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PDF versionVatican II themes: The church as an eschatological community
by Richard McBrien on Aug. 22, 2011
A sixth, and final, ecclesiological principle articulated by the Second Vatican Council is embodied in its teaching that the church is not an end in itself, but that it exists always and only for the sake of the Reign, or Kingdom, of God. In other words, the Church is an eschatological community.
The church is “already” and “not yet” within the Reign of God. Insofar as it is “already” within God’s Reign, it is itself a mystery, or sacrament, and an object of faith (“I believe in the Church.”).
Insofar as it is “not yet” within the Reign of God, it is a sinful church on pilgrimage through history, holy but always in need of penance, renewal, and reform.
The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et spes) expressed it succinctly: “The Church has but one sole purpose–that the Kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished” (n. 45).
As I pointed out in my book, The Church: The Evolution of Catholicism, everything that the church is and does is always subordinate to and in service of the coming Reign, or Kingdom, of God (p. 180).
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Over the past few weeks, Fr. McBrien's columns have explored the major ecclesiological themes or principles proclaimed at the Second Vatican Council.
Vatican II themes: The church as mystery, or sacrament
Vatican II themes: The people of God
Vatican II themes: The church as servant
Vatican II themes: The church as communion
Vatican II themes: The church is ecumenical
Vatican II themes: The church as an eschatological community
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This conciliar teaching was in sharp contrast to the widespread preconciliar assumption that the church is the Kingdom of God on earth. Thus, the parables of the Kingdom were regularly interpreted by preachers, catechists, and even some theologians as parables of the church.
The tendency to equate the church with the Kingdom of God was denounced as a form of “triumphalism” in a famous intervention at Vatican II by the late Bishop Emile Jozef De Smedt of Bruges, Belgium.
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Article 5 was added to the Dogmatic Constitution on the church (Lumen gentium) precisely to counteract this residual habit of equating the church with the Kingdom of God.
Just as Jesus came to announce, personify, and bring about the Kingdom of God, so too the church exists to proclaim, witness to, and help establish the Kingdom on earth and to facilitate its fulfillment at the end of history.
But unlike Jesus, the church cannot claim to be itself the Kingdom of God. It is at most “the seed and the beginning of that Kingdom. While it slowly grows to maturity, the Church longs for the completed Kingdom and, with all its strength, hopes and desires to be united in glory with its king” (n. 5).
The whole of chapter 7 of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church is devoted to the eschatological nature of the church under the title, “The Pilgrim Church.”
The church is “the universal sacrament of salvation,” existing in “the final age of the world,” whose renewal is “irrevocably under way.” The church is already enlivened by the Holy Spirit and in communion with the Lord, but it still belongs to the present age and “carries the mark of this world which will pass” (n. 48).
On the other hand, some of the church’s members have already died and are enjoying the fullness of eternal glory in heaven. These constitute the church triumphant in the communion of saints.
They become for the church on earth (known in the post-Reformation tradition as the church militant) exemplars and models of Christian discipleship and sanctity and as such are signs of the Kingdom and a “cloud of witnesses” to it (n. 50).
The pastoral implications of understanding the church as an eschatological community include the readiness of church members to criticize their official leaders publicly in their exposure of church faults such as the sexual-abuse scandal in the priesthood, and in their various efforts to bring about structural change in the church regarding, for example, the way in which bishops are selected and in the standards of eligibility for ordination to the priesthood.
Alas, church members have had much less success in the matter of structural change.
In fact, the Catholic Church is going through a particularly difficult period of its history. Although the pontificates of John Paul II and Benedict XVI have made good-faith efforts to serve the church as faithfully as possible, their appointments to the episcopacy and promotions within it have transformed the pastoral leadership of the church in ways that many Catholics have found exceedingly troublesome.
A smaller group of Catholics, who chafed under the pontificates of John XXIII and Paul VI, are delighted with the conservative turn in the life of the Catholic Church.
The former can only place their trust and their hope in the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, many of them will not live to experience the church’s new Pentecost. But it will come.
