Transcript PAPAL ENCYCLS

ENCYCLICALS
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Circular letter
Addresses Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops
Addresses Bishops of the Universal Church
Addresses matters that affect the welfare of the
church at large
• Documents that are written in order to address
and speak to the needs of the times, such as,
Vatican II documents
EXAMPLES
• GAUDIEM ET SPES- THE CHURCH IN THE
MODERN WORLD
• PACEM IN TERRIS- PEACE ON EARTH
• POPULORUM PROGRESSIO- THE
DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLES
• HUMANAE VITAE- OF HUMAN LIFE
How Not to Read Encyclicals
1. They are not an exercise in speed
reading
2. They are not just to be read
3. Reading it once is not enough
How to Read Encyclicals
1. Have a Bible and a dictionary on hand
2. They are to be studied
3. They have been written for the Universal
Church
4. For the first time reader:
a. use them for Spiritual reading
b. meditate on them
c. check out the Scriptural references
PASTORAL
LETTERS
• Open letter addressed by a Bishop to the Clergy
or Laity of his Diocese
• Contains either general admonition, instruction,
consolation
• Directions for behavior in particular
circumstances
• Sent out regularly at particular ecclesiastical
seasons such as Fasts (Advent or Lent)
• Often called a Pastoral
EXAMPLES
• PASTORAL STATEMENT OF U.S.
CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES NOV. 16, 1978
• PASTORAL STATEMENT FOR
CATHOLICS ON BIBLICAL
FUNDAMENTALISM – NATIONAL
CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC BISHOPS AD
HOC COMMITTEE ON BIBLICAL
FUNDAMENTALISM
VATICAN II DOCUMENTS
1962- 1965
• THERE ARE 16 DOCUMENTS :
• 4 CONSTITUTIONS:THE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE
DOCUMENTS
DEI VERBUM- DIVINE REVELATION
LUMEN GENTIUM- CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
GAUDIUM ET SPES- CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM- SACRED LITURGY
NINE DECREES
• INTER MIRIFICA- MEANS OF SOCIAL
COMMUNICATION
• ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM- CATHOLIC
CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE
• UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO- ECUMENISM
• CHRISTUS DOMINUS- PASTORAL OFFICE OF
BISHOPS IN TH CHURCH
• PERFECTAE CARITATIS- RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS
LIFE
• OPTATUM TOTIUS- PRIESTLY TRAINING
• APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM- APOSTOLATE OF
THE LAITY
• AD GENTES- MISSION ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH
• PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS- MINISTRY AND LIFE
OF PRIESTS
THREE DECLARATIONS
• GRAVISSIMUM EDUCATIONISCHRISTIAN EDUCATION
• NOSTRA AETATE- RELATION OF THE
CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN
RELIGIONS
• DIGNITATIS HUMANAE- RELIGIOUS
FREEDOM
LUMEN GENTIUM
“LIGHT OF THE NATIONS”
• SECULAR FRANCISCANS ARE
ENCOURAGED TO READ LUMEN GENTIUM
• ALSO CALLED “DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION
ON THE CHURCH”
• FR. BENET A. FONCK, OFM RECOMMENDS
THIS DOCUMENT IN HIS FORMATION BOOK
“FULLY MATURE WITH THE FULLNESS OF
CHRIST”
• ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL DOCUMENTS OF
VATICAN II
CHAPTERS OF
LUMEN GENTIUM
• 1) THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
• Describes how the church flows out of the life of the
Trinity.
• Offers a variety of Biblical images for the church. The
church is like a sheepfold, farm, field, building, God’s
Temple etc.
• 2) ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD
• It was favored over the more abstract view of the church
as the mystical body of Christ
• The threefold work of Christ as priest, prophet and king
illuminates the work of the whole people of God
CHAPTERS OF
LUMEN GENTIUM
3) HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH
The most hotly debated issue in this document was the issue of
collegiality.
Emphasized the particular church (diocese) and the role of the
Bishop
Restores the diaconate as a permanent order in the church and
opens it up to married men
4) LAITY
Members of the faithful that are not in holy orders or religious life
Secular characteristic “ it is the special vocation of the laity to seek
the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing
them according to God’s will.
lay people typically work in the world, raise families, and hold
secular jobs.
CHAPTERS OF
LUMEN GENTIUM
• 5) THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
IN THE CHURCH
• This is for all peoples and love is the way
we respond to this call
• 6) RELIGIOUS
• Members of religious orders embrace these ideals in a
public and permanent way.
• They are a sign to the world ,a witness that inspires the
whole church to holiness
CHAPTERS OF
LUMEN GENTIUM
• 7) THE PILGRIM CHURCH
• Eschatological nature of the church
• We are a pilgrim people, still on the way to the reign of
God
• 8) OUR LADY
• Mary is a big part of Christ’s work in salvation
• Mary also is one of the first disciples
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS?
• 1) WHAT IMAGES OF THE CHURCH RESONATE WITH
YOU? WHY?
• 2) ARE YOU DRAWN MORE TO THE MODEL OF THE
CHURCH AS PEOPLE OF GOD OR CHURCH AS
COMMUNION?
• 3)WHAT TEACHINGS DO YOU SEE AS ESSENTIAL
TO THE FAITH?
• 4) WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF CHURCH LIFE IN YOUR
OWN PARISH OR DIOCESE THAT CALL FOR
GREATER COLLABORATION?