CHURCH AND ITS

ENCOUNTER
WITH THE
MODERN WORLD
the modern world was a time and
culture contrasted by the
progressive march of catholic
mission and evangelization
beyond Europe and the
threatening wave of renewed
atheism, secularism and
liberalism in the Western world,
with the glorification of human
reason as the sole judge of the
truth.
1. Missionary Expansion

The great discoveries of the

fifteenth and sixteenth
centuries were the signal for
the beginning of world-wide
evangelization. The church
really became Catholic(J.
Colby)
1. Missionary Expansion

the Philippines stood as witness

the history of the Spanish
colonization and religious
evangelization in the 16th
century-the historic arrival of
Ferdinand Magellan in Limasawa
Island where Raja Humabon ad
his men accepted the Christian
faith.
1. Missionary Expansion

the Christian mission

spread from the West to
the East and missionaries
become new heroes of
the faith by their
dedication to Christ.
 1. Missionary Expansion

Some of theme were even

accused of dividing the
country and perceived as
threatening national stability
 1. Missionary Expansion

in Japan twenty-six
missionaries and faithful were
executed at Nagasaki (1597)
and 35000 Christians were
massacred (1636) as a result
of the Japanese Prime
Ministers resolve to restore
Japanese unity.
1. Missionary Expansion

Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de

Manila, the first
Filipino saint, was
among those Christian
missionaries who
were martyred for
their faith.
2. Reconsideration of The context of the time
favored the Church to be
Science as an sole guarantor of the
Alternative Source of truth in matters
Truth pertaining to the
religious and even to the
scientific

9
2. Reconsideration of the Church, for so
Science as an many centuries,
Alternative Source of maintained that the
Truth word was flat, as
narrated from the
Creation story in the
book of Genesis.

10
2. Reconsideration of the Church adhered to the
Science as an idea that the earth is the of
Alternative Source of the universe (geocentric
Truth theory) for the sun moves
from the east to the west
and the earth remained fixed
in its permanent position.

11
2. Reconsideration of But the era of
Science as an discovery and science
Alternative Source of
Truth
proved the Church
wrong.

12
2. Reconsideration of The navigators and even
Science as an missionaries corroborated
Alternative Source of the fact that the world is not
Truth flat, that there is no danger
of falling at the horizon into
the abyss, that the world is
round.

13
 Nicolaus Copernicus , a Polish
astronomer, refuted the geocentric
theory by his discovery of a sun-
2. Reconsideration of centered universe or heliocentric
Science as an theory which argues that the Sun
Alternative Source of as the fixed point to which their
Truth motions are to be referred; that the
earth is a planet which, besides
Orbiting the Sun annually, also
turns once daily on its own axis.

14
 The sole issue that
confront the era of the
Enlightenment was the
3. ENLIGHTENMENT application of human
reason n all human
affairs and concerns in
the pursuit of
knowledge, freedom
and happiness.
 Theories like Newtons
Gravitation, Copernican
Revolution, Darwin's Evolution
and other laws that can
explain the mechanical
movements, structures and
3. ENLIGHTENMENT life forms of the universe
eventually disposed some
philosophers and scientist to
be radical in their claim in
eliminating the existence of a
personal, creator God in favor
of the natural causes and
effects observed by science.
 nineteenth century
philosophy was
3. ENLIGHTENMENT concerned (Kant) that
God could not be
reached through
reason.
 the idea of God was of
no interest, if not
3. ENLIGHTENMENT alien… Science
believed in the
unlimited advance of
knowledge and a final
retreat of religion.
 As the success of science in its
theories gained wider
acceptance, this put a shadow
3. ENLIGHTENMENT of doubt on the
Church’s credibility in matters
pertaining to science and
encouraged people to
exaggerate the role of reason
as the sole determinant of the
truth in human affairs.
 The result:
atheism flourished and
3. ENLIGHTENMENT religious faith was
misinterpreted as
opposed to reason, as a
hindrance to human
creativity and full rational
development.
 4. First Vatican Council (1867)

Caught a little unguarded, the

catholic Church, at first tended
to be defensive in responding
to the liberal views spurred by
the scientific revolution and the
intellectual ascent of the
Enlightenment.
4. First Vatican Council (1867)

It resorted to the
censorship of books that
attack the Catholic
doctrine and belief and
the condemnation of
heretics.
4. First Vatican Council (1867)

But condemnations, as history can

attest, would not be enough. The
Church, humbled by the surge of
new challenges and opportunities,
yet imbued with the desire to grow
in its relationship with the modern
world, convened an ecumenical
council at the Vatican led by Pope
Pius IX.
4. First Vatican Council (1867)
Achievements of Vatican I
• definition on the existence of
God who could be attained by
reason, (Dei Filius)
4. First Vatican Council (1867)
Achievements of Vatican I
• declaration concerning
papal primacy and
infallibility on matters
pertaining to faith and
morals necessary for
one’s salvation.
 4. First Vatican Council (1867)
Achievements of Vatican I

• affirmation how reason

and faith complement
each other
• the pursuit of the truth
and the highest good
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

No other Ecumenical
Council in Christian
history can be considered
as the greatest than the
Second Vatican Council.
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)
Reasons: (Richard McBrien)

• Vatican II had the greatest number

of delegates with 2600 bishops
from all over the world and the
additional participation of
theologians and experts.
• It was the first council to include
the presence of non-Catholics, lay
participants as guests and
observers of the council.
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)
Reasons: (Richard McBrien)

• It was greatly represented in terms

of nations and cultures, wherein
bishops and participants from
various countries like South
America, North America, Asia,
Africa, Central America and
Oceania attended the council. And
these priest and bishops were non-
Europeans, native citizens from
missionary areas representing their
place and culture of origin.
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)
Reasons: (Richard McBrien)

