PART I

THE CHURCH AND SALVATION

Article 33: The Fullness of Truth and Salvation

Article 34: Salvation Outside the Church

Article 35: Who Needs Organized Religion?

“Basing itself on Scripture and Tradition, Vatican Council II teaches that the Church, a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation: the one Christ is the mediator and the way of salvation; he is present to us in his body which is the Church. He himself explicitly asserted the necessity of faith and Baptism, and thereby affirmed at the same time the necessity of the Church which men enter through Baptism as through a door. Hence they could not be saved who, knowing that the Catholic Church was founded as necessary by God through Christ, would refuse either to enter it or to remain in it.”

CCC846

“The Church's Magisterium, faithful to divine revelation, reasserts that Jesus Christ is the mediator and the universal redeemer: “The Word of God, through whom all things were made, was made flesh, so that as perfect man he could save all men and sum up all things in himself. The Lord...is he whom the Father raised from the dead, exalted and placed at his right hand, constituting him judge of the living and the dead”.34 This salvific mediation implies also the unicity of the redemptive sacrifice of Christ, eternal high priest (cf. Heb 6:20; 9:11; 10:12-14). Dominus Jesus, August 6, 2000 Congregation for the Faith

https://youtu.be/Hm_j7kzcpjk

THE FULLNESS OF THE CHURCH OF CHRIST [33]

the fullness of Revelation which is transmitted through the Scriptures and Tradition

the fullness of the Sacraments the fullness of the ordained ministry Apostolic Authority (unbroken line)

The Catholic Church alone has retained the fullness of these means of salvation

“This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd (John 21:17), and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority (se Matthew 28:18-19), which He erected for all ages as ‘the pillar and mainstay of the truth’ (1 Timothy 3:15). This Church, constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him, although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity.” --Lumen Gentium, 34 Vatican II

Church as Sacrament: visible sign of God’s invisible grace. Sacramentum/Mysterium

Both terms from Greet mysterion. Now sacramentum refers to visible sign; mysterium refers to hidden reality

Christ the Sacrament of God, Redeemer of All

Church Sacrament of Christ

Believers

Thus the Church is the means of salvation

Baptism opens the door; we respond

If this is true that the church is the mediator of Christ the world and that [34]

there is no salvation outside of the Catholic Church.........then what of all others outside of this Church? Other Christians/Jews/Muslims etc.

God wills that ALL be saved. God can and does extend salvation outside of the Catholic Church as God is not bound..........even by the church. However, even in these cases of gratuitious grace, ALL SAVATION HOWEVER IS THOUGH JESUS CHRIST whether acknowledged or not.

“This affirmation (no salvation outside the Church) is not aimed at those who, through no fault of their own, do not know Christ and his Church: Those who, through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation.” (CCC 847)

Vatican II document Gaudium Et Spes teaches similarly on the possibility of salvation:

“All this holds true not only for Christians, but for all men of good will in whose hearts grace works in an unseen way. For, since Christ died for all men, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery.” (22)

WHY ORGANIZE ALL THIS? WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT “GATHERING/COMMUNITY” ? [35]

One way to understand—why do we celebrate at all? Why parties? Why graduation celebrations? Why even go on a date? Why do people gather together for a funeral? Camp fires? Teams?

We are social beings; in our DNA; image/likeness of God as Trinity in fact those who have no felt need for others are not considered to have

some deep issues that need to be addressed biblical roots: creation/convenants/promises/fulfillment creed: “it is for us and for our salvation” Nicene Creed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IAhDGYlpqY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLta2b9zQ64

GETTING IN TOUCH……..LITURGICAL YEAR

ONE MYSTERY CELEBRATED--

PASCHAL MYSTERYTHE WORK OF SALVATION ACCOMPLISHED BY

JESUS CHRIST MAINLY THROUGH HIS

PASSION, DEATH, RESURRECTION

(LITURGY)

AS IT IS EXPERIENCED IN THE HEART/LIFE OF THE CHURCH

LITURGICAL YEAR IS THE WAY WE CLEBRATE/EXPERIENCE THIS MYSTERION

LITURGICAL YEAR: The annual cycle of religious feasts and seasons that forms the context for the Church’s worship, we remember and celebrate (and make present) God the Father’s plan as it is revealed through the life of his Son, Jesus Christ…..