© 2011 Richard P. McBrien. All rights reserved. Fr. McBrien is the Crowley-O'Brien Professor of Theology at the University of Notre Dame.
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It's problematic to speak of
It's problematic to speak of the Church as sinful since the Church has both human & divine elements. In its human element the Church is indeed sinful & surely there are members of the Reprobate (those foreseen to damnation) who are members of the Church on earth. But in its divine element it cannot be seen as sinful. It is important to qualify when one speaks of the sinful reality (even damnation) of one aspect (human) of the Church.
Of course crystal clarity in terms of Catholic thinking has gone the way of the do-do bird. The problem is that the reality underneath the ambiguity is still crystal clear & many Catholics will perish in the flames. One of the prayers of the Novus Ordo Mass in the canon is "Save us from final damnation." This should be the prayer of all liberals for they by their dissent & disobedience are indeed on the path to hell!
It is a good thing, Paulte,
It is a good thing, Paulte, that most readers of this blog recognize you for who you are and simply disregard the content of your messages.
Thank you, Fr. McBrien for all the wonderful articles you have shared with us over the years. It is because of you and others who report thru NCR that many of us still remain Catholic.
Dear Anonymous: You are
Dear Anonymous:
You are indeed correct that most just pass over this person's blogs (code name paulte) because these postings are intemperate, disrespectful and not worthy of response. I would hope that the moderator would cut them.
"I would hope that the
"I would hope that the moderator would cut them."
Like most folks on here, I regard most of the comments from "paulte" as disgusting. There are even times when his input is factually wrong, e.g., when he once insisted that Christians regularly worshiped in the catacombs (I then quoted three sources to show him wrong).
I say, Let "paulte" continue to offer his outrageous comments. Freedom of expression. The rest of us can choose to ignore them --- or refute them if it's appropriate/necessary.
I very much agree. In
I very much agree. In addition, I pray that the Holy Spirit, of whom paulte is so certain of its comings and goings (e.g., leaving when Vatican II started!!!) will move him to more closely follow in Christ's footsteps rather than clogging along in his own outdated and ill-fitting boots!
Wow! Thank God I believe in
Wow! Thank God I believe in God's mercy and I am not at the mercy of these judges on earth! ...
Should not that be the prayer
Should not that be the prayer of all of us? Thanks.
"Judge not, lest in so doing
"Judge not, lest in so doing you judge yourself."
That's a pretty good guide; and it comes
with literally impeccable Authority.
Paulte,thanks for telling me
Paulte,thanks for telling me that I'm on the path to hell. It seems to me that God gave us the ability to think critically,i.e. to dissent when an upright conscience tells us to. After all, don't you dissent from the ideas of liberal Catholics? Come to think of it, our religion was founded by one who dissented from many of the religious teachings ans practices of his day.
If I am on the path to hell, then may the Holy Spirit correct me. But it won't be because I dissent.
Beware, your final statement
Beware, your final statement of condemnation of "liberals" measures the limitation of your love. I find no love in such haughty attitudes you express in limiting God's love to only your dogmatic style. The Creator of Life is much more diversified in his creation.
So liberals go to Hell, and
So liberals go to Hell, and Trads don't? Who told you this? We shall find out soon enough. I suspect we may be in for some surprises.
And what has happened to
And what has happened to Jesus' injunction: "Judge not less you be judged."? I don't think of that as a liberal or conservative statement on Jesus' part. Perhaps if we chose to live and speak with the Gospel values in mind there would be no need for "camps" in the Catholic Church. If we get out from under theology and get involved in serving others who are in need we won't notice their conservative or liberal bent and we will find that such is of little consequence in the long run. "Love one another as I have loved you," says the Lord.
Amen!!!
Amen!!!
Oh, Good God Almighty! I
Oh, Good God Almighty!
I suspect, paulte, that that unrepentant sinner is gonna' have his own little heavenly cloud and pair of heavenly wings just like you. And I bet ya', furthermore, that he'll beat you in a celestial race to the finish line. Why? Because he'll want to have a good time racing ya' while you're busy counting all those other sinners who, darnit, shouldn't be up there with good people like paulte!
