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The Church: A Communion of Faith and Unity - Lumen Gentium, Lecture notes of Law

An overview of the Church as presented in the Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church from the Second Vatican Council. Topics include the Church's role in God's plan, its preparation and institution by Christ, its nature as the People of God, Body of Christ, and Temple of the Holy Spirit, and its unity and communion with other Christians and non-Christians. The document also emphasizes the importance of holiness and the role of Mary as a model for believers.

What you will learn

  • What role does the Church play in God's plan according to Lumen Gentium?
  • How was the Church instituted by Christ according to the document?
  • What is the nature of the Church as described in Lumen Gentium?

Typology: Lecture notes

2021/2022

Uploaded on 09/12/2022

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12TH GRADE – FIRST SEMESTER – THE CHURCH
“Christ is the light of humanity; and it is, accordingly, the heart-felt desire of this
sacred Council, being gathered together in the Holy Spirit, that, by proclaiming his
Gospel to every creature, it may bring to all men that light of Christ which shines
out visibly from the Church.” - Lumen Gentium #1
(This outline is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #’s
748-975) and from the Vatican Council II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
Lumen Gentium (LG).
Numbers with parentheses around them denote the appropriate paragraph number
in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We have also added some appropriate
Scripture citations, as well as cross-references to Lumen Gentium (LG).
I. The Church in God’s Plan
A. Names and Images of the Church (754-757); LG 6
1. Symbols of the Church
a. Sheepfold -Mt. -21: 33-43
b. cultivated field -Jn. 10: 1-10
c. building of God
d. bride of Christ -Rev. 19:7
e. that Jerusalem which is above -Rev. 19:7
f. our mother
B. The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission (758-769)
1. A plan born in the Father’s Heart
a. gradually formed in human history
b. present in figure at the beginning
c. established in last age of the world
d. made manifest in outpouring of Holy Spirit
e. brought to glorious completion at end of time
2. The Church- foreshadowed from the world’s beginning
a. world created for sake of communion with God
b. communion brought about by bringing together of mankind
in Christ
c. This “convocation” is the Church.
3. The Church- prepared for in the Old Covenant
a. Gathering of the People of God begins when original sin
committed.
b. Remote preparation of People of God begins with call of
Abraham. -Gen. 12:2
c. Immediate preparation begins with Israel’s election as
people of God. Israel a sign of future gathering of all
people. -Ex. 19: 5-6
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12 TH^ GRADE – FIRST SEMESTER – THE CHURCH

“Christ is the light of humanity; and it is, accordingly, the heart-felt desire of this sacred Council, being gathered together in the Holy Spirit, that, by proclaiming his Gospel to every creature, it may bring to all men that light of Christ which shines out visibly from the Church.” - Lumen Gentium #

(This outline is taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph #’s 748-975) and from the Vatican Council II’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium (LG).

Numbers with parentheses around them denote the appropriate paragraph number in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We have also added some appropriate Scripture citations, as well as cross-references to Lumen Gentium (LG).

I. The Church in God’s Plan A. Names and Images of the Church (754-757); LG 6

  1. Symbols of the Church a. Sheepfold -Mt. -21: 33- b. cultivated field -Jn. 10: 1- c. building of God d. bride of Christ -Rev. 19: e. that Jerusalem which is above -Rev. 19: f. our mother B. The Church’s Origin, Foundation, and Mission (758-769)
  2. A plan born in the Father’s Heart a. gradually formed in human history b. present in figure at the beginning c. established in last age of the world d. made manifest in outpouring of Holy Spirit e. brought to glorious completion at end of time
  3. The Church- foreshadowed from the world’s beginning a. world created for sake of communion with God b. communion brought about by bringing together of mankind in Christ c. This “convocation” is the Church.
  4. The Church- prepared for in the Old Covenant a. Gathering of the People of God begins when original sin committed. b. Remote preparation of People of God begins with call of Abraham. -Gen. 12: c. Immediate preparation begins with Israel’s election as people of God. Israel a sign of future gathering of all people. -Ex. 19: 5-

d. Prophets announce that new and eternal covenant will be established. LG 9; -Hos. 9 e. Christ establishes new and eternal covenant LG 9