DAILY WEEKLY SANCTORAL

PASCHAL MYSTERY: The work of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ mainly through his Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension…..

FOR HIS GREAT LOVE IS WITHOUT END!

THE CHURCH AND THE WORLD

PART 2

Article 36: Engaging the World

Article 37: Engaging Modern Culture

Article 38: The Church and Evangelization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfpdpvZPwrg

Syllabus of Errors, Pope Pius IX (1846-1878)

In connection with this principled rejection of the idea of religious freedom or toleration in the "Syllabus of Errors", we might note for example the following condemned propositions:

15. Every man is free to embrace and profess that religion which, guided by the light of reason, he shall consider true. (Condemned)

16. Man may, in the observance of any religion whatever, find the way of eternal salvation, and arrive at eternal salvation. [....] (Condemned)

17. Good hope at least is to be entertained of the eternal salvation of all those who are not at all in the true Church of Christ. [....] (Condemned)

18. Protestantism is nothing more than another form of the same true Christian religion, in which form it is given to please God equally as in the Catholic Church. [....] (Condemned)

77. In the present day it is no longer expedient that the Catholic religion should be held as the only religion of the State, to the exclusion of all other forms of worship. [....] (Condemned)78. Hence it has been wisely decided by law, in some Catholic countries, that persons coming to reside therein shall enjoy the public exercise of their own peculiar worship. [....] (Condemned)

And to sum it all up, it is utterly wrong and prohibited to believe that

80. The Roman Pontiff can, and ought to, reconcile himself, and come to terms with progress, liberalism and modern civilization. [....]

VATICAN II AND ENGAGING THE WORLD

A FUNDAMENTAL SHIFT

GADIUM ET SPES , VATICAN II

1. “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. For theirs is a community composed of men. United in Christ, they are led by the Holy Spirit in their journey to the Kingdom of their Father and they have welcomed the news of salvation which is meant for every man. That is why this community realizes that it is truly linked with mankind and its history by the deepest of bonds.

2. Hence this Second Vatican Council, having probed more profoundly into the mystery of the Church, now addresses itself without hesitation, not only to the sons of the Church and to all who invoke the name of Christ, but to the whole of humanity. For the council yearns to explain to everyone how it conceives of the presence and activity of the Church in the world of today.

4. To carry out such a task, the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. Thus, in language intelligible to each generation, she can respond to the perennial questions which men ask about this present life and the life to come, and about the relationship of the one to the other. We must therefore recognize and understand the world in which we live, its explanations, its longings, and its often dramatic characteristics. Some of the main features of the modern world can be sketched as follows.”

SAINT JOHN XXIII

INCULTURATION

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b3YU9GQtXQ

Review: Pg. 136

In what sense is the Church necessary for salvation?

What does it mean to say that the fullness of the Church of Christ is found in the Catholic Church?

Can a person who has never heard of Christ or his Church still be saved? If so, in what way?

Can the Holy Spirit be active outside the visible boundaries of the Catholic Church? Discuss examples.

How are the social needs of human beings related to the way God offers us salvation?

In what ways is the Church’s worship communal?

Review: Pg. 147

What does it mean to say the Church reads the signs of the times?

Explain the difference between the culture of death and culture of life?

What should be the role of Catholics in public policy debates?

What are some specific ways a layperson might evangelize in workplace?In their home?

What are the characteristics of evangelization as presented in Redemptoris Missio ?

How might you live out some of them in your own life?

What is inculturation?