I mean, paulte, it just isn't fair for people who sinned in this life to enjoy the heavenly reward set aside for obedient people like you, is it?
"That's not fair, Daddy!", said the little kid.
"Of course life is not fair, Kiddo. A fair is a fancy country picnic!"
Yes, the sinners will be having a great time in heaven while the self-righteous are too busy doing beancounting.
Darnit.
It just ain't fair, God.
But remember the parable
But remember the parable about the laborers. The ones that started late got the same pay as those who worked all day.
Here is the reply to the grumbling by the laborers found in Matthew 20.
"And on receiving it they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last ones worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who bore the day’s burden and the heat.’ He said to one of them in reply, ‘My friend, I am not cheating you.* Did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what is yours and go. What if I wish to give this last one the same as you? [Or] am I not free to do as I wish with my own money? Are you envious because I am generous?’ Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
So there is hope for all of us even those who arrive late.
I liked the mental picture of someone "bean counting" in heaven but not able to enjoy it. Now that would be hell.
You were doing so good until
You were doing so good until that last line where you passed judgement on the liberals, many of whom are true Catholics trying to bring about a reformation the Church desperately needs. Judge not, etc.....?
Anyone or any institution
Anyone or any institution that thinks he/she/it has all the answers will never grow in their understanding of the divine mystery or in their own spirituality!"Crystal clairity" is not the stuff of growth and leads to death. Keep in mind that all those "liberals" who dissent may be doing so in good conscience and are in then held in the goodness of God along with St. Joan of Arc and numerous other saints who were considered dissents!
Paulte , By establishing your
Paulte , By establishing your twisted and perverted view of "orthodoxy" as an unquestioning storm trooper dedicated to the Benedictine "magisterium", just be certain you have secured your own salvation and less concerned,as the late Rev. Jerry Falwell was and Pat Robertson still is in establishing criteria others must meet to ensure their eternal salvation. Look to your own allegiance to the gospels first and foremost.
Dear A O'Connell, All Paulte
Dear A O'Connell, All Paulte is pointing out has been spoken about for years by people like Saint Benedict, Saint Augustine, Saint Thomas More, Saint Thomas Auquinas, and Blessed John Paul II. Catholics do not suscribe to abortion, contraception, divorce, adultry, encouraging others to sin, and we are especially true to the Ten Commandments. Many on this board have informed us that with God there is no sin, only Love. We do not paint any people as Liberal or Conservative. Each of us paint ourselves by our comments. Paulte is not being judgmental, just stating facts. Peace be with you MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU saith the LORD.
"Catholics do not subscribe
"Catholics do not subscribe to..."
Speak for yourself, Mr. Warren.
I "subscribe" to abortion necessary to save a woman's life. Yes, I support killing an unborn child when his/her continued development in the mother's womb is going to kill the mother. It's called self-defense.
I "subscribe" to contraception --- just like those hypocritical Catholics who use NFP to prevent pregnancies!
I "subscribe" to divorce when it's necessary to protect the financial assets of the innocent party/parties from lawsuits/legal actions brought about by the irresponsible/dangerous behaviors of the guilty party.
On the other hand, I "condemn" adultery, especially that committed by respected members of the Catholic community, i.e., guys who give lots of money to build grottos, chapels, hospitals, schools, etc. --- but don't hesitate to "get it on the side" because their wives are no longer responsive to the husband's sexual needs/desires.
There is sin, to be sure, but there is also a God whose unconditional love is necessary for any healing to take place. It is only through this healing that a wayward sinner can repent.
Contrary to your assertion, Catholics ARE NOT "especially true to the Ten Commandments" anymore than any other body of Christians.
Let's get over this self-adulation.
Dear Joseph Jaglowicz, Often
Dear Joseph Jaglowicz, Often we are entrapped by our own words. Within the past year you stated in one of your epistles that you are now attending the Episcopal Church. You have your reasons. When anyone joins a Church which honors dogma which is not Catholic one cannot possibly say what his/her former religion believes because the new belief system dictates his/her words and actions.
