DOMINICAN

BLESSINGS
May God the Father bless us, may God the Son heal us, may
God the Holy Spirit enlightened us and give us eyes to see
with, ears to hear with, hands to do the work of God with, feet
to walk with and mouth to preach the word of salvation with.
And may the angel of peace watch over us and lead us at last
to the Lord's gift of thy kingdom. Amen
CHAPTER V

The Church and its Encounter

with the Modern World
 At the end of the session the students will
be able to:
▪ acquaint themselves to the different
documents of the Church, its decrees &
declarations
Objective ▪ ponder on our faith
▪ adapt to the signs of the times
▪ grow mature in our faith and to respect
individual’s expression of faith
 ▪ a person sent by a church into an area to carry
on evangelism or other activities, as
educational or hospital work. a person strongly
in favor of a program, set of principles, etc.,
who attempts to persuade or convert others. a
What does person who is sent on a mission.
missionary ▪ 15th – 16th century was the time when the
mean? Church was gifted both with the era of
exploration & discovery of new land and at the
same time, people who welcomed to be
evangelized, to be baptized and to be
converted to Christian faith.
Missionary
Expansion

▪ Philippine stood as a witness in 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 and his men accepted the
Christian faith
 ▪ While the Spanish and the Portuguese
hastened to conquer lands and exploited the
resources of their colonies, the Christian
missionaries toiled to deliver the message of
Christ to all men
▪ There were times that Christian missionaries
Missionary were opposed and rejected

Expansion
 ▪ On the other hand, there also numerous
occasions that they were welcomed and
accepted by their community of mission
▪ St. Francis Xavier served an exemplar of
missionary fervor.
Missionary
Expansion
 ▪ Christian mission spread from the
West to the East and missionaries
became new heroes of the faith
by their dedication to Christ
Missionary ▪ Saint Lorenzo Ruiz de Manila,
Expansion the first Filipino saint, was among
those Christian missionaries who
were martyred for their faith
 ▪ The context of time favored that
Church to be sole guarantor of the
truth in matters pertaining to
religious and even to scientific

Reconsideration
of Science as an ▪ Culture initiated by science was
Alternative distorted by some men who
elevated human reason as the sole
Source of Truth
measure of truth against the
exercise of authority given by the
Catholic Church during the age of
the Enlightenment
 ▪ “application of human
reason” in all human affairs
and concerns in the pursuit
of “ knowledge, freedom, and
happiness”
▪ Theories gained wider
acceptance, this put a
Enlightenment shadow of doubt on the
Church 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
 ▪ Led by Pope Pius IX to deal with contemporary
problems
▪ Rising influence of rationalism, liberalism &
materialism
▪ “existence of God who could be attained by
reason”

First Vatican ▪ Affirmation on how reason and faith complement

each other;
Council
▪ The pursuit of the truth and the highest good;
▪ Its declaration concerning “papal primacy and
infallibility”, whereby the pope is preserved free
from error when he teaches definitely that a
doctrine concerning faith or morals is to believed
by the whole church.
 ▪ In Roman Catholic Theology, the doctrine
that the pope, acting as the supreme
teacher and under certain conditions,
cannot err when he teaches in matters of
faith or morals
▪ This doctrine is based on the belief that the
church has been entrusted with the
teaching mission of Jesus Christ and that, in
Papal Infallibility view of this mandate from Christ, it will
remain faithful to that teaching through the
assistance of the Holy Spirit.
▪ The doctrine that the grace promised to the
church assures its perseverance until the
end of time
 ▪ Initiated by Pope John XXIII on January
25,1959
▪ Envisioned a Church that adapts to the
signs of the times’ and makes the
message of Christ relevant to modern
men and women in their daily life and life
decision
Second Vatican
▪ CURIA (Papal Bureaucracy)– the one
Council who wants to control and manipulate the
process and outcome of the council for
fear that sacred tradition and the Catholic
faith might be destroyed or distorted
 ▪ Greatest number of delegates 2600 bishops from all
over the world and the additional participation of
theologians and expert.
▪ Greatly represented in terms of nations and cultures,
wherein bishops and participants from various
countries like South & North America, Asia, Africa,
Central America and Oceania attended the council.
This priests and bishops were non-Europeans,
native citizens from missionary areas representing
their place and culture of origin.
Second Vatican ▪ It was the first council to include the presence of
Council non-Catholics, lay participants as guests and
observers of the council
▪ It was the first to utilize the gift of modern means of
communication and transportation
▪ It emphasized promotion of peace and unity among
nations, not the usual pattern in an ecumenical
council which usually focused on the condemnation
of heretics, or the formulation of doctrines
 ▪ After seeing the horror of war and its divisive
consequences on peoples and their nations, Pope
John XXIII initiated Vatican II on January 25, 1959
▪ He saw the need of restoring and promoting unity
among nations Catholic and non Catholics alike
▪ He also envisioned a Church that adapts
(aggiornamento, updating) to the signs of times and
makes the message of Christ relevant to modern
men and women in their daily life and life decision.
Second Vatican
▪ He sincerely believed that the church is always in
Council need of reform (ecclesia semper reformanda)
▪ As a result, great work was laid upon the council
▪ Those who where in attendance labored to align
their work within the objectives set by the Holy
Father at the start of the council.
 ▪ But opposition was always there. There were
minority members of the Curia who wanted to
control and manipulate the process and outcome of
the council for the fear that sacred tradition and the
Catholic faith might be destroyed or distorted.