  1. The Church- instituted by Christ Jesus a. Jesus inaugurated the Church by preaching the Good News. LG 5 b. The Church is already the reign of Christ present in mystery. LG 3 c. Jesus endowed the Church with a structure. -Mk. 3: 14- 1. Choice of the 12 - represents 12 tribes of Israel - these are foundation stones of the New Jerusalem 2. Peter as head of the12 -Mt. 19: 28
  2. The Church is born primarily of Christ’s total self-giving for our salvation, anticipated in the institution of the Eucharist and fulfilled on the cross. (766) LG 3; Jn. 19: 34
  3. The Church is manifested as mystery of salvation by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. LG 4; -Jn. 17:
  4. The Church will be perfected in heaven. LG 5; -2 Cor. 5: C. The mystery of the Church (770-771); LG 8
  5. The Church is visible and spiritual.
  6. She is one, yet with two elements: a. human b. divine
  7. The Church is the communion of God and men. II. The Church- People of God, Body of Christ, Temple of the Holy Spirit A. The Church- People of God (782-786); LG 9
  8. Characteristics of the People of God -1 Pet. 2: a. Become member by faith in Christ and Baptism -Jn. 3: 3- b. Head of the People of God is Jesus Christ c. Status of People of God is dignity of the freedom of the sons of God d. Law of People of God is to love as Christ loved us – cf. Jn. 13: 34 e. Mission is to be salt of the earth -Mt. 5: 13- f. Destiny is the Kingdom of God, begun by God on earth and perfected at end of time
  9. A priestly, prophetic, and royal people B. The Church- Body of Christ (787 –796); LG
  10. The Church is communion with Jesus a. Share in His: a. Mission b. joy c. sufferings
  11. “One Body” a. In unity of Body a diversity of functions

e. Their power derives from the fullness of grace and truth that Christ entrusted to the Catholic Church. LG 8

  1. Toward unity a. Christ gives the gift of unity to His Church. b. We must pray and work to maintain, reinforce, and perfect the unity which Christ wills. c. How to respond to this call: - permanent renewal of the Church in fidelity to Christ - on – going conversion of heart of the faithful - prayer in common - fraternal knowledge of each other’s religions - ecumenical formation - dialogue between Christians - collaboration among Christians, e.g. in the effort to defend human life d. While praying and striving for unity, we must not compromise Church teaching. e. We should all pray and strive for the unity in truth and love that Jesus desires. B. The Church is Holy (823 – 829)
  2. Because Jesus has taken her as His bride, giving Himself up for her LG 39; Eph: 25-
  3. All activities of the Church are directed to: a. the sanctification of men in Christ b. the glorification of God
  4. The holiness of the Church on earth is real though imperfect. LG 48
  5. The fullness of the means of salvation has been deposited in the Church. -Eph. 1: 22-
  6. All the faithful are called to perfection in holiness. LG 11
  7. Charity is the soul of holiness. LG 42
  8. The Church follows constantly the path of penance and renewal. LG 8; Heb. 2: 17
  9. Canonized saints are models of holiness that the Church holds up for us and they are intercessors who pray for us to be holy. LG 40
  10. Mary is the Queen of All Saints and our Model of Holiness among the members of the Church LG 40 C. The Church is Catholic (830 – 856)
  11. “catholic” means “universal”
  12. She proclaims the fullness of the faith.
  13. The Catholic Church “bears in herself and administers the totality of the means of salvation.” (866)
  14. The Catholic Church and other Christians a. The Church is joined in many ways to the baptized who are also Christian, but do not preserve the Catholic Faith in its

entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter, the Pope. LG 15 b. These Christians are in a certain, though imperfect communion with the Catholic Church. c. With the Orthodox Churches this communion is particularly profound.