Dear Joseph Jaglowicz, Years
Dear Joseph Jaglowicz, Years ago I grew up in a Polish neighborhood and was inspired by many Polish friends. Much of what I wrote above was taken from their example. Sadly hatred for them must be at the base of your comments. Most of these people participated at daily Mass and nightly devotions, prayed the rosary on a daily basis, participated as Instructors in CCD classes, cared for the sick and elderly in the neighborhood and generally led very outstanding saintly lives. I cherish the memories and thank GOD and these good people for their example!
1.5 million young people
1.5 million young people turned out yesterday to celebrate Eucharist with Pope Benedict. If you're lucky, 50,000 old people will read your columns. Sounds like the new Pentecost already happened, and you got left out again.
"...and you got left out
"...and you got left out again."
Oh, what a heavenly comment.
(offered in sarcasm)
Yes, a lot of young people
Yes, a lot of young people turned out to see the Pope; they also turn out to see the latest teen age idol! The real test of what World Youth Day will be how many of those young people will be more loving, more giving, more generous in their world when they return to their homes. It would be a wonderful study to follow those who attend and see it WYD makes a difference in the their life next a year from now or will they still be celebrating Eucharist when they are 30 years old.
Kate would you please cite
Kate would you please cite the Gospel passage from Jesus where He denigrates elder generations as a part of His Way? By the way, when Joseph Ratzinger was just another theologian on his way up the academic ranks, he was a true liberal. That changed the more power and rank he accrued.
Here's a Jesus quote for you: "What does it profit a man to gain the entire world if he loses his soul?" I think Jesus meant this metaphorically, that when we pursuit wealth and power we lose our connection with mystery and creation, settling for safety and security. This is what gives me pause about what the restorationists are about. They are divorcing Catholicism from it's connection with mystery and creation for the sake of tradition, safety, and security.
a new Pentecost..... I sure
a new Pentecost..... I sure hope so
the Kingdom of heaven, I
the Kingdom of heaven, I continue to believe, is the "other side" of everything. It is the love of God trying to reach us each moment, hoping to penetrate our reluctance, sinfulness and habits. It is ALWAYS coming, this reign of Jesus. The Church is map and signposts, guide and helper, community and Spirit--all pushing and tugging us to wake up, come alive, stop blindness and deafness to this Love offered.
the Church--the community of the church--is primarily all of these--these signposts, guides, etc., and the hierarchy and particularly the "pontifex Maximus," (the title Julius Caesar himself made as permanent role for the "supreme leader" of the [Roman] community)--their task is to be exactly that--eschatological in the sense that they are the meant to be the "final" signs that reveal the explosion of love which makes us healers, "hopers," and wise in seeing the paradoxes of our limited, terrestrial existence before we die.
Thank you for this Father
Thank you for this Father McBrien. The conservative movement in the Church is troubling and "trimphalism" has returned in some areas. We see the trouble in the selection of bishops that do not have a propensity for progressive change. Nevertheless, with writers like Father McBrien, there is hope for the future. The new Pentacost is very much anticipated.
May the New Pentecost come
May the New Pentecost come very soon.
JR
And as far as the "Kingdom of
And as far as the "Kingdom of God" goes, this term has never been officially defined by the Church. Although I agree that the Kingdom of God should not be equated with the Church since the human element of the Church is sinful, the Church has a connection to the Kingdom of God. Fr McBrien seems to imply that the Kingdom of God is different than the Church. Now he doesn't actually say this so I won't throw a rock at him here.
Consider though that the the intersection of any sinfulness at all to include temptation with the Kingdom of God is the empty set. So the Kingdom of God (at least at this point) is heaven. When the world ends & all the Reprobate (both inside the Church & out) are swept into the flames of hell & Satan & his devils are finally chained there, the Kingdom of God will appear on the new earth. But it is only at the end of time that the Kingdom of God will show up on the earth. Prior to that it will only be in heaven.