Second Vatican
Council
 5.1 Vatican II
Documents

▪ Episcopal Consensus, enabling every participant to raise his own opinion

during the deliberation of the council documents
▪ The great outcome of the council is better appreciated through the essential
and relevant documents it produced from 1963-1965
 ▪ CONSTITUTIONS: Documents that deal with
doctrinal matters which pertain to the very essence,
or “constitution” of the Church
❖Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
(Lumen Gentium)
❖Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
Let us cite such doc. & at Modern World
the same time (Gaudium et Spes)
integrating the
presentation by Richard ❖Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
McBrien & Jean Comby (Dei Verbum)
❖Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
(Sancrosanctum Concilium)
 ▪ Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness Pope
Paul VI, Nov. 21, 1964
▪ Latin for “Light of the Nations”
▪ Magnified the authority, identify and the
Dogmatic Constitution on
the Church
mission of the Church, as well as the duty of the
faithful
Lumen
▪ Describe as one of the greatest achievements
Gentium of the council because it places its central
concern on the Church as a whole
 Contents:
▪ I. The Mystery of the Church
▪ II. On the People of God
▪ III. On the Hierarchical Structure of the Church and in particular on the
Episcopate
▪ IV. The Laity

Dogmatic Constitution on
▪ V. The Universal call to Holiness in the Church
the Church ▪ VI. Religious
Lumen ▪ VII. The Eschatological Nature of the Pilgrim Church & its Union with
the Church in Heaven
Gentium ▪ VIII. The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery of Christ
and the Church
▪ i. Introduction
▪ ii. Role of Virgin Mary in the Economy of Salvation
▪ iii. On the Blessed Virgin in the Church
▪ iv. The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the Church
▪ v. Mary the sign of created hope and solace to the wandering people of
God
 ▪ Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness Pope
Paul VI, December 7, 1965
▪ “Joy & Hope”
Contents:
▪ Preface
Pastoral Constitution on ▪ Introductory Statement the Situation of Men
the Church in the Modern
World in the Modern World
Gaudium et ▪ Part I: The Church & Man’s Calling
Spes ▪ I. Dignity of the Human Person
▪ II. The Community of Mankind
▪ III. Man’s activity throughout the World
▪ IV. The Role of the Church in the Modern
World
 Contents:
▪ Part II: Some Problems of Special Urgency
▪ I. Fostering the Nobility of Marriage &
Family
Pastoral Constitution on
the Church in the Modern ▪ II. The Development of Culture
World
▪ Section 1: The Circumstances of
Gaudium et Culture in the World Today
Spes ▪ Section 2: Some Principles for the
Proper Develiopment of Culture
▪ Section 3: Some More Urgent Duties
of Christians in Regard to Cutlure
 Contents:
▪ Part II: Some Problems of Special Urgency
▪ III. Economic & Social Life
▪ Economic Development
Pastoral Constitution on
the Church in the Modern
▪ Certain Principles Governing Socio-Economic Life
World as a Whole
Gaudium et ▪ IV. The Life of the Political Community
▪ V. The Fostering of Peace and the Promotion of a
Spes Community of Nations
▪ The Avoidance of War
▪ Setting up and International Community
 ▪ Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness Pope Paul VI,
Nov. 18, 1965
▪ Latin for “Word of God”
▪ It entails to life lessons and proves to people who
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine read the stories to trust God
Revelation
▪ The Church in itself, its sole salvific roles as the one,
(Dei Verbum) true and complete Christian Faith, also in relation to
ecumenism among other religions, in relation to the
modern world, renewal of consecrated life, liturgical
disciplines
 Contents:
▪ Preface
▪ I. Revelation Itself