• It was the first utilize the gift

of modernization, like the
modern means of
communication and
transportation.
• It emphasized promotion of
peace and unity among
nations
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

After seeing the horrors of World

War II and its divisive
consequences on peoples and
their nations, Pope John XXIII,
initiated Vatican II on January25,
1959, He saw the need of
restoring and promoting unity
among nations: Catholics and non-
Catholic alike.
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

He also envisioned a Church that

“adapts (aggiornamento,
updating)” to the signs of the
times and makes the message of
Christ relevant to modern men
and women in their daily life and
life decisions. He sincerely
believed that the Church is always
in need of reform (Ecclesia
Semper reformanda).
5. Second Vatican Council (1962-1965)

Those who were in

attendance labored to align
their work within the
objectives set by the Holy
Father at the start of the
council.
Vatican II Documents

A. Constitutions:
Documents that deal with
doctrinal matters which
pertain to the very
essence, or “constitution”
on the Church
 Vatican II Documents
A.1. Dogmatic Constitution on the
Church (Lumen Gentium)
“Light of the nations”

The Church is a mystery or a sacrament, the

whole People of God, in whose service the
hierarchy is placed. The authority of pope and
bishops is to be exercised as a form of service
and in a collegial mode, Bishops are not
simply the vicars of the pope and the laity
participate fully and directly in the Church’s
mission
 Vatican II Documents
A.2.Pastoral Constitution on the
Church in the Modern World
(Gaudium et Spes)
“Joy and Hope”

The Church must read the signs of the times

and interpret them in the light of the Gospel.
The Church does not exist alongside or apart
from the world; the Church is part of the
world and its mission is to serve the whole
human family in order to make the human
race’s history more human.
 Vatican II Documents
A.3. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine
Revelation
(Dei Verbum)
“word of God”

The World of God is communicated through

Sacred Scripture, sacred tradition and the
teaching authority of the Church, all linked
together and directed by the Holy Spirit. The
sacred realities are always open in principle
to a grown in understanding.
 Vatican II Documents
A.4. Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
(Sancrosanctum Concilium)
this Sacred Council

The Church proclaims the Gospel not only in

world but also in sacrament, or by the sacred
signs . Since the whole People of God is
involved in this worship, the signs must be
intelligible.
Vatican II Documents

B. Decrees:
Text which appeared as
the application of
principles laid down by
the constitutions.
 Vatican II Documents
B.1. Decree on Priestly Ministry
(Optatam Totius)
“desired renewal of the whole
(church)”.

There must be a closer connection

between seminary training and
pastoral situation.
 Vatican II Documents
B.2. Decree on Eastern Catholic
Churches
(Orientalium Ecclesiarum)
of the Eastern Churches

The Eastern Catholic or “Uniate”,

churches can be a bridge to the Orthodox
East. The integrity of Eastern traditions of
liturgy, spiritually and discipline is to be
restored.
 Vatican II Documents
B.3.Decree on the Bishop’s Pastoral
Office
(Christus Dominus)
Christ the Lord

Bishops are the pastors of their own local

churches and beyond that collaborate
with other bishops through Episcopal
conferences with the pope and all other
bishops through the Episcopal college
Authority is always for service.
Vatican II Documents
B.4.Decree on the Church’s
Missionary Activity
(Ad Gentes)
To the Nations

The Gospel is to be preached also and

always to non- Christians, but not as a
culturally alien reality. Evangelization is
an obligation for every member of the
Church.
 Vatican II Documents
B.5. Decree on the Appropriate
Renewal of Religious Life
(Perfectae Caritatis)
of Perfect Charity

The renewal of religious life (a life lived

according to the evangelical counsels of
poverty, chastity and obedience) must be
based on the Gospel, the original
purposes of the community and the
changed conditions of the times.
 Vatican II Documents
B.6.Decree on the Instruments of
Social Communication
(Inter Mirifica)
among the wonderful

The Church must be vigilant towards the

media because of the ever-present
danger of their abuse, but must also use
the media where opportune.
Vatican II Documents
B.7.Decree on Ecumenism
(Unitatis Redintegratio)
The restoration of unity

Christian unity is a matter of restoration,

not a return to Rome; other Christian
communities are churches within the
Body of Christ; and both sides were to
blame for the divisions of the Church.
 Vatican II Documents
B.8. Decree of the Ministry of life of
Priests
(Presbyterorum Ordinis)
Order of Priests

Priest are members of a

presbytery in union with a bishops
and with him serve the building up
of Christ’s body.
 Vatican II Documents
B.9.Decree on the Apostolate of
the Laity
(Apostolicam Actuositatem)
Apostolic Activity

The laity participates in the mission

of the Church, but especially in the
temporal order.
Vatican II Documents

C. Declarations:
principles and
guidelines expressing
the thought of the
Church.
Vatican II Documents
C.1.Declaration on Non-Christian
Religious
(Nostra Aetate)
In our time

God speaks also through other religious, so

we should engage in dialogue and other
collaborative efforts with them. The Jews
have a special relationship to the Church.
They cannot be blamed as a people for the
death of Jesus.
Vatican II Documents
C.2Declaration on Religious
Freedom
(Dignitatis Humanae)
On the Dignity of the Human
Person

No one is to be forced in any way to

embrace the Christian or the Catholic faith.
This principle is rooted in human dignity
and the freedom of the act of faith.
Vatican II Documents
C.3.Declaration on Christian
Education
(Gravissimum Educationis)

Education must be broadly humane and

up-to-date, with a concern for personal
maturity and social responsibility.
Vatican II Documents

The above documents changed the

Church from within and from the way it
relates and deals with the needs and
concerns. ‘the joys and hopes’ of
modern men and women in the world.