However (& this is theological speculation on my part), it is possible for individuals on the earth to be in the Kingdom of God when they are in the state of grace in a transient & imperfect way. I say only transient since even in a state of grace a person could still sin venially, be tempted by the devil & still have an attachment to past sins. The Church on the earth in her finest moments can be seen as a process of moving & directing people towards the Kingdom of God which in the final analysis is attained by a human in perfect love with God & this can only happen in heaven.
the Reign of Heaven is within
the Reign of Heaven is within us, and amongst us, in our Love, as God is Love, and lies in our demonstrating our Love in feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, healing the sick, in the breaking of the bread, in this Love made Real, bringing real Good News to the Poor.
Our Love is our Church.
Not the building, not the administrators of the moment, but our Love.
Love???Is that why you call
Love???Is that why you call the holy father Joe Ratzinger and Ratzi and have similar disrespect for other people whose opinions you disgaree with??????
Paulte, Jesus said the
Paulte, Jesus said the Kingdom of God is within. We are surrounded by the Kingdom of God, it is in us and with us and around us. At least for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear--and a mind and heart open to this truth.
...and St. Catherine of
...and St. Catherine of Sienna wrote "all the way to heaven is heaven because he said 'I am the way'".
The kingdom of heaven is like
The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. The kingdom of heaven is like yeast. The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field. The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. The kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea.
The Gospels say that Jesus said these things, BUT OH, you say, we have to wait until the Church OFFICIALLY defines it.
As far as a new Pentecost, we
As far as a new Pentecost, we are told that we had one with the Second Vatican Council & its alleged outpouring of the Spirit. All the Second Vatican Council really did was usher in a priestly sexual abuse crisis which was revealed in the third secret of Fatima. This is the fruit of the Council. The Spirit withdrew from the Church during the time of the Council. This is why it taught error on a number of issues. Rather than a new Pentecost, the Catholic Church needs a Second Counter-Reformation!
Please, the clergy child
Please, the clergy child abuse did not originate during the time of Vatican II; it preceded it by decades. Are you the judge of when the spirit acts and when the spirit doesn't act? Wow,what gives you that right? I think you see the spirit acting when the spirit acts according to paulte's thinking and beliefs!
Actually the sexual abuse has
Actually the sexual abuse has been with us for centuries. Now we cannot hide it. Say something on the Internet and it can viral which means every ones sees it.
The next scandal that has been on going for some time is financial abuse starting in the parish office to the curia in Rome. Scary but the Holy Spirit is making us accountable. It is tough being a Christian these days. We have to stop, to look and listen. Then we have think and take a stand on things.
Life is so simple for children but much more complex when we are adults. Thank God for his mercy.
Paulte, you probably should
Paulte, you probably should have deleted this comment. Off hand I can't think of one Marian vision in which she didn't have pointed words about the corruption in the clergy. Not to mention if your comment is true, which it's not, it means she's gotten confused in time and is about one thousand years behind St. Damien.
Paulte, while you are busy
Paulte, while you are busy deciding who will be part of the Kingdom or whose sins are mortal or venial, the question at the Last Judgment, according to Matthew, won't be about sins commited but about how we have cared for the poor, the hungry, those lacking food and shelter, and the foreigners.
Loving Christ in them takes precedence over everything else!
The bottom line Methchild is
The bottom line Methchild is whether or not someone is in the state of mortal sin or not at the time of death. The parable of the Last Judgment doesn't change that. If you take the parables strictly then half of humanity goes to hell according to this parable. The implication is that the crowd is split in half & please note it is those on the "left" who end up in Ghenna!
paulte on Aug. 25, 2011. The
paulte on Aug. 25, 2011.
The bottom line Methchild is whether or not someone is in the state of mortal sin or not at the time of death. The parable of the Last Judgment doesn't change that. If you take the parables strictly then half of humanity goes to hell according to this parable. The implication is that the crowd is split in half & please note it is those on the "left" who end up in Ghenna!
---------------------------------
Those who are on the 'left' are those that Christ
puts on the left---not those paulte places there.
