Female Deacons and the Unity of the Sacrament of Order: Responding to the German Skeptics

2021 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 351-370
Author(s):  
Jakob Karl Rinderknecht
Keyword(s):  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
Ordination Of Women ◽  
The Church

Over the last several decades, a group of German-speaking theologians has proposed an argument against the possibility of the ordination of women as deacons. They argue both that the unity of the sacrament of order requires that anyone ordained to the diaconate must be able to be ordained to the presbyterate and the episcopate and that the gendered constitution of humanity prevents women from imaging Christ as head of the church. This paper argues that this understanding of the sacrament and who properly receives it leads to a misinterpretation of the ecclesiology of the Second Vatican Council and a reinstatement of a medieval aporia that Lumen Gentium sought to overcome. Therefore, this argument should not be allowed to affect the Church’s deliberations on the question of whether women can be ordained as deacons.

scholarly journals Dar nieomylności. Od Pastor aeternus do Sensus fidei

2018 ◽  
pp. 239-250
Author(s):  
Bogdan Ferdek
Keyword(s):  
Divine Revelation ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
People Of God ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The Church

Second Vatican Council took over from the first Vatican Council the doctrine on infallible teaching of the Bishop of Rome, approved it and presented in more complete context. It is the teaching of Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen gentium on infallibility of bishops when together with the pope they exercise the Church's Magisterium, and on supernatural sense of faith of all people, thanks to which they cannot get lost in faith. International Theological Commission issued “Sensus fidei” in the life of the Church, a document which deals with the issue of supernatural sense of faith of all people of God. This document presents sufficient theology of sensus fidei and therefore it is possible to attempt to place the dogma about the pope’s infallibility into more complete context which sensus fidei is a part of. Three carriers of infallibility in the Church: the pope, the college of bishops and sensus fidei are complementary to one another when it comes to explanation and defence of the divine Revelation. None of them can form anything new in relation to the Revelation. All together serve infallibility given to the Church by the Spirit of Truth.

Mariology at and after the Second Vatican Council

2019 ◽  
pp. 515-530
Author(s):  
Arthur B. Calkins
Keyword(s):  
Virgin Mary ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Final Word ◽  
Formal Treatment ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Constant Tension ◽  
Solid Foundation ◽  
The Church ◽  
Intense Debate

The formal treatment of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the Second Vatican Council (1962–65) was solemnly promulgated on 21 November 1964 as the eighth and final of the council’s most foundational document Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church. There was intense debate over whether there should be a separate document on Mary or whether it should be included in the document on the Church. By a margin of just forty votes it was decided to include the document on Mary in the constitution on the Church. There was a constant tension between presenting Mary in terms of her analogy with Christ and her analogy with the Church. After eight drafts, a remarkable balance was achieved. While the Council Fathers had no intention of saying a final word on Mary, they presented a biblical-dogmatic treatise that provides a solid foundation for teaching about Mary, which continued to be developed and commented on by the postconciliar popes, especially by Pope Saint John Paul II.

New Ecclesial Movements and Communities

2016 ◽  
pp. 819-832
Author(s):  
Ian Ker
Keyword(s):  
Religious Communities ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Religious Orders ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Constant Feature ◽  
Ascetic Communities ◽  
The Church

This chapter considers the flowering of new religious communities after the Second Vatican Council. The Council’s ecclesiological constitution Lumen gentium emphasizes the charismatic dimension of the Church at some key points, although without pitting this dimension against the hierarchical. Recent charismatic movements within the Church are the latest manifestation of a constant feature of the Church’s life, from early Christian ascetic communities, through to the new religious orders of the sixteenth and then the nineteenth centuries. The latter sections of the chapter consider a series of recent movements and their different charisms: Opus Dei, Charismatic Renewal, the Emmanuel Community, the Community of the Beatitudes, the Neocatechumenal Way, Communion and Liberation, and Focolare.

scholarly journals Catechesis and education as a function of building the Church according to Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki (On the centenary of the birth of the great educator)

2022 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 335-347
Author(s):  
Kazimierz Misiaszek
Keyword(s):  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Christian Initiation ◽  
Community Of Faith ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
God's People ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
German Speaking ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
The Church

For Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki, the catechesis was in close relationship with the Church. The most appropriate place for the catechesis as the fundamental formation of Christians (adults, youth and children) is in the Church which is both the subject, goal and object of catechesis. Fr. Franciszek Blachnicki drew the concepts of the Church from studies by German-speaking authors, and above all from documents of the Second Vatican Council. For him, the Church was an intermediary of salvation, a universal sacrament of salvation, a mother, a temple of God, and most of all, a union of God's people, a community in Christ, a community of faith, hope and love. The task of catechesis is, in the first place, the introduction and experience of the Church. The nature of catechesis stems from the concept of the Church. Therefore, if the Church is a community, the aim of catechesis is to introduce it to the faithful so that they may not only participate in it, but above all create it. It is also important that catechesis  serves the process of Christian initiation, discovering the Church as a place of fulfilling the mystery of life, salvation and healing. Therefore, Fr. Blachnicki put a strong emphasis on the relationship between the liturgy and catechesis, because the most complete process of initiation takes place in the liturgy. Another task of catechesis is its function of awakening and developing faith. For faith is the foundation for the Church and the primary goal for catechesis. It is to be both personalistic and social in nature. Father Blachnicki claimed that cathechesis educated faith was not an individual faith but the faith of the Church. Many Christians, even including those most zealous, live their Christian lives alongside the life of the Church, but not in the Church. In the meantime, every Christian is the Church, because the Church is the whole Christ, the head and members, and we are its members. For that reason, the life of the Church grows in so far as the life of faith of each member grows.

scholarly journals The Teaching of Pope Francis About Synodality in the Context of Contemporary Theological and Ecumenical Reflection

2021 ◽  
Vol 91 (5) ◽  
pp. 147-173
Author(s):  
Janusz Bujak
Keyword(s):  
Local Church ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Catholic Theology ◽  
Pope Francis ◽  
John Paul Ii ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The Church

The article deals with the ecclesiology of the local Church and synodality. Both topics have been present in Catholic theology since the time of the Second Vatican Council, which laid the foundation for the ecclesiology of the local/particular Church, collegiality of bishops and synodality. This ecclesiology was developed both theoretically and practically in the post-conciliar period, but there are some theologians who believe that during the pontificate of John Paul II there was a return to the universalist ecclesiology, as evidenced by the documents published by the Roman Curia, especially Communionis notio. Pope’s Francis teaching on synodality and strengthening the Church at local and regional levels addresses the demands of those theologians who believe that Chapter III of the Lumen Gentium Constitution has not yet been properly implemented. The Pope emphasizes, that synodality is a constitutive dimension of the Church and therefore what the Lord is asking of us is already in some sense fully present in the word “synod” itself.

The Second Vatican Council

2016 ◽  
pp. 781-802
Author(s):  
Gavin D'Costa
Keyword(s):  
Biblical Interpretation ◽  
Modern World ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Gaudium Et Spes ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Dei Verbum ◽  
The Church

This chapter considers the Second Vatican Council (1959–65) and its reception. The first half of the chapter focuses on the four central ‘constitutions’ promulgated by the council: Lumen gentium on the nature and structure of the Church; Dei Verbum on the nature of revelation; Sacrosanctum Concilium on the liturgy; and Gaudium et spes on the Church in the modern world. The second half of the chapter considers the different ways in which the teachings of the council have been interpreted. A six-fold categorization of responses is outlined. The chapter then focuses on two of these categories, and parallels their different approaches with different strands in modern biblical interpretation.

Evaluating Church Organisations by the Light of Lumen Gentium

Ecclesiology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-33
Author(s):  
Christina Kheng
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Management Science ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Leadership And Management ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The World ◽  
Catholic Tradition ◽  
Rich Content ◽  
The Church

Rapid growth in the field of management science in recent decades has resulted in a plethora of resources for leadership and management in the Church. How should ecclesiologists respond to this trend? This essay highlights the importance of a theologically-grounded approach to managing church organisations. In particular, it examines a foundational document in the Catholic tradition from the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium, to draw implications for evaluating church organisations. Most studies on Lumen Gentium have focused on one or other aspect of its multiply-rich content. This analysis, however, on the recent 50th anniversary of the document’s promulgation in November 1964, recaps its overall message through a triple hermeneutics of author, text and receiver and brings this message into dialogue with the modern-day challenge of managing church organisations. It will be proposed that the real fruitfulness of these organisations depends on the extent to which they manifest the Church’s nature and mission as a sacrament of salvation for the world. The implications of this are then translated into a framework for evaluating church organisations.

scholarly journals History of Mariology at the Second Vatican Council

2019 ◽  
pp. 68-77
Author(s):  
Платон Кудласевич
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Virgin Mary ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Catholic Faith ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
History Of ◽  
Intermediary Role ◽  
Doctrine Of The Church ◽  
The Church