  • They have the same sacraments.
  • Have great devotion to the Mother of God and the saints
  • Many of the same or similar beliefs, traditions and practices
  1. The Church and non – Christians a. The relationship of the Church with the Jewish people
  • The Jewish people were the first to hear the word of God
  • To the Jews belong the sonship, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, the promises, the patriarchs, and of their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ. -Rom. 9: 4- b. The Church’s relationship with the Muslims
  • They profess to hold the faith of Abraham. LG 16
  • They adore the one, merciful God. LG 16 c. True ecumenism looks to those things, which unite us, but does not “paper over” our differences. d. The Church is missionary by her very nature.
  • She is sent to all people.
  • She encompasses all times.
  • God wills the salvation of every person through the knowledge of the truth.
  • The ultimate purpose of the Church’s mission is to make men and women sharers in the communion of the Holy Trinity. D. The Church is Apostolic (857 – 865)
  1. The Church is apostolic because she is founded on the apostles in three ways: a. She is built on the “foundation of the apostles.” -Eph. 2: b. She keeps and hands on the teaching she has heard from the apostles. -Acts 2: c. She continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Jesus’ return, through their successors, the bishops, assisted by priests, in union with the Pope.
  2. The Church is indestructible -Mt. 16: 13–
  3. The Church is upheld infallibly in the truth. E. The sole Church of Christ, which is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic, subsists in the Catholic Church (CCC #’s 811, 824, and 870) Has the fullness of the means of salvation. (811, 824, 870); LG 8; Unitatis redintegratio 3 IV. Christ’s Faithful- Hierarchy, Laity, and Consecrated together constitute the People of God

a. in their families b. in their workplace c. in politics d. in art e. in music f. in film g. in sport

  1. Become holy through a sincere gift of self in their chosen vocation “It is the glory of man to continue and remain in the service of God.” – St. Irenaeus V. The Communion of Saints A. Communion in Spiritual Goods (949-953); LG 12; -Acts 2: 42; -Acts 4: 32; -Rom. 14: 7; -1 Cor. 12: 26- B. The three states of the Church (954 – 959); LG 50
  2. Pilgrims on earth -Eph. 4: 16
  3. The dead who are being purified (Purgatory) -2 Macc. 12: 45 a. Our prayer for them helps them and makes their intercession for us more effective
  4. Those in glory (Heaven) a. intercede for us C. Communion in charity
  5. Every individual act of charity profits the entire Church.
  6. Every individual sin harms communion. VI. Mary- Mother of Christ, Mother of the Church A. Aided the beginnings of Church by her prayers. (965); LG 69 B. At end of her earthly life was taken up body and soul to heaven (966); LG 59 C. Exalted by God as Queen over all things (966); LG 59 D. Church’s model of faith and charity (967) E. A type of the Church (967); LG 53 F. Mother to us in the order of grace (968); LG 61 G. In no way diminishes or obscures unique mediation of Jesus- actually shows forth Christ’s power (970); LG 60 H. Devotion to Mary is intrinsic to Christian worship. (1971); Lk. 1: 48 I. This special devotion is completely different than adoration, which we give to God alone. (971); LG 66 J. True devotion to Mary actually fosters the adoration due to God alone. (971); LG 66 K. Rosary is a devotion which helps us focus on the Gospel – Meditations on Christ’s life (971) L. In Mary, we not only have a model for our lives, but we see what the Church will be like in heaven, the New Jerusalem. (972); LG 69

We recommend the following as supplemental resources for teachers:

The Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on The Church ( Lumen Gentium ); Pauline Books and Media, Boston.

On The Mystical Body of Christ ( Mystici Corporis ), Encyclical Letter by Pope Pius XII, Pauline Books and Media, Boston.