Apparent contradictions in
Apparent contradictions in McB’s thoughts: not ready and not yet?
1. He is adamant in insisting that the Church “is not” the kingdom of God, just as he insisted that the Church “is not” "the one, true church of Christ" because according to him “Vatican II decisively changed that mentality.” He wrote: “The tendency to equate the church with the Kingdom of God was denounced…,” “the church cannot claim to be itself the Kingdom of God…” On the other hand, he did acknowledge/conceded (somewhat reluctantly) that it is only ‘at most’ (his own words & emphasis) “the seed and the beginning of that Kingdom (LG 5).”
2. McB’s view of the kingdom of God and the Church’s work/purpose is very other-worldly: thus the Church is “….in service of the coming Reign, or Kingdom, of God (p. 180).” Notice the term “coming Reign.” On the other hand, his view of the Church is also very anthropocentric, e.g., his understanding of "people of God" (“It is first and foremost people…. The church is us"), and “servant” church (“service to human needs in the social, economic, and political orders”).
3. McB describes the Church on earth as ”sinful church” just as he has expressed his other favorite theme of “servant church.” However, one wonders how his “theology” of the “sinful church” squares with the belief in the “holy” Catholic Church?
4. It appears that for McB, the entire “eschatological community” consists of only church “triumphant” and church “militant.” He seems to have left out those in purgatory. Supposedly, for him the transition of all faithful from the Church on earth (sinful church) to “triumphant” church is quite direct.
5. While he asserts that “everything that the church is and does is always subordinate to and in service of the coming Reign,” ironically, his proposed “implications” for the church on earth as eschatological community are exclusively of personal and “personnel” related matters (e.g., able to criticize official leaders publicly, call for structural changes in bishop selection, changes in appointment and promotion to episcopacy, and eligibility for ordination). These seems to be very “down-to-earth” issues that presumably can better serve “the coming Kingdom”?
6. It is apparent that McB and his supporters (other like-minded liberal crowd, e.g., self-style, self-serving, free-wheeling “theologians”) are sincere in their wish for a “new Pentecost,” one that is of their own choosing and wanting. Perhaps they really believed that these wish-for changes can better promote and advance their political and ideological agenda.
You have succeeded in
You have succeeded in distorting the entire essay of Fr. McBrien's in ways you accuse him of doing - a restricted, self-serving and biased, personal interpretation. Your own true agenda is revealed in your last point - you cast it all in a we-vs-them (liberal-vs-conservative) confrontation and, as a result, add nothing of worth. Unfortunate.
You got it Albertus. What is
You got it Albertus. What is scary is that someone who spews such poor quality scholarship would have actually been the head of the theology department of a major catholic university. It shows the sorry state of education in recent years.
One has to wonder why, if
One has to wonder why, if Jesus knew that dogma and exact theological understanding would be so important for us to attain our salvation, he didn't just quote the Summa to his disciples. Seems rather ineffecient to wait so many centuries for Thomas Aquinas to spread the Refined Good News.
Folks, were making this stuff as we go along. This is why Jesus not only told told Peter, "what you bind on earth is bound in heaven" but also "what you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven". He knew we'd tie ourselves up in theological knots, so he told us it would okay to loosen those knots if we needed to.
That's why the whole papal infallibility debate is moot. If Pope Benedict tomorrow declared that Mary's was not an immmaculate conception it would be no big deal. Jesus assured us we can loosen the knot. Even the wisest theologian among us, whether it's Rahner, Kung or Ratzinger -- is punching so far above his weight it's not even funny.
Yes, follow reason -- but never mistake it for the wisdom that comes from carrying a Cross.
To Paulte and all those who
To Paulte and all those who disagree with Fr. McBrien:
There is a vast difference between disagreeing and judging. It seems to me that those who declare themselves the self-righteious guardian of the Truth are very quick to point fingers and condemn those who disagree with them. Where is the respect in some of these posts? Should you care to examine the life and death of Jesus the Christ, you will find that he was the ultimate "radical lover." I guess that means that he was as liberal as a human being can be since he was the only perfect man. You fail to remember that Jesus came to correct the error in the beliefs of His people, the Jews. He did not create a "Church." He never intended to create a "Church." Please think before you put to papeer statements that are untrue and hateful. Reflection is a wonderful virtue. Lau Deo!