PART 1 (pp. 149-167)

THE LIVED MISSION OF THE CHURCH

THE LEADERSHIP OF THE CHURCH

ARTICLE 39: THE CHURCH AND HIERACHY

ARTICLE 40: THE POPE, THE VISIBLE HEAD

ARTICLE 41: THE BISHOPS

ARTICLE 42: THE DIACONATE

CHRIST CHURCH

LEADERSHIPAPOSTLESBISHOPSPRIESTS

DEACONS

PEOPLE OF GOD

“Church structure, willed by Christ, is hierarchical…this does not mean that bishops and priests are more important than the laity. All members of the Church are equal in dignity, but they are called to different roles and ministries, each contributing to the building up of the Body of Christ.” (pg. 150)

ST PAUL: 1 Corinthians, chapter 12

4* There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit;c 5there are different forms of service but the same Lord; 6there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 7To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 8To one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another the expression of knowledge according to the same Spirit;d 9to another faith by the same Spirit; to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit; 10to another mighty deeds; to another prophecy; to another discernment of spirits; to another varieties of tongues; to another interpretation of tongues.e 11But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.f

Understanding the Roman Curia: An overview of the offices and leaders of the central government of the Catholic Church

In a famous exchange between Pope St. John XXIII and the press after his election in 1958, the saintly pope supposedly was asked how many people work in the Roman Curia. He thought for a moment and replied, “About half.”

The joke has been repeated for many years and has fed into the image perpetuated by the media of the Curia as a vast network of entrenched and self-serving careerists who resist any reform or change.

But what, really, is the Roman Curia? The Roman Curia is the central government of the Church

that assists the pope in his universal governance and his service to the people of God. More solemnly, in the Second Vatican Council’s Decree on Bishops, it was declared that the departments of the Roman Curia “perform their duties in his [the pope’s] name and with his authority for the good of the churches and in the service of the sacred pastors.”

SECRETARIATS | Influential Curial offices Secretariat of State

o Founded: 15th centurySecretary of State: Cardinal Pietro Parolin (Italy); he is assisted by Archbishop Giovanni Becciu (Italy), Deputy for General Affairs, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher (Great Britain), Secretary for Relations with States

o The Secretariat of State serves two key functions for the pope:◗ The Section for General Affairs assists the pope in the day-to-day business of the Holy See.◗ The Section for Relations with States directs all aspects of papal diplomacy.

Secretariat for the Economyo Founded: 2014

President: Cardinal George Pell (Australia)The newest department oversees financial control over the Roman Curia as well as

o Vatican City State. It is answerable to the Council for the Economy.

CONGREGATIONS | The highest level of Vatican dicastery (department), typically led by a cardinal

Doctrine of the Faith

oo Founded: 1542, called the Office of the Inquisition and then the Holy Office

Prefect: Cardinal Gerhard Müller (Germany)

Safeguards Church doctrine and morals. Oversees the Pontifical Biblical Commission International Theological Commission, and “Ecclesia Dei.”

o Oriental Churches

oo Founded: 1862

Prefect: Cardinal Leonardo Sandri (Argentina)Deals with the concerns and needs of all Eastern Catholics around the world.

o Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments

oo Founded: 1975 when the Congregation of Rites (founded in 1588) and the

Congregation for Divine Worship (founded in 1969) were combinedPrefect: Cardinal Robert Sarah (Guinea)

o Promotes and regulates the liturgical and sacramental life of the Church.

o Causes of Saints

oo Founded: 1588, as the Congregation of Rites

Prefect: Cardinal Angelo Amato, S.D.B. (Italy)o Manages the process of saints’ causes, including beatifications and

canonizations. It is also in charge of preserving relics.

Bishops

oo Founded: 1588

Prefect: Cardinal Marc Ouellet P.S.S. (Canada)o Pontifical Commission for Latin America,Manages the process of appointing

new ones as well as the required visits of the world’s bishops to Rome every five years. Attached: Pontifical Commission for Latin America, instituted in 1958.

o Evangelization of Peoples

oo Founded: 1622, called the Congregation of the Propagation of the Faith

Prefect: Cardinal Fernando Filoni (Italy)o Coordinates missionary work throughout the world. Its prefect is

traditionally called the “Red Pope” because of the enormity of his global duties.

