The Church. Go, [the Church] has been sent. Word. Sacrament. forms Communion Mission

Transcription

1 The Church Word forms Communion Mission Sacrament Go, [the Church] has been sent.

2 ECCLESIOLOGY Chapter 5: The Mission of the Church Evangelizing Cultures

3 What mission did Christ give? Matthew Jesus sending his disciples 1) Go, make disciples of all peoples 2) Baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit 3) Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

4 All that I have commanded = Kingdom of God Rule of God on earth whereby we are Reconciled with God from Sin to Holiness Formed into communion Union with God and one another Sent to love, esp. the marginalized

5 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit The ultimate purpose of mission is to enable people to share in the communion which exists between the Father and the Son unity in love (John Paul II: Redemptoris Missio)

6 Sent to love New Evangelization Catholic on Purpose book Euangelion = good news Rule of God Church exists in order to evangelize (Paul VI) US Goals 1. Bring about enthusiasm 2. Invite all 3. Foster gospel values

7 Sent to love I'd like to hear about your relationship with (journey to) God at this point, so I can help better. Passive three pre-conditions Trust Curiosity Openness Seeker Disciple Apostle Active three stages of growth

8 Kerygma: Jesus Act 1: Christ Scene 1: Act 2: Redeemer Scene 1: Act 3: Mediator Scene 1: Baptism Last Supper Mission Scene 2: Scene 2: Scene 2: Disciples Crucifixion Promise Scene 3: Scene 3: Lazarus Resurrection Trust Curiosity Openness Seeker Disciple Apostle

9 Kerygma Reference only Act 1 Scene 1 Baptism Mt Disciples Mt Lazarus Jn Act 2 Scene 1 Last Supper Mt Crucifixion Mt Resurrection Jn Act 3 Scene 1 Mission Jn Promise Mt

10 RCIA Tools: a set of rites + catechesis for adults (age of reason+) 3 groups of adults: Not baptized Baptized Protestant Non-catechized Catholic 4 stages: Evangelization accepted as Seeker Accept Elect Initiate Catechumenate chosen as Disciple Enlightenment initiated as Apostle Mystagogy

11 Inculturation 1. No culture is normative Each is limited Church must be catholic 2. Church must be embodied within cultures Incarnation Local Churches are primary agents of evangelization

12 Culture in the USA Affirm what is good Instinctual righteousness (justice) Prizing of freedom and religious liberty Openness to new immigrants Inspiring idealism Sexism Challenge what is not Materialism Consumerism Individualism Ethic of selfishness Ignoring the poor & weak Disregard of human life Chase of fads & pleasures

13 Chinese Rites Controversy 17 th 18 th centuries Confucian ancestor rites: pagan worship or compatible with Christian faith?

14 Salvation outside the Church Likewise we can say that in some real way [Protestants & Orthodox] are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, whereby [God] is operative among them with his sanctifying power. (Lumen Gentium #15) King Henry VIII brought the English out of communion with Catholic Church

15 Salvation outside the Church Catholic position: We see value in other religions, but we don t see them as equal. The Catholic Church rejects nothing of what is true and holy in these religions. Yet she proclaims Christ in whom men find the fullness of their religious life. (Nostra Aetate #2)

16 Is this a change? In practice, yes Lifting of Catholic-Orthodox Excommunication (1965) Lutheran-Catholic declaration on justification (1999) Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity Pontifical Council for Interreligious dialogue No change in doctrine 5 th century: Donatist baptism accepted by St Augustine Transition to the state of grace and adoption as sons of God takes place through the bath of regeneration [baptism] or the desire for it (Council of Trent on Justification DS 1524)

17 Nulla salus extra ecclesiam Leonard Feeney ( ) Holy Office censored Fr Feeney in 1949 for teaching no salvation outside the Catholic Faith Nulla salus can not be applied literally to every non-catholic Attention must be applied to peoples state of knowledge and their desire

18 Ecumenism at Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on the Church the sole Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with him. (#8) Decree on Ecumenism The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. (opening words)

19 Role of Peter s successor St John Paul II first servant of unity Vatican I solemnly defined (1870) Roman pontiff has the full and supreme power of jurisdiction over the whole Church (chap 3 #9) JP II: Ut Sint Unum (1995) I am convinced that I have a particular responsibility in heeding the request made of me to find a way of exercising the primacy which, while in no way renouncing what is essential to its mission, is nonetheless open to a new situation. (#95)