>>Jesus came to correct the
>>Jesus came to correct the error in the beliefs of His people, the Jews. He did not create a "Church." He never intended to create a "Church."
-- your mean:
1. Jesus came to save the Jews only, his Gospel is not for the gentiles? Should all people (Christians included) joins Judaism (corrected version) instead?
2. He "never" intented and "did not' found the Church?
Why does CCC teaches: "771 "The one mediator, Christ, established and ever sustains here on earth his holy Church" ?
As I ended my
As I ended my comment,"Reflection is a wonderful virtue. Laus Deo! "
We all need to love Jesus and follow His way more closely.
The CCC is a doctrinal text.
The CCC is a doctrinal text. It is not a history book.
In this case, do you believe
In this case, do you believe in the "doctrine" or do you believe in "uncertain" claim of Protestant ant-Catholic view?
Dear Father Albert, Your
Dear Father Albert, Your attempt to caterogize peoples words or meanings of what was said is a bit misleading. No one individual has stated that Jesus Christ established a Church although HIS TEACHINGS do reside within a Church. Today worldwide there are approximately a million "churches". There are even groups of people calling themselves ones belonging to churches who believe in the Satan or other devils. When Jesus Christ walked the earth to teach us HE did not intend for HIS WORDS(TRUTH) to be interpreted thousands or millions of ways. HE was very careful to explain and many times HE used parables to be certain HIS audience understood. Yes PRAISE GOD BY SEEKING TRUTH!
"The Church has but one sole
"The Church has but one sole purpose--that the Kingdom of God may come..." (Gaudium et spes). This resonated with me because I have just read Jon Sobrino's book, No Salvation Outside the Poor, and in that book I read this statement: "The Church does not have a mission; the mission has a Church." Jesus' teaching and action to bring about the Kingdom of God is the starting point; the mission came first, then the Church developed to carry out this mission. Thank you, Fr. McBrien, for your work to further the Kingdom of God.
The following are my notes
The following are my notes ... vintage McBrien circa 1970 from a series of Detroit presentations sponsored by Cardinal Dearden and organized by then Fathers Ken Untener, Tom Gumbleton,and several others in a Church World Kingdom program
Vatican II … Theology of Church
Vatican II Definition of Church
• Community – People of God – who profess the Lordship of Jesus – and ratify it in word (teaching) and sacrament (celebration and preaching). Its members participate in the threefold mission of Christ – the prophetic, the priestly and the kingly – that is, to hasten or bring about the reign of God in the hearts of all people. ALL MEMBERS have an equal call to holiness
Vatican II Definition of Catholic.
• Catholic – that segment of the Church that holds that there is something distinctive about the collegial entity (relationship and role of the pope, bishops, priests, and laity) that makes a unique contribution to the Body of Christ … a contribution, which is essential to its fullness.
What is it in the documents of Vatican II that suggest a change in our “traditional” (that is, two-thirds of the Twentieth Century) understanding of Church?
Most documents of Vatican II could be considered to be very traditional. Points of departure were mostly points of emphasis. Father Richard McBrien, a noted Ecclesiologist and Dean of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, identifies eight points or theses which he believes to be the major shifts in emphasis that occurred in Vatican II thought. Each is expressed with a Positive and a Negative connotation or manner.
Thesis 1 - Positive: The Church is a Community
Negative: The Church is not primarily an Organization … not primarily a visible entity which is hierarchically structured.
Vatican II said, “…the Church is first and foremost a Community … a People of God … who have a common understanding of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and who participate in the mission of Jesus … “ It obviously has to have an organization, but the organization is supportive to the community. (Source: Lumen Gentium ! & 2)
Thesis 2 – Positive: The Structure of the Church is “Collegial”.