o Clergy

oo Founded: 1564

Prefect: Cardinal Beniamino Stella (Italy)o Guides the life, discipline, rights and duties of the clergy, including the

preaching of the Word and catechetics. oo Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life

oo Founded: 1586

Prefect: Cardinal João Bráz de Aviz (Brazil)

o Watches over religious institutes, secular institutes, societies of the apostolic life and third orders.

o Catholic Education

oo Founded: 1915 (combining the work of other departments dating back to 1588)

Prefect: Cardinal Giuseppe Versaldi (Italy)o Guides seminaries, Catholic universities and faculties of study and Catholic

schools below the college-university level.o

PONTIFICAL COUNCILS | The pontifical councils were created in the years after the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) to meet the changing needs of the Church in the modern world.

o Laity

oo Founded: 1967

President: Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko (Poland)o Covers the apostolate of the laity and their participation in the life and

mission of the Church. o Justice and Peace

oo Founded: 1967

President: Cardinal Peter Turkson (Ghana)o Promotes justice and peace in the world according to the Gospels and social

teachings of the Church.o Family

oo Founded: 1981

President: Abp. Vincenzo Paglia (Italy) o Promotes the pastoral care of families.

o Promoting Christian Unity

oo Founded: 1966

President: Cardinal Kurt Koch (Switzerland) o Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews Handles relations with

members of other Christian ecclesial communities. Attached: Commissions for Religious Relations with the Jews

o Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples

oo Founded: 1970, made autonomous in 1980

President: Cardinal Antonio Maria Vegliò (Italy)o Promotes pastoral assistance to migrants, nomads, tourists and travelers.

Interpretation of Legislative Texts

oo Founded: 1984

President: Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio (Italy)o Presides over the authentic interpretation of the universal laws of the

Church.o

Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers

oo Founded: 1985

President: Abp. Zygmunt Zimowski (Poland) o Serves the many international Catholic organizations in the health care field.

Interreligious Dialogue

oo Founded:1964, as the Secretariat for Non-Christians

President: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (France)o Commission for Religious Relations with MuslimsPromotes dialogue and

respect between Christians and non-Christians. Attached: oo Promoting the New Evangelization

oo Founded: 2010

President: Archbishop Salvatore “Rino” Fisichella (Italy)o Advances the great project of the New Evangelization.o

Social Communications

oo Founded: 1948 on an experimental basis; made a permanent commission in

1959President: Abp. Claudio Maria Celli (Italy)

o Studies all matters pertaining to instruments of social communications.

o Culture

oo Founded: 1993 (in the merger of the Pontifical Councils for Culture and

Dialogue with Non-Believers)President: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy)

o Deals with faith and culture and dialogue with cultures, including nonbelievers.

o “Cor Unum”

oo Founded: 1971

President: Vacanto Coordinates services for worldwide Catholic aid and human development

organizations. o

TRIBUNALS | The Holy See is supported by three important courts: Apostolic Penitentiary

o Founded: 12th century, reorganized in 1569Major Penitentiary: Cardinal Mauro Piacenza (Italy)

o Concerned with questions of conscience, absolution and some matters pertaining to indulgences.

Apostolic Signaturao Founded: 15th century

Prefect: Cardinal Dominique Mamberti (France) o The supreme court of the Church and the supreme court of the State of

Vatican City. Roman Rota

o Founded: 12th centuryDean: Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto (Italy)

o The ordinary court of appeal for cases appealed to the Holy See, especially the validity of marriage.

o OFFICES | Several offices provide key direction to the economic life of the

Holy See, as well as advice to Pope Francis:

Council of Cardinals to assist in the governance of the Universal Church and to reform the Roman Curia

o Founded: 2013Coordinator: Cardinal Óscar Rodríguez Maradiaga (Honduras)

o Assists and advises the pope on reform and important matters in the Church. Pontifical Commission for Reference on the Organization of the Economic

-Administrative Structure of the Holy Seeo Founded: 2013

President: Joseph F.X. Zahra (Malta)o Studies the organizational and economic problems of the Holy See.

