Ep. 5: Universal Call To Holiness / Gaudium Et Spes
Summary
TLDRIn 1962, the Second Vatican Council, convened by Pope John XXIII, addressed the Church's relationship with the modern world. The Council, attended by Catholic bishops globally, focused on the universal call to holiness, emphasizing that all baptized individuals are called to sanctity, not just clergy. It also highlighted the importance of the Church's role in the modern world, the dignity of the human person, and the significance of Mary as a model of holiness. The Council's teachings influenced subsequent Church documents and fostered dialogue between Christians and other faiths.
Takeaways
- πΊ In 1962, major events marked a turning point in modern society, including the launch of automated trains in NYC, the birth of Navy SEALs, and the advent of color television.
- βͺ Vatican II, initiated by Pope John XXIII, aimed to redefine the Catholic Churchβs relationship with the modern world, addressing global concerns and the Churchβs internal role.
- π Vatican II highlighted the universal call to holiness, emphasizing that sanctity is achievable for all people, not just priests and religious leaders.
- π Lumen Gentium, a key document from Vatican II, emphasized that holiness is not exclusive to clergy, but accessible to all baptized Catholics.
- π The canonization of seven international saints, including the first Native American saint Kateri Tekakwitha, symbolized the Churchβs global and diverse embrace of holiness.
- π Marriage and family life were highlighted as paths to holiness, emphasizing the sacrificial love between spouses as a reflection of Christ's love for the Church.
- π Vatican II fostered ecumenical dialogue, encouraging collaboration between Christian denominations and other faiths while maintaining the Church's core beliefs.
- π Gaudium et Spes, another significant Vatican II document, focused on the Church's relationship with the modern world, aiming to address human dignity and social justice.
- π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ The family was presented as the βdomestic church,β with parents seen as the first educators of their children, especially in matters of faith and morality.
- π The role of the Virgin Mary was underscored as an intercessor and model of holiness, linking her to the Holy Trinity and reinforcing her significance within the Church.
Q & A
What significant event took place in 1962 that is mentioned in the script?
-In 1962, the American broadcast company began telecasting in color, the New York City subway launched its first automated train, and the US Navy activated a new Elite branch known as the Seals.
What was the main purpose of the Second Vatican Council, or Vatican 2?
-The main purpose of Vatican 2 was to address the world's pain, longing, and joy, and to define the church's relationship to the modern world.
What does the term 'Lumen Gentium' refer to in the context of the script?
-Lumen Gentium refers to the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, which was one of the key documents of Vatican 2, emphasizing the church as the people of God and the universal call to holiness.
How did Vatican 2 change the understanding of holiness among the faithful?
-Vatican 2 corrected the notion that holiness was only attainable through priesthood or religious congregations, stating that all baptized individuals are called to holiness.
Who was the first US Native American Saint canonized, as mentioned in the script?
-The first US Native American Saint canonized was Kateri Tekakwitha, who was born in New York state in 1656 and devoted her life to her faith.
What is the significance of the canonization of saints from different countries and circumstances?
-The canonization of saints from different countries and circumstances signifies the universality of the church and the diverse ways in which individuals can achieve holiness.
What is the role of the Eucharist in the Catholic Church as discussed in the script?
-The Eucharist is central to the Catholic Church as it represents the communal aspect of the faith, bringing believers together as the body of Christ.
How does the script relate marriage to the concept of holiness?
-The script relates marriage to holiness by viewing it as a domestic church and a path to holiness through sacrificial love, mutual support, and the raising of children in the faith.
What role does the Blessed Virgin Mary play in the context of Vatican 2 and holiness?
-The Blessed Virgin Mary is presented as a model of all holiness, with her 'Fiat' signifying her acceptance to be the mother of Christ, and her intercessory role in leading the faithful to her son.
What was the impact of Vatican 2 on the Catholic Church's approach to ecumenical and interfaith dialogue?
-Vatican 2 emphasized dialogue and collaboration between interfaith communities, focusing on the relationship between God and man as the core of these interactions.
What did the council fathers of Vatican 2 aim to achieve through the document 'Gaudium et Spes'?
-The council fathers aimed to address the nature and mission of the church in the modern world, focusing on the church's role in responding to global needs and the pursuit of holiness in everyday life.