Negative: The Structure of the Church is not “Monarchical”.
“Collegiality” in the documents of Vatican II (Source: Chapter 3 on Hierarchy) was restricted to a discussion of the relationship of Bishops and the Pope. This was never intended to exhaust the subject of collegiality. Collegiality exists in every expression of the Body of Christ, and includes clergy and laity as well. Wherever Christians are gathered together, you have Church (Source: Lumen Gentium 23 & 26)
Collegiality is the essence of the distinction between Catholics and other Christian denominations of the Church ... Collegiality, not Beliefs.
(Note: This is the section of the documents of Vatican II that calls for Parish Councils.
Thesis 3 – Positive: The Mission of the Church belongs to ALL.
Negative: The Mission of the Church is not an exclusively clerical exercise.
“People of God” refers to all … laity (including women) and clergy. The “People of God” share equally in the three-fold mission of Christ … the prophetic, the priestly and the kingly. We are a “priestly people” inserted into history to give witness to the Kingdom of God. “Lay Apostolate” is a participation in the saving mission of the Church of God … communicated by the Lord Himself, and ratified by Baptism and Confirmation. It does not deny the hierarchical function, but indicates a distribution of function. It is not a way of saying that the monarchical way of structuring is wrong, corrupt or anything of the sort. It is a structure which people found useful at a point in time. We should structure any way that best serves the mission of the Church. (Source: Document of the Laity, Chapters 2 & 4 and Lumen Gentium, Articles 30 & 33). (See also, Corinthians 12: 4-11 … Different gifts, different ministries…). A pastor is the “Coordinator of the Charisms.”
Thesis 4 – Positive: All are called to Holiness.
Negative: There are no spiritual elite, no super Christians
All Men and Women are called to holiness – clergy and laity alike. (Source: Lumen Gentium, Chapter 5 … The Call of the Whole Church to Holiness)
Thesis 5 – Positive: The Mission of the Church embraces Diakonia / Service
Negative: Diakonia is not just “pre-evangelization”.
The Mission of the Church does not stop with preaching, teaching and sacrament, but includes diakonia / ministry /
service to the needs of others. (Source:Gaudium & Spes)
Thesis 6 – Positive: The Body of Christ … the Church … embraces non-Catholic Christians
Negative: The Catholic Church is not the ONE true Church of Christ
This is obviously a clever statement that needs clarification with regards to the context in which the words are used.
Lumen Gentium, Articles 8 & 15 and the Decree on Ecumenism, Articles 21 & 23, remind us that “… the Body of Christ
embraces all who profess the Lordship of Jesus, are baptized, and celebrate the Lord’s Supper, and who accept the
Gospel as the basis of their ethical lives and attitudes … there are other who can glory in the name Christian … there are
other Churches (used here to describe non-Catholic Christians) in the Body of Christ …”. “Church” does not equal only the
Roman Catholic Church … that is too restrictive.
The “negative” side of the equation is not said with prejudice to Catholics. In Thesis 2 above, we concluded that there is
something distinctively Catholic about the Body of Christ which is essential to its fullness, a distinctive Catholic
contribution which is unique … collegiality.
A better way to express it, “The whole Body of Christ is the One True Church.”
Thesis 7 – Positive: There must be freedom of religious expression
Negative: There can be no intolerance of error
Recognize affinity with every religious community, which is FOR the Kingdom of God. There may be other views.
(Source: Document for Religious Freedom Article 2)
Thesis 8 – Positive: The Church is for the Kingdom (reign) of God
Negative: The Church is not the Kingdom of God
The mission of the Church is to bring about the reign of God. in men’s hearts. (Source: Lumen Gentium, Article 5)
Thank God for Fr. McBrien! I
Thank God for Fr. McBrien! I don't know what I would do if I couldn't hear his voice in NCR. There aren't many of us left from the renewal era. I can't wait for the "great beyond" where there is no" gnashing of teeth" about changing liturgical responses or whether or not to share wine at communion. Shame on those back room scholars who dare to exert their power over the great Second Ecumenical Council (1961-1963).
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