Week 11 Ecclesiology and Social Teachings of the Church Page 1 of 5

Second Quarter

ILK – TOPIC 9 Catholic Social Teaching II

 RerumNovarum 1891 Pope Leo XIII

 Quadregisima Anno 1931 Pope Pius XI
 Mater et Magistra 1961 Pope John XXIII
 Pacem in Terris 1963 Pope John XXIII
 Gaudium et Spes 1965 Pope Paul VI
 PopulorumProgressio 1967 Pope Paul VI
 OctogesimaAdveniens 1971 Pope Paul VI
 Justice in the World 1971 Pope Paul VI
 EvangeliiNuntiandi 1975 Pope Paul VI
 LaboremExercens 1981 Pope John Paul II
 SolicitudoReiSocialis 1988 Pope John Paul II
 CentissimusAnnus 1991 Pope John Paul II
 Caritas en Veritate 2009 Pope Benedict XVI
 Evangelii Gaudium 2013 Pope Francis
 Laudato Si 2015 Pope Francis

An ENCYCLICAL was originally a circular letter sent to all the Churches of a

particular area of the ancient Christian Church. The word comes from Latin word
ENCYCLIA (egkuklios Greek) meaning GENERAL (widespread).

It is a formal pastoral letter written by or in collaboration with the pope. It is

written by a bishop or group of bishops as an exposition of Christian beliefs and
practices. The use of letters for elaborating on Christian doctrine originated with the
Epistles of the New Testament. The best-known encyclicals of modern times are those
issued by the Anglican bishops at the end of the Lambeth Conferences held every ten
years (see Anglican Communion) and those issued by POPES. According to Roman
Catholic belief, the teachings of encyclicals must be accepted by the faithful but are
not regarded as infallible. A papal encyclical begins and ends with words of greeting
and blessing, and is known by the Latin phrase with which it opens, as in Paul VI's
encyclical Humanae Vitae (1968) on sexuality.

Encyclicals focus on timely teachings on matters of faith and morals.

They are the usual means by which the pope exercises teaching authority as the chief
pastor and teacher of the whole Church.
Catholics are usually obliged to obey the moral and theological content of all
encyclicals.
Week 11 Ecclesiology and Social Teachings of the Church Page 2 of 5

Customary for Papal Encyclicals, the Latin Title comes from its incipit
(manuscript's opening words used as title) the opening word or words of a medieval
manuscript or an early printed book, by which it is often known in the absence of a title.

 Spe Salve
 Deus Caritas Est
 Caritas in Veritate
 Pacem in Terris

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATIONS:

Apostolic : Relating to pope: relating to, given by, or on behalf of the pope.
Relating to Apostles — relating to the Apostles or their teachings

Exhortations: Something intended to urge or persuade: something said or written in

order to urge somebody strongly to do something. (Usually, the outcome
of the Synod of Bishops in Rome)
Giving of advice — the giving of earnest advice or encouragement

 TertioMillenioAdviniente
 Mane NobiscumDomine
 SacramentumCaritatis
 Vita Consecrata
 Verbum Domini

CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING

It is the body of social principles and moral teaching articulated in the papal,
conciliar and other official documents issued in the late 19th century and deals with the
economic, political and social order.

Founded in the Old and New Testaments, traditional, philosophical and

theological teachings of the Church

EVANGELIZATION AND SOCIAL DOCTRINE

The Church as God’s dwelling place with men and women.... the Church sharing
in mankind’s joys and hopes, in its anxieties and sadness, stands with every man and
woman of every place and time, to bring them the good news of the Kingdom of God,
which in Jesus Christ has come and continues to be present among them. The Church
is present among mankind as God’s tent of meeting, God’s dwelling place among
men. (GS 1)

The Church enriches and permeates society with the Gospel.