Dogmatic Constitution on Divine

▪ II. Handing on Divine Revelation
Revelation
▪ III. Sacred Scripture, Its Inspiration and
(Dei Verbum) Divine Interpretation
▪ IV. The Old Testament
▪ V. The New Testament
▪ VI. Sacred Scripture in the Life of the
Church
 ▪ Solemnly Promulgated by his Holiness Pope Paul VI,
December 4, 1963
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
▪ Latin for “Sacred Council”
(Sancrosanctum ▪ The constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Concilium) ▪ The main aim was to achieve greater lay participation
in the Catholic Church’s liturgy
 Contents:
▪ Introduction
▪ I. General Principles for the Restoration and
Promotion of Sacred Liturgy
▪ The Nature of the Sacred Liturgy and its
Importance in the Church’s life
▪ The Promotion of Liturgical Instruction & Active
Participation
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy ▪ The Reform of the Sacred Liturgy
(Sancrosanctum ▪ II. The Most Sacred Mystery of the Eucharist
Concilium) ▪ III. The Other Sacraments & Sacramentals
▪ IV. The Divine Office
▪ V. The Liturgical Year
▪ VI. Sacred Music
▪ VII. Sacred Art & Sacred Furnishing
▪ Appendix: A Declaration of the Second Ecumenical
Council of the Vatican on Revision of the Calendar
 ▪ Texts which appeared as the application of
principles laid down by the constitution
DECREES: ❖Decree on Priestly Ministry
(Optatam Totius): There must be a closer
connection between Seminary training and
pastoral situation
It is an official ❖Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
order issued by (Orientalium Ecclesiarum) The Easter
legal authority Catholic Churches can be a bridge to the
Orthodox East. The integrity of Eastern
tradition of Liturgy, Spirituality and
discipline is to be restored
 ❖Decree on the Bishop’s Pastoral Office
(Christus Dominus) Bishops are the pastors of
their own local Churches and collaborate other
bishops through episcopal conferences with the
pope and all other bishops. Authority is always for
the service.
DECREES: ❖Decree on the Church’s Missionary
Activity
(Ad Gentes) 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
 ❖Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of
Religious Life
(Perfectae Caritatis) The renewal of Religious
life (a life lived according to the evangelical
councils of poverty, chastity and obedience),
must be based on the Gospel, the original
purposes of the community and the changed
DECREES: conditions of the times
❖Decree on the Instruments of Social
Communication
(Inter Mirifica) 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.
 ❖Decree on Ecumenism
(Unitatis Redintegratio) 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 where to blame
for the division of the Church.
❖Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priest
DECREES: (Presbyterorum Ordinis) Priests are
members of a presbytery in union with a
bishop and with him serve the building up of
Christ’s body
❖Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
( Apostolicam Actuositatem ) The laity
participates in the mission of the Church
 ▪ Principles and guidelines expressing the thought
of the Church
❖Declaration on Non-Christian Religions
(Nostra Aetate) God speaks also through other
religion, so we should engage in dialogue and
other collaborative efforts with them.
❖Declaration on Religious Freedom
(Dignitatis Humanae) No one is to be forced in
DECLARATIONS: 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.
❖Declaration on Christian Education
(Gravissimum Educationis) Education must be
broadly humane and up-to-date, with a concern
for personal maturity & social responsibility.
 ▪ Even with the disagreement on certain
scientific finding, the condemnation
against secularism and atheism and the
need to adapt to the signs of the times in the
modern world, the Church truly proved
herself as ecclesia semper reformanda (the
Church must always be reformed) which is
expressed in the Second Vatican Council
CONCLUSION ▪ Catholic Church, though imperfect, has
remained firmly committed in its mission
of bringing Jesus Christ to all.
▪ She has recognized the goodness of the
modern world and its role and task of
evangelization
 ▪ Celebrated the inherent unity that binds
all men and women, regardless of
ideological, social or religious variations-
great changes that enable the Catholic
Church to widely open its door to all
▪ After Vat. II we are given the task to
support the Church in its mission

CONCLUSION ▪ Let us not forget that the true measure of

our understanding lies in its translation
into our own perspective, attitude,
decision and action, expressed in the way
we relate with our neighbors-Christians
and non-Christians, for we too are
persons always in need of reform