Silence of the Home, where the new canticle of those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will at last sound. Father Lino is now contemplating what he studied and meditated on throughout his whole life.
This is why continuing our encounter with the Word has been a way of honouring him, he who devoted all his life to the Word.”. Mons. Forte had previously recalled a similar tragic situation, when he gave a keynote lecture in Rome shortly after having been informed of the death of his own father.
Father Lino Cignelli, Friar Minor, held a degree in Greek patristics, and taught patrology and dogmatic theology at the Theological Centre of Porziuncola and the Umbrian Regional Seminary of Assisi from 1961 to 1969. In the same period he also taught classical Greek in the Franciscan lycée of his religious Province. In 1971, he moved to Jerusalem and the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum where he taught patristics and Biblical Greek until the academic year 2005-2006. Since 2007, he had been Emeritus Professor. He produced monographs and scientific articles and he also devoted himself to publishing works of initiation on the spiritual reading of the Bible.
Friar Riccardo Ceriani
Studying the Word in Jerusalem like those who put it into practice leads to a decision and a life that is not simply cognitive but performing, where the heart is touched; our theological work is necessary to make God grow in the hearts of believers.” These are only a couple of the numerous “asides” that the theologian and archbishop of Chieti-Vasto, Mons. Bruno Forte, gave to teachers and students during his inaugural speech of the 2010-2011 Academic Year of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum (Faculty of Biblical Science and Archaeology and Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum) held on Monday 8th November in the Auditorium of the Convent of St. Saviour in Jerusalem.
As the Dean of the Faculty, Father Claudio Bottini said “Archbishop Bruno loves Jerusalem and the Holy Land where he periodically comes as a pilgrim, bringing with him faithful from his extensive diocese in the Abruzzi region. I can add to all this that he gladly and enthusiastically accepted the invitation to return for our inaugural lecture. I thank him for this together with the whole Faculty.”
The guests present included Mons. Antonio Franco, Nonce and Apostolic Delegate, Mons. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Auxiliary Bishop and Patriarchal Vicar for Israel, the representatives of the academic institutions of Jerusalem, Father Hervé Ponsot, Director of the Ecole Biblique, Roberto Spataro, Head of the Salesian Theological Centre, Father Alain Marchadour and Father Frans Bouwen.
Sincere thanks to all for their participation were expressed in the conclusion by Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos of the Holy Land. Father Pizzaballa recalled that it was the Custody of the Holy Land that created a Seminary of its own in 1866, which subsequently became Studium Theologicum Jerosolymitanum, and in 1924 the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum now the Faculty o Biblical Science and Archaeology and an important part of the Antonianum Pontifical University: “The Custody,” said Father Pierbattista, “consciously and willingly takes on the burdens and responsibilities from its commitment to support, economically and with personnel, these two academic institutions. And, whilst it offers special thanks to those who work there as formators, teachers, researchers and collaborators, it also encourages and supports all the students who attend it.”
In his introduction, Father Claudio Bottini listed the multiple academic results as well as the many publications and cultural initiatives of the Studium Biblicum, also giving some statistics: “Last academic year, ten students completed the first cycle, obtaining the Bachelor’s Degree and 10 were awarded a Degree in Biblical Sciences and Archaeology. One student took a Doctorate, discussing and publishing his thesis. In this regard, it is comforting to note that all our graduates so far have completed their studies publishing at least a “Pars dissertationis”. “At the start of this new academic year, a total of 124 students are enrolled in the Faculty as follows: 40 are enrolled in the two years of Philosophy and four years of Theology; 84 in the cycles of specialization in Biblical Science and Archaeology. Forty-five of them are taking courses for the degree and 16 for the doctorate; the remainder are enrolled for diplomas or are extraordinary students… Our students come from various parts of the world and mainly from dioceses and religious congregations. There are various laity, men and women, and we also have students belonging to Orthodox churches.”
The solemn inauguration of the Academic Year was however afflicted by a sudden and tragic event: just a few minutes before the start, the Emeritus Professor of the Studium, Father Lino Cignelli collapsed and in a few minutes passed away in the Auditorium of St. Saviour, despite the first aid of his brothers and the paramedical personnel of the Custody’s infirmary. “It was my intention to offer to God this moment in memory of Father Piccirillo,” Mons. Forte said at the start of his speech, “and I now add Father Lino who is close to us in the communion of the saints.
Father Cignelli was a theologian of that Word which touches our hearts and lives.” The memory of Father Cignelli was echoed several times in an exemplary way in the margin of the address by the archbishop on The Holy Scripture, soul of Theology: “The fundamental status of theology is a status of eschatology and pilgrimage.
The acceptance of the Word prepares and thus anticipates in time the last time, when words will disappear, received in the single Word, embraced by the Silence of the Home, where the new canticle of those redeemed by the blood of the Lamb will at last sound. Father Lino is now contemplating what he studied and meditated on throughout his whole life.
This is why continuing our encounter with the Word has been a way of honouring him, he who devoted all his life to the Word.”. Mons. Forte had previously recalled a similar tragic situation, when he gave a keynote lecture in Rome shortly after having been informed of the death of his own father.
Father Lino Cignelli, Friar Minor, held a degree in Greek patristics, and taught patrology and dogmatic theology at the Theological Centre of Porziuncola and the Umbrian Regional Seminary of Assisi from 1961 to 1969. In the same period he also taught classical Greek in the Franciscan lycée of his religious Province. In 1971, he moved to Jerusalem and the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum where he taught patristics and Biblical Greek until the academic year 2005-2006. Since 2007, he had been Emeritus Professor. He produced monographs and scientific articles and he also devoted himself to publishing works of initiation on the spiritual reading of the Bible.
Friar Riccardo Ceriani