 With her social teaching, the Church seeks to proclaim the Gospel and make it
present in the complex network of social relations.
Week 11 Ecclesiology and Social Teachings of the Church Page 3 of 5

 By means of her social doctrine, the Church takes on the task of proclaiming
what the Lord has entrusted to her. She teaches him the demands of justice and
peace in conformity with divine wisdom. CCC 2419.
 The social doctrine of the Church brings freedom. It has the effectiveness of truth
and grace that comes from the Spirit of God, who penetrates hearts,
predisposing them to thoughts and designs of love, justice, freedom and peace.

Social doctrine, evangelization and human promotion

 The Church’s social doctrine is an integral part of her evangelizing ministry.

 Nothing that concerns the community of men and women – situations and
problems regarding justice, freedom, development, relations between peoples,
peace – is foreign to evangelization, and evangelization would be incomplete if
it did not take into account the mutual demands continually made by the
Gospel and by the concrete, personal and social life of man. (EvangeliiNuntiandi
29).
 The social doctrine is a distinctive way for the Church to carry out her ministry of
the Word and her prophetic role. (SollicitudoReiSocialis 41)

The rights and duties of the Church

 With her social doctrine, the Church aims at helping man on the path of
salvation. (CentisimusAnnus 54).
 The Church has the right to be a teacher for mankind, teacher of the truth of
faith, the truth not only of dogmas but also of the morals whose source lies in
human nature itself and in the Gospel. (VeritatisSplendor 27).
 This right of the Church is at the same time a duty, because she cannot forsake
this responsibility without denying herself and her fidelity to Christ.

THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH’S SOCIAL DOCTRINE

Knowledge illuminated by faith

 The Church’s social doctrine is of a theological nature, specifically theological-

moral, since it is a doctrine aimed at guiding people’s behaviour.
 It finds its essential foundation in biblical revelation and in the tradition of the
Church
 Faith which receives the divine word and puts it into practice, effectively
interacts with reason.
 Faith and reason represent the two cognitive paths of the Church’s social
doctrine – Revelation and human nature.

Friendly dialogue with all branches of knowledge

 The contribution of philosophy

 Contribution of human sciences and social sciences
Week 11 Ecclesiology and Social Teachings of the Church Page 4 of 5

An expression of the Church’s ministry of teaching

 In the Church’s social doctrine the Magisterium is at work in all its various
components and expressions.
 As it is a part of Church’s moral teaching, the Church’s social doctrine has the
same dignity and authority as her moral teaching.

For a society reconciled in justice and love

 By means of her social doctrine, the Church shows her concern for human life in
society, aware that the quality of social life – that is , of the relationships of justice
and love that form the fabric of society.
 The Church’s social doctrine becomes judged and defender of unrecognized
and violated rights, especially of those of the poor, the least and the weak.

A message for the sons and daughters of the Church and for humanity

 The first recipient of the Church’s social doctrine is the Church community in its
entire membership, because everyone has social responsibilities that must be
fulfilled.

Under the sign of continuity and renewal

 The Church’s social doctrine shows a capacity for continuous renewal. Standing
firm in its principles does not make it a rigid teaching system, but a Magisterium
capable of opening itself to new things. (LibertatisConscientia 72)

 It is a teaching that is subject to the necessary and opportune adaptations

suggested by the changes in historical conditions and by the unceasing flow of
the events which are the setting of the life of people and society.
(SollicitudoReiSocialis 3)

 Mother and teacher, the Church does not close herself off nor retreat within
herself but is always open, reaching out to and turned towards man, whose
destiny of salvation is her reason for being.
Week 11 Ecclesiology and Social Teachings of the Church Page 5 of 5

Worksheet
Catholic Social Teaching II

Name: __________________________________________________ Date: ____________________

Course: _________________________________________________ Rating: ___________________

For Further Reflection:

Make your personal refection or insight in this passage. Write it clearly hand written in
not less than 300 words.

“An authentic faith – which is never comfortable or completely personal – always

involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave the earth
somehow better than we found it.” Pope Francis, Evangelii gaudium, 183