Outlines
π Vatican II: A Pivotal Moment in Catholic History
The video script begins by setting the stage in 1962, a year marked by significant technological and social advancements, as well as the beginning of Vatican II, convened by Pope John XXIII. This Ecumenical Council brought together Catholic bishops from across the globe to redefine the Church's relationship with the modern world. The council aimed to address universal themes of pain, longing, and joy. It emphasized the universal call to holiness, a concept that was traditionally associated only with the clergy and religious orders but was now extended to all baptized individuals. The script introduces viewers to historians, theologians, and eyewitnesses who will explore the meaning of Vatican II and its impact on the Catholic Church. It also highlights the canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint, as a significant event that occurred during this period, reflecting the Church's growing recognition of diverse cultural and spiritual contributions.
π The Quest for Holiness and the Role of Saints
This paragraph delves into the concept of holiness as a universal call for all Christians, not just the clergy or religious. It discusses the importance of knowing and achieving God's will through sanctification, which is linked to an authentic relationship with Christ. The script touches on the historical shift in understanding holiness, as corrected by Lumen Gentium, a document from Vatican II. It also describes the significance of the canonization of seven international saints, including Kateri Tekakwitha, and the personal and communal experiences of faith and devotion among pilgrims in Rome. The narrative emphasizes the idea that every saint, despite their holy lives, was a sinner, and that the path to holiness is attainable for all through the support of the Church community and a strong prayer life.
π Holiness and Marriage: The Domestic Church
The focus of this paragraph is on the dignity of the human person and the role of marriage in achieving holiness. It discusses how the Second Vatican Council viewed humans as beings created for love and communion, not as solitary creatures. The script explores the concept of marriage as a path to holiness, where spouses are called to see Christ in each other and support one another on their spiritual journey. It also touches on the idea that marriage is a domestic church, where parents are the first educators of their children in the ways of the world and the faith. The paragraph emphasizes the sacrificial love that is central to both marriage and the Christian life, drawing parallels between Christ's sacrifice on the cross and the selfless love within a marriage.
π¨βπ©βπ§βπ¦ The Family as a Path to Holiness and Communion
This paragraph continues the discussion on the family as a microcosm of the Church, where holiness is cultivated through communal living, education of children, and engagement with the world. It emphasizes the role of families in nurturing faith and love, and how they are called to be witnesses to the mystery of God's love. The script also explores different paths to holiness, including religious vocations, and how the Second Vatican Council's teachings on the dignity of the human person have influenced subsequent Church teachings and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It concludes by highlighting the importance of recognizing one's unique dignity and vocation within the Church community.
π Vatican II's Legacy: Interfaith Dialogue and the Future of the Church
The final paragraph of the script looks forward to the future, considering how the Church will engage in ecumenical and interfaith dialogue following Vatican II. It discusses the importance of maintaining core beliefs while fostering collaboration and understanding with other faiths. The script also reflects on the council's emphasis on the inherent dignity of the human person and the role of the Church as a mother to the faithful. It touches on the significance of Mary's role as a model of holiness and her relationship with the Holy Trinity. The narrative concludes by setting the stage for a continuation of the discussion on Vatican II's impact on the Catholic Church and the wider Christian community in a subsequent video.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Vatican II
π‘Holiness
π‘Lumen Gentium
π‘Canonization
π‘Pilgrimage
π‘People of God
π‘Gaudium et Spes
π‘Ecumenical Council
π‘Interfaith Dialogue
π‘Catechism of the Catholic Church
π‘Humanae Vitae
Highlights
In 1962, the American broadcast company begins telecasting in color, marking a significant advancement in television technology.
New York City's subway launches its first automated train, showcasing progress in urban transportation.
The US Navy activates a new Elite branch known as the SEALs, enhancing military special operations capabilities.
The social norms of a generation are on the brink of radical change, reflecting the cultural shifts of the era.
Pope John the 23rd convenes the Ecumenical Council, Vatican 2, to address the world's pain, longing, and joy.
Catholic bishops from around the world gather in Rome to define the church's relationship to the modern world.
Lumen Gentium reveals that Holiness is not limited to priests and religious, but all of the baptized are called to sanctity.
The council corrects the popular understanding of Holiness, emphasizing that all are called to an authentic relationship with Christ.
Pilgrims gather in St. Peter's Square to celebrate the canonization of seven International Saints, including the first US Native American Saint, Kateri Tekakwitha.
