PAPAL ENCYCLS

1
PAPAL ENCYCLICALS

PASTORAL LETTERS
2
ENCYCLICALS

• Circular letter
• Addresses Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops
• Addresses Bishops of the Universal Church
• Addresses matters that affect the welfare of the
  church at large
• Documents that are written in order to address
  and speak to the needs of the times, such as,
  Vatican II documents

3
EXAMPLES

• GAUDIEM ET SPES- THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
• PACEM IN TERRIS- PEACE ON EARTH
• POPULORUM PROGRESSIO- THE DEVELOPMENT OF PEOPLES
• HUMANAE VITAE- OF HUMAN LIFE

4
How Not to Read Encyclicals

1. They are not an exercise in speed reading
2. They are not just to be read
3. Reading it once is not enough

5
How to Read Encyclicals

• Have a Bible and a dictionary on hand
• They are to be studied
• They have been written for the Universal Church
• For the first time reader
• a. use them for Spiritual reading
• b. meditate on them
• c. check out the Scriptural references

6
PASTORAL LETTERS

• Open letter addressed by a Bishop to the Clergy
  or Laity of his Diocese
• Contains either general admonition, instruction,
  consolation
• Directions for behavior in particular
  circumstances
• Sent out regularly at particular ecclesiastical
  seasons such as Fasts (Advent or Lent)
• Often called a Pastoral

7
EXAMPLES

• PASTORAL STATEMENT OF U.S. CATHOLIC BISHOPS ON
  PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NOV. 16, 1978
• PASTORAL STATEMENT FOR CATHOLICS ON BIBLICAL
  FUNDAMENTALISM NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CATHOLIC
  BISHOPS AD HOC COMMITTEE ON BIBLICAL
  FUNDAMENTALISM

8
VATICAN II DOCUMENTS1962- 1965

• THERE ARE 16 DOCUMENTS
• 4 CONSTITUTIONSTHE MOST IMPORTANT OF THE
• 
  DOCUMENTS
• DEI VERBUM- DIVINE REVELATION
• LUMEN GENTIUM- CONSTITUTION ON THE
  CHURCH
• GAUDIUM ET SPES- CHURCH IN THE MODERN
  WORLD
• SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM- SACRED LITURGY

9
NINE DECREES

• INTER MIRIFICA- MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION
• ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM- CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE
  EASTERN RITE
• UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO- ECUMENISM
• CHRISTUS DOMINUS- PASTORAL OFFICE OF BISHOPS IN
  TH CHURCH
• PERFECTAE CARITATIS- RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS LIFE
• OPTATUM TOTIUS- PRIESTLY TRAINING
• APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM- APOSTOLATE OF THE LAITY
• AD GENTES- MISSION ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH
• PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS- MINISTRY AND LIFE OF
  PRIESTS

10
THREE DECLARATIONS

• GRAVISSIMUM EDUCATIONIS- CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
• NOSTRA AETATE- RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO
  NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS
• DIGNITATIS HUMANAE- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

11
LUMEN GENTIUMLIGHT OF THE NATIONS

• SECULAR FRANCISCANS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ LUMEN
  GENTIUM
• ALSO CALLED DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
• FR. BENET A. FONCK, OFM RECOMMENDS THIS DOCUMENT
  IN HIS FORMATION BOOK FULLY MATURE WITH THE
  FULLNESS OF CHRIST
• ONE OF THE PRINCIPAL DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II

12
CHAPTERS OF LUMEN GENTIUM

• 1) THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
• Describes how the church flows out of the life of
  the Trinity.
• Offers a variety of Biblical images for the
  church. The church is like a sheepfold, farm,
  field, building, Gods Temple etc.
• 2) ON THE PEOPLE OF GOD
• It was favored over the more abstract view of the
  church as the mystical body of Christ
• The threefold work of Christ as priest, prophet
  and king illuminates the work of the whole people
  of God

13
CHAPTERS OFLUMEN GENTIUM

• 3) HIERARCHICAL STRUCTURE OF THE CHURCH
• The most hotly debated issue in this
  document was the issue of collegiality.
• Emphasized the particular church (diocese)
  and the role of the Bishop
• Restores the diaconate as a permanent order
  in the church and opens it up to married men
• 4) LAITY
• Members of the faithful that are not in
  holy orders or religious life
• Secular characteristic it is the special
  vocation of the laity to seek the kingdom of God
  by engaging in temporal affairs and directing
  them according to Gods will.
• lay people typically work in the world,
  raise families, and hold secular jobs.

14
CHAPTERS OF LUMEN GENTIUM

• 5) THE UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS IN THE CHURCH
• This is for all peoples and love is the way we
  respond to this call
• 6) RELIGIOUS
• Members of religious orders embrace these ideals
  in a public and permanent way.
• They are a sign to the world ,a witness that
  inspires the whole church to holiness

15
CHAPTERS OFLUMEN GENTIUM

• 7) THE PILGRIM CHURCH
• Eschatological nature of the church
• We are a pilgrim people, still on the way to the
  reign of God
• 8) OUR LADY
• Mary is a big part of Christs work in salvation
• Mary also is one of the first disciples

16
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS?

• 1) WHAT IMAGES OF THE CHURCH RESONATE WITH YOU?
  WHY?
• 2) ARE YOU DRAWN MORE TO THE MODEL OF THE CHURCH
  AS PEOPLE OF GOD OR CHURCH AS COMMUNION?
• 3)WHAT TEACHINGS DO YOU SEE AS ESSENTIAL TO THE
  FAITH?
• 4) WHAT ARE THE AREAS OF CHURCH LIFE IN YOUR OWN
  PARISH OR DIOCESE THAT CALL FOR GREATER
  COLLABORATION?