В статье рассматривается деяние Второго Ватиканского собора на предмет обсуждения и принятия марилогических вопросов. До открытия собора часть епископата призывала совсем не затрагивать мариологических вопросов, другие ожидали нового мариологического догмата, а третьи призывали вынести соборное определение о посреднической роли Матери Божией в деле спасения. В исследовании представлены противоположные точки зрения на принятие определений о Матери Божией (в качестве отдельного независимого документа или же в составе учения о Церкви). После полемики и нескольких голосований в конечном итоге 21 ноября 1964 года было торжественно провозглашено «Догматическое постановление о Церкви» (“Lumen Gentium” (лат.) - «Свет народам»), в восьмой главе которого излагается соборное учение о Марии. В этой главе собор подтвердил принятые ранее мариологические догматы (о непорочном зачатии и телесном вознесении Девы Марии), а также признал Матерь Иисуса Христа образом и началом Церкви. В настоящее время соборное постановление «Свет народам» стало полноправным документом Католической Церкви. Оно является официальным выражением католической веры в лице её епископов, богословов и простых верующих. Можно сказать, что Второй Ватиканский собор привёл к сдвигу в мариологических исследованиях от своей изначально обособленной в богословии позиции к более плотной связанности со Христом и Церковью. This article examines the work of the Second Vatican Council with regard to the discussion and reception of mariological questions. Prior to the opening of the Council, some of the episcopate called for no Mariological issues at all, others expected a new Mariological dogma, and still others called for a conciliar definition concerning the intermediary role of the Mother of God in salvation. The study presents proponents of opposing views on the adoption of definitions on the Mother of God (as a separate independent document or as part of the doctrine of the Church). After controversy and several votes, the doctrinal statement on the Church was finally solemnly proclaimed on November 21, 1964 (Lumen Gentium, Latin for Light to the Nations), chapter eight of which sets out the council's teaching on Mary. In this chapter, the Council reaffirmed the earlier Mariological dogmas (about the Immaculate Conception and the bodily ascension of the Virgin Mary) and recognized the Mother of Jesus Christ as the image and origin of the Church. Nowadays, the council resolution "Light to the Nations" has become a full-fledged document of the Catholic Church. It is the official expression of the Catholic faith represented by its bishops, theologians and ordinary faithful. The Second Vatican Council can be said to have led to a shift in Mariological studies from its originally separate position in theology to a tighter connection with Christ and the Church.

scholarly journals Pneumatologia w eklezjologii Konstytucji Lumen gentium Soboru Watykańskiego II z perspektywy teologii Yves’a Congara

2019 ◽  
pp. 41-65
Author(s):  
Artur Antoni Kasprzak
Keyword(s):  
Subject Matter ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Lumen Gentium ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Theological Thought ◽  
The Church ◽  
Insight Into

For all readers of the text of the Lumen Gentium constitution of the Second Vatican Council during this event, and also immediately afterwards, it seemed that the document focused solely on the explanation of the Church from the perspective of Christ. Some of the conciliar observers, espe- cially the Orthodox theologians, brought up criticism that the reflection of the Council was marked by a Christomonism. This study presents the question of the pneumatological implications of the ecclesiology contained in the Lumen Gentium constitution from the perspective of Yves Congar’s theological thought. As the analysis of the undertaken research will show, the answer of the French theologian not only provides an essential response to the objection of Christomonism based on a direct commitment of this theologian to the co-writing of Lumen Gentium as early as March 1963, but it also gives a thorough insight into the subject-matter referring to his theological achievements already before and mainly after the Council. The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church has a dis- tinct pneumatological dimension. The theology contained therein is related to all the theses on the subject as they were formulated by Yves Congar in 1973.

The Aggiornamento Phenomenon and the Second Vatican Council

2020 ◽  
pp. 98-105
Author(s):  
Hiermonk Ioann ( Bulyko) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Roman Catholic Church ◽  
Second Vatican Council ◽  
Church Fathers ◽  
John Xxiii ◽  
The People ◽  
Vatican Council ◽  
Pope John Xxiii ◽  
The Church

The Second Vatican Council was a unique event in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Initiated by Pope John XXIII, it was intended to make the Roman Catholic Church more open to the contemporary society and bring it closer to the people. The principal aim of the council was the so called aggiornamento (updating). The phenomenon of updating the ecclesiastical life consisted in the following: on the one hand, modernization of the life of the Church and closer relations with the secular world; on the other hand, preserving all the traditions upon which the ecclesiastical life was founded. Hence in the Council’s documents we find another, French word ressourcement meaning ‘return to the origins’ based on the Holy Scripture and the works of the Church Fathers. The aggiornamento phenomenon emerged during the Second Vatican Council due to the movement within the Catholic Church called nouvelle theologie (French for “new theology”). Its representatives advanced the ideas that became fundamental in the Council’s decisions. The nouvelle theologie was often associated with modernism as some of the ideas of its representatives seemed to be very similar to those of modernism. However, what made the greatest difference between the two movements was their attitude towards the tradition. For the nouvelle theologie it was very important to revive Christianity in its initial version, hence their striving for returning to the sources, for the oecumenical movement, for better relations with non-Catholics and for liturgical renewal. All these ideas can be traced in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, and all this is characterized by the word aggiornamento.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document