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Opus Dei in the service of the Evangelizing Mission of the Church

webmaster — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:24:52 +0000

The Personal Prelature of Opus Dei in the service of the Evangelizing Mission of the Church (Conference, CEFA, Kinshasa, November, 2007) [translation]

Renewal, Personalism and Law (Onclin Chair Lecture, Louvain 1995)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 12:41:55 +0000

Renewal, Personalism and Law (Onclin Chair Lecture, Louvain, 1995)

Renewal.
The Second Vatican Council was aimed at formulating principles for the renewal of ecclesial life in all its aspects. More than thirty years later, varying evaluations of the results are made. Some persons, perhaps feeling that renewal was a dangerous idea in itself, hold that in any case it went off the tracks from the start. Others think that it ran into too much entrenched opposition from conservative forces, and is now largely dead-ended, an ideal or a dream they no longer really believe in. For others again, it remains a program of hope, which is still being attempted or needs to be attempted. Pope John Paul II is evidently one of these; he is a firm believer in renewal and, as I see his ministry, it is being constantly spent in seeking to bring it about.

Catholic Identity

webmaster — Sat, 07 Sep 2013 14:36:57 +0000

Identity as a Catholic: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)
When we speak of some people being "very human", or others as "lacking in humanity", what we mean is that they are fulfilling - or falling away from - the models or standards befitting human nature. "Human nature" or "what it means to be human" is not something each one decides for himself or that can be changed at will. It has an objective content: one given by God when he made man "in his own image" (Gen 1:27).

The People of God: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:33:49 +0000

The ecclesiology of Vatican II centers on "communio", the vital union of each member of the Church with Christ, and of all with one other in Christ. As a more concrete way of expressing this "communio", the Council dwells on the expression "People of God".

The Church: nature, origin and structure: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:32:38 +0000

1. The sacramental nature of the Church.

It is common to speak of the "mystery of the Church". "Mystery" in a religious sense does not imply something closed and inaccessible, but rather a reality so deep that we can always discover more to its meaning without ever exhausting it. The Church is more than she appears, and the key to grasping her full reality is faith; "it is only 'with the eyes of faith' that one can see her in her visible reality and at the same time in her spiritual reality as bearer of divine life" (CCC 770).

Membership in the Church: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:30:25 +0000

The CCC (no. 837), under the title of "Who belongs to the Catholic Church?", teaches that full incorporation into the Church is possessed by those who "by the bonds constituted by the profession of faith, the sacraments, ecclesiastical government, and communion, are joined in the visible structure of the Church of Christ". This of course means that others, without being fully incorporated, still belong in some way to the Church. All of those in fact who have received Baptism begin to live the life of Jesus Christ and become *de facto members of the People of God (cf. c. 204). But non-Catholic Christians, though participating in the life of Christ, do not enjoy all the benefits or means of sanctification that Jesus wished his followers to have, for the completion of their growth in him (cf. Eph 4:12-13).

Magisterium: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:29:24 +0000

Jesus Christ is the light of the world (Jn 8:12), the Savior of all mankind (Jn 4:42). He spent the three short years of his public life teaching his followers. He was their "Magister", their Teacher; for them he had "the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68).

For each person, the one really important thing is to meet Jesus, to be enlighted by him, to follow him. Even with failures, our efforts will be fruitful if they are directed toward believing our Lord's Revelation and doing his will. We will be on the right track, even though we often run it badly. But if we mistake his words or his will, we may apparently run well, but off the track.

Infallibility: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:28:47 +0000

The Apostles had the immense fortune to meet Jesus Christ; their lives and eternities were stamped by that meeting. Though their faith was put to many tests, they stuck with Our Lord. In a moment when many abandoned him, Peter said, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life" (Jn 6:68). Peter's answer was that of a man bound to Jesus by love. He did not say, "to what, but to whom, shall we go?". His faith, his fidelity, was to the Person of Jesus. But that also meant fidelity to his teaching, to the words of Jesus: "words of eternal life".

Laity: Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:28:09 +0000

"" means people. The laity are "prototype" members of the People of God; each one has been divinely chosen with a specific calling and mission. The proper place of the laity is in the world. What is asked of them there is to sanctify themselves through their ordinary work and life, so that their presence, friendship and example can lead others around them to God.

Ecclesial rights (and duties): : Encyclopedia of Catholic Doctrine (Ed: Russell Shaw. Our Sunday Visitor, 1997)

webmaster — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:15:32 +0000

The subject of ecclesial rights can be better understood if we first say a few words about a more familiar concept: human rights.

"Human rights" mean the various rights that pertain to each human being which, when freely exercised, enable him or her to live in a way that befits the dignity of human nature. They comprise the rights to think, choose and act - to live - in ways that help each one fulfill him or herself as man or woman: to grow in humanity.