➔ Imagine how better our world would be if all the laity took

THEOLOGY (PERIODICAL EXAMINATION REVIEWER)  seriously their vocation of becoming “the light of the world and
the salt of the earth!” ​Article 9
2.2 Vatican II and the Images of the Church ● The Church as the new “People of God”
● Christ as People of God ○ By developing the concept of the Church as People of God, ​the
○ “Follow Me”​ - ​Jesus’ invitation (Matthew 8:22) Council Fathers​ ​showed its relationship with, and continuity in,
○ Lumen Gentium​ -​ “light of the nations” salvation history.
➔ It is ​a Dogmatic constitution of the Church ○ The ​chosen People of God​, ​Israel,​ in the ​Old Testament​,
➔ ARTICLE 17​: “Each of us God’s people is called to be become the “new People of God,” the Church, in the New
that light as we fulfill our ‘obligation of spreading the Testament, ​“consecrated to be a spiritual house and a holy
faith.” priesthood” ​(Article 10)
● The Church as the “People of God” ○ People new of God ​- ​Israel in the new testament
○ The​ concept of the Church​ - as the “People of God” is discussed ● This image identifies the Church as God's pilgrim people
at ​great length in Articles 9-17 of Lumen Gentium. ○ looking forward to a perfect identity in the ​end times
○ The ​ancient concept of the Church as the Body of Christ ○ "at the end of the world... those ​who have done good, (will go
discussed by ​St. Paul​ in his letter to the ​Colossians 1:24 ​is forth) to the resurrection of life​, and ​those who have done evil,
given special attention. to the resurrection of judgment"​ ​(article 48).
○ The Church as the “People of God” ​exists as the “Mystical Body ● Lumen Gentium's View of the Church
of Christ” ○ Chapters 4—7​ of the Constitution, ​speak of the laity,​ the
○ As God’s People and members of His Mystical Body, ​we are universal call to holiness​, ​eschatological orientation of the
universally called to greater holiness,​ both ​individually and as a Church.
people​. ​(Articles 39 - 42) ○ Lumen Gentium uses several ​images to describe the Church​.
● The Image of the Church as the People of God Some of these are: ​the Kingdom of God in mystery​; ​the vine
○ Having been ​consecrated in baptism​ and thus ​sharing in the planted by God​; ​temple and dwelling place of the Holy Spirit​; ​our
common priesthood of the baptized mother​;​ God's family​; ​God's building​; ​God's pilgrim people on
○ The theme is​ developed later in the 1965 Vatican II decree earth​; ​the Body of Christ.
Apostolicam Actuositatem​ (Apostolic Activity - Promulgated by ○ The existence of the Church ​is ​not​ ​some historical accident​ or
St. Paul VI) on the ​Apostolate of the Laity the result of the collective will of people but a ​free act of creation
➔ Where the laity are encouraged to engage in the by God as part of the salvation.
apostolate for the goods of souls and the renewal of the ○ Vatican Il ​teaches that her​ origins are from God"​ is sometimes
temporal order. mistaken for an expression, which means the laity and ​does not
❏ Chapter 7 of Lumen Gentium include the clergy (deacons, priests, and bishops)​. But the
➔ We are told, “In a word: what the soul is in the body, let "People of God" includes the whole Church.
Christians be in the world ​(Article 38)
 ○ Vatican Il ​teaches that the whole People of God—laity and 2.3 The Church as Mystery
clergy— has received the same faith that comes to us from the ● Omniscience​ - ​quality or state of being knowing everything​ (God’s
Apostles and the Spirit speaks through the whole Church but in know everything)
a special way through the apostolic ministry received from the ● Omnipotence​ - ​all powerful that everything comes from God
Holy Spirit by the bishops. ❏ The ​Paschal Mystery​ of ​our faith is one of the most important parts of
○ Vatican II affirms what Scripture teaches​: that we have all been God's revelation of His entire plan of salvation.​ The fulfillment of God's
baptized into Christ and together we are parts of one another promise was evidently revealed when ​Jesus Christ rose up from the
(Rom. 5:12) dead and ascended into heaven
❏ This ​revelation was basically presented to the Apostles and was
❏ Eschatology ​- a ​Christian term ​that means the ​study of the end of handed down to us as a very important part of faith ​(revealed to us
history from a religious perspective​ (end time/end of times) continuously through our faith). Our Church continuously celebrates
this mystery of our faith and has placed it at the ​core of our faith.
❏ In these ​chapters (4-7) the intrinsic purpose​ once again comes to the
fore: ● Mystery of the Church
❏ that is, all that is​ most essential to her existence: ○ On Pilgrimage until the Glory (CCC 769-770)
❏ it is ​a question of holiness, of conformity to God,​ that there be room in ➔ Until Christ returns and bestows his full glory​, "the
the world for God, that ​he dwell​ in it and ​thus that the world become his Church will make her pilgrimage in the midst of the
"kingdom." world's persecutions and God's consolations" ​(St.
❏ Holiness is something more than a moral quality.​ It is the dwelling of Augustine).
God with men, and of men with God, God's "tent" among ➔ The ​Church is in exile​ and will be ​perfected by great trials
until all the just are gathered in the Father's presence.
● Matthew ​reminds us of​ how we are supposed to act as a member of ➔ Only by faith can someone see that the Church exists in
the Church. history (her visible reality) and yet transcends history (her
spiritual reality) bringing divine life.
◆ God’s consolation​ - human receiving God’s
blessings daily
● Visible and Spiritual (CCC 771)
○ Christ ​established and sustains the Church as a visible
organization through which he communicates truth and
grace to all​. The Church is:
○ A society with hierarchical structure
○ Christ's mystical body
○ A visible society and a spiritual community
○ An earthly Church endowed with heavenly riches
 ○ "One complex reality" with human and divine elements
● When God and Man are one (CCC 772-773)
○ This ​nuptial of Christ with his Church is "the great mystery"​ and
the Church, by union with Christ her bridegroom, becomes "the ● The Church as Mystery
hope of glory" ​(1 Corinthians 13:8). ○ Mystici Corporis​ - ​The ​last major official pronouncement on
○ The Church's ​whole purpose is to unite men with God. ecclesiology​ before ​Vatican Il was Pius Xll's encyclical
○ Her structure is​ totally ordered to holiness​ and measured by how ○ Not merely an image​ but a concept
well the Bride responds to the Bridegroom. ○ To ​describe the true church of Christ
○ Because ​Mary precedes all of us in holiness​, the Marian ○ There is no title more noble, none more excellent, none more
dimension of the Church precedes the Petrine dimension ​(Pope divine, than the ​“Mystical Body of Christ”
John Paul II).
● A Visible Sign of Salvation (CCC 774)
○ Mystery​ (in Greek) is t​ranslated "sacrament."
○ "sacrament" ​emphasized the visible sign of salvation.
○ Christ himself is this sacrament ​(mystery)
○ "For there is no other mystery of God, except Christ" ​(St.
Augustine).
○ Christ's actions are ​revealed in the seven sacraments​. In an
analogical sense, the Church herself is a sacrament, containing
and communicating this invisible grace.
○ Example: Baptism
● Sign of Man’s Unity (CCC 775 - 776)
○ The Church is the ​sacrament of men's inner union with God.
○ She is also the ​sacrament of the unity of the human race
because man's unity is rooted in God. At the end of time, she
will gather men "from all tribes and peoples and tongues" ​(Rev
7:9)​.
○ In her present state, ​she is a sign of a unity yet to come.
○ She is "the visible plan of the love of God who desires that the
whole human race become one People of God" ​(Pope Paul VI).