In this episode of Vatican II Revisited, Kevin Davis and I take a look at Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World.
The importance of this document, by far the lengthiest of the sixteen produced at Vatican II, is widely under-appreciated. This is, in my observation, for two reasons, both of which are found in its title:
Firstly, it is alleged to be non-doctrinal (exclusively pastoral, as if such a thing is possible) and, secondly, it is time bound insofar as what was “modern” in 1965 is now a thing of the past. This manner of thinking is deeply flawed on both counts.
Beginning with the latter, Gaudium et Spes speaks at length about timeless realities, most notably as it concerns the general condition of humankind. Its most basic observations apply just as much (perhaps even more) to the men of our age as to those who lived during (and before) the time of the Council.
As for the notion that Gaudium et Spes makes no doctrinal claims, the fact of the matter is that it provides what is reasonably considered an integral part of the Council’s understanding of the Church’s [sic] mission and place in the world, i.e., it is, in large measure, an exercise in ecclesiology, a self-understanding of the Church [sic] that applies every bit as much to the church presently in occupation of the Vatican today as at any other time.
In this episode, viewers will discover why Gaudium et Spes is widely recognized as a shameless ode to humanity: It indicates that man has everything he needs in order to flourish apart from the Church and the sacraments entrusted to her.
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