Financial Security Committeeo Founded: 2013o President: Msgr. Peter Wells (United States)o Works to prevent laundering activities, financing of terrorism and

proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

Administration of the Patrimony of the Apostolic See (APSA)o Founded: 1878

President: Cardinal Domenico Calcagno (Italy)o The treasury of the Curia and the Vatican City State.

Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy Seeo Founded: 1967

President: Vacanto Supervised budgets and issued the annual financial report of the Holy See.

Institute for Works of Religiono Founded: 1942

President: Jean-Baptiste Douville de Franssu (France)o The so-called Vatican Bank that administers funds for works of religion.

Council for the Economyo Founded: 2014

President: Cardinal Reinhard Marx (Germany)o Assists with the oversight and reforms of the Holy See’s finances.o

OTHER CURIA AGENCIES Apostolic Camera

o Founded: 11th centuryCamerlengo: Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (France)

o Administers the temporal goods and rights of the Holy See between the death of one pope and the election of another (sede vacante).

o Prefecture of the Papal Householdo Founded: 1588 as the Sacred Congregation for Ceremonies

Prefect: Archbishop Georg Gänswein (Germany)o Manages the daily life of the pope.

Office for Liturgical Celebrations of the Supreme Pontiffo Founded: 1563: originally called Apostolic Master of Ceremonies

Master of Ceremonies: Monsignor Guido Marini (Italy)

o Prepares liturgical and other sacred celebrations by the pope. Office of Papal Charities (Apostolic Almoner)

o Founded: Developed before the 12th century; officially established under Pope Blessed Gregory X (1271-1276)Apostolic Almoner: Abp. Konrad Krajewski (Poland)

o Distributes alms and aid to those in need in the name of the pope. Vatican Press Office

o Founded: 1968Director: Rev. Federico Lombardi, S.J. (Italy)

o The main press agency for the Holy See.

COMMISSIONS AND COMMITTEES | There are numerous institutes created for a particular purpose that assist in the work of the Holy See. These include:

Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Heritage of the Churcho Founded: 1988

President: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy)o Conserves and guards the vast historical and artistic patrimony of the

Church. Pontifical Commission for Sacred Archeology

o Founded: 1852President: Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi (Italy)

o Cares for and preserves the ancient sacred cemeteries and the basilicas in Rome.

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minorso Founded: 2014

President: Cardinal Sean O’Malley (United States)o Assists the Church’s response to the clergy sex abuse scandal.

Commission for the Study of the Reform of the Matrimonial Processes in Canon Law

o Founded: 2014President: Msgr. Pio Vito Pinto (Italy)

o Studies questions related to the canonical matrimonial process. Disciplinary Commission of the Roman Curia

o Founded: 1981President: Bishop Giorgio Corbellini (Italy)

o Maintains and imposes disciplinary measures for the members of the Roman Curia.

o Pontifical Committee for International Eucharistic Congresseso Founded: 1879

President: Archbishop Piero Marini (Italy)o Directs the planning of Eucharistic Congresses around the world.

Pontifical Committee for Historical Scienceso Founded: 1954

President: Father Bernard Ardura, O. Praem. (France)o Promotes the development of the historical sciences.

Fabric of St. Petero Founded: 1908

President: Cardinal Angelo Comastri (Italy)o Administers, cares for and preserves the Vatican Basilica.

Labor Office of the Apostolic Seeo Founded: 1989

President: Bishop Giorgio Corbellini (Italy)o Serves the need of those who work for the Holy See and settles labor issues.

Fine Arts and Letters (1542)o Promotes the fine arts.

Sciences (1603)o Promotes and honors scientific research.

Ecclesiastical Academy (1701)o Trains Vatican diplomats.

Theology (1718)o Promotes theological studies.o

Archaeology (1810)o Promotes Christian archeology and art.

Martyrs (1879)o Promotes the veneration of martyrs.

St. Thomas Aquinas (1879)o Promotes the study of Thomism.

Mary (1946)o Promotes Mariology.

Life (1994)o Promotes the Culture of Life.

Social Sciences (1994)o Promotes the Social Sciences.

Latin (2012)o Promotes the Latin language.