The Good Friday oration ad intra ecclesiam in the context of the post-conciliar liturgical reforms

This paper aims to juxtapose the differences between the versions of the Good Friday oration ad intra ecclesiam and unveil the theological character behind these modifications by analysing the prayers. The source materials were Benedict XV’s Roman Missal, Ordo Hebdomadae Sanctae Instauratus, Variationes in ordinem Hebdomadae Sanctae inducendae, and two typical editions of the reformed Roman Missals from 1970 and 2002. The paper is divided into three parts. In the first, the orations from the ad intra ecclesiam collection are explained. In the second, the changes to the orations are analysed. Finally, the influence on the theological character of the orations is presented. The analyses lead to the conclusion that it is difficult to specify a single criterion for the modifications in the ad intra ecclesiam collection. Sometimes, the changes resulted in a new organisation of the Church (e.g., oration for the Clergy and Laity of the Church), a shift in a person’s present state (oration for Those Preparing for Baptism), or a new understanding of the role of the Church in the world (oration for the Church). Some modifications are difficult to explain (oration for the Pope, for Those in Special Need).

Augustine on angelic knowledge

Angelic beings are spiritual intellectual beings. They possess knowledge; however, they are not omniscient. They are spiritual beings with limited knowledge in comparison to God, which means they are not like God who is the fullness of knowledge, they acquire knowledge. So, how do angelic beings acquire knowledge? What is the source of their knowledge? What is the nature of the angelic beings’ knowledge? What can angelic beings know and not know? What do these spiritual beings do with their angelic knowledge? Is there any difference between the fallen angels’ knowledge and the upright angels’ knowledge? What is the object of these spiritual intellectual beings’ knowledge? Augustine answered these questions in his theology of angelic knowledge. Augustine treated the nature of the knowledge the angels can acquire with their natural angelic faculty and the nature of the knowledge they acquire through the grace of God. Divine illumination is equally enjoyed by the angels and even more than humans do. The angels are lovers of the truth and they seek the truth either with the appropriate or inappropriate use of their will. The kind of knowledge they pursue determines their relationship with the creator. Augustine outlined how knowledge separates the good angels from the bad angels. These and more are what this paper seeks to explore.

"In saeculo et ex saeculo". Characteristics of the secular institutes

Secular institutes are a form of consecrated life that only came into being in the last century and therefore do not have a long history. For this reason, there are also only a few canonical and ecclesiastical documents. Since the characteristics of secular institutes, in contrast to traditional monastic communities, are rather unknown, this article aims to contribute to making them somewhat better known and to present the regulations on various elements, such as spirituality, community life, governance and asset management. However, the codified norms only form a legal framework here, which leaves concretisation to the institutes' own regulations, so that there is a wide range. What all institutes have in common, however, is the connection between action and contemplation, which is also their main characteristic.

Karl Rahner and the practical theology

It is surprising that Karl Rahner (1904-1984), as a systematic theologian, provided essential impulses for practical theology. But he played an important role in planning and editing the "Handbuch der Pastoraltheologie" (1964-1972). The basis for this work was Rahners view of practical theology as a science of the self-fulfillment of the church in the respective current situation. However, this ecclesial conception of pastoral theology soon encountered opposition. On the other hand, his demand for a “new mystagogy” was often taken up for concepts of mystagogical pastoral care and mystagogical learning.