THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN
WORLD
Gaudium et Spes was promulgated by Pope St. Paul VI on the Solemnity
of the Immaculate Conception in 1965. It
was the last of the four great Constitutions produced by the fathers of the
Second Vatican Council. Vatican
documents are named by the first few words of the document, which in this case
are “Joy and hope.” It is known in
English as “The Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World.” It is written not only to the faithful but to
all people, inviting a dialogue with modern men and women of faith or no faith,
and offering guidance for how the world might respond to the many challenges it
faces as the result of modern progress.
Specific topics include marriage and the family, the proper development
of culture, economic development, government and politics, peace, and the
community of nations. The Church’s view
of human beings as having inestimable dignity and value is the foundation of
all that it recommends.
Circumstances have changed, including the rise and
fall of nations, since Gaudium et Spes was promulgated fifty-seven years
ago. However, the problems which the
Church addresses in it remain with us today, and so this highest level of
magisterial teaching remains relevant.
In his apostolic letter Novo Millenio Inuente (“At the Beginning
of The New Millennium”) Pope St. John Paul II stated that the documents of
Vatican II remain “a sure compass” to guide us into the third millennium. A theme of Pope Benedict XVI’s pontificate
was to foster a more profound and proper implementation of its teachings in the
life of the Church, and Pope Francis has said that to be with the Church one
must be with the Second Vatican Council.
Bishop Robert Barron has stated that rejection of the Council itself,
rather than the way in which it was implemented, “cuts against the very
integrity of the Church.”
As both verbal and physical attacks on Christians
increase in our society, we must consider where and how to stand for what is
true. I mentioned in my homilies last
weekend that we need to accept the warning of the apostles Paul and Barnabas
that “through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts
14:22). The answer of where, and how, is
in large part laid out for us in Gaudium et Spes. We need to be able to do what St. Peter
exhorts us to do in his letter, when he writes, “But even if you do suffer for
righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed.
Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts reverence
Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to
make a defense to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you,
yet do it with gentleness and reverence; and keep your conscience clear, so
that when you are abused, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be
put to shame” (1 Pt 3:14-16). This
coming from a man who was scourged and arrested more than once for preaching
the gospel, and finally was crucified upside-down on the Vatican hill in Rome.
In order to strengthen our conviction and our courage,
and to have a ready defense for anyone who challenges us on public issues about
which the Church takes a firm stand, I will be writing in the next few articles
about the teaching of Gaudium et Spes.
If you want to do some homework you can easily look it up on the
internet to read it for yourself. The
Vatican provides a full translation in English of all sixteen documents of the
Second Vatican Council at:
https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm.
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