The canonization of Kateri Tekakwitha is a significant event for Native American Catholics and the broader Catholic community.
The council explores the call to Holiness, emphasizing that it is a universal call for all, not just religious individuals.
Gaudium et Spes, one of the four crucial documents of Vatican 2, addresses the nature and mission of the church and society.
The council discusses the church's primary image as the people of God, highlighting the importance of community and communion.
The council emphasizes that man is created for love and communion, defining humanity in terms of relationship with the creator and fellow human beings.
Marriage is seen as a path to Holiness, with spouses called to help each other grow in their relationship with Christ.
The council recognizes the way to fullness of life is through the cross, drawing parallels between Christ's sacrifice and the sacrificial love in marriage.
The council's teachings on the human person contribute to the writing of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992.
The council highlights dialogue and collaboration between Interfaith communities, focusing on the relationship between God and man.
Transcripts
1962 the American broadcast company
begins telecasting in color the New York
City subway launches its first automated
train and a new Elite branch of the US
Navy known as the seals are activated
the social norms of an entire generation
are on the precipice of radical change
and perhaps no other event confronted
this new era with as much lasting
significance as The ecumenical council
conv meaned by Pope John the 23rd
Vatican 2 Catholic bishops from around
the world join the Holy Father in Rome
to address the world's pain its longing
and its Joy all in the pursuit of
defining the church's relationship to
the modern
world
for join us as we meet with historians
and theologians eyewitnesses and experts
to investigate the meaning of Vatican 2
and uncover the event which would become
a definitive landmark in the history of
the modern Catholic Church
as the council fathers convened inside
the aula of St Peter's Basilica they
sought to explore one of the most
commonly underestimated of the church's
teachings the call to Holiness luming
genium had already revealed to the
faithful that Holiness was no longer the
soul whole territory of priests and
religious as it had commonly been
thought but rather that all of the
church is called to
sanctity but what does holiness mean
GL as the Bible points out in first
Thessalonians the will of God is the
sanctification of the people but to know
and achieve the will of God one must
first know Christ that is enter into an
authentic relationship with not just an
idea but a real person
up until the second Vatican Council the
popular understanding of Holiness was as
an ideal only attainable through
becoming a priest or joining a religious
congregation Lumen genium would correct
this notion recalling the tradition
found in Scripture that all of the
baptized are called to Holiness the
council was very interested in
addressing not only the universal call
to Holiness that was really the
principal idea that lumeni wanted to put
across everyone's called a Holiness not
just
religious in St Peter's Square Pilgrims
from around the world gathered to
celebrate a canonization of seven
International Saints all from different
countries and very different
circumstances many Catholics have
traveled to Rome to witness the
canonization of the very first US Native
American Saint kti teaa who converted as
a young woman and devoted her life to
her
faith Kad
kwi was born into this New York state in
1656 to moop Father the Christian Alon
kin M who gave to her sense of the
Living God leading a simple life
G remained faithful to her love for
Jesus to prayer and to daily miss her
greatest wish was to know and to do what
pleased God first canonization of Native
American so big deal around our parts
I'm the uh director of the caterie
center of Chicago and one and only um
Catholic Church that has families we
have a lot of uh Native families
different tribes some 400 years after
the conversion of many Native people to
Christianity and yet this is the first
time there's a
recognition of a saint from the
indigenous communities I've been to a
Catholic school and um never really seen
like a Native American Saint at all and
I was like wow it's actually really nice
to see like it come from Rome especially
I'm so grateful for this day to witness
this I'm here for all my ancestors I'm
here for my mom I'm here for whole
community in Chicago the way of faith
and devotion of saints often draws
Pilgrims from around the globe to Rome
pointing them onward to the heart of
Christ the first question that Jesus
asks in the Gospel of John is what are
you looking
for the very end of the Gospel not his
final words but almost his final words
are who whom are you looking
for and I suggest to people that that
passage from the what to the whom is the
whole gospel we're looking for many
things we're trying to find what will
satisfy our desires uh but finally we
discover that the one who will satisfy
our desire is a person and it's the
person of
Jesus it is a quest for the faithful
that continues to this very day
every single Saint even if they lived a
Pious and holy life they're all Sinners
we're all Sinners um and we're every
single person is called to Holiness and
to sainthood you know um a saint is
simply a person in heaven we all want to
get to heaven so therefore we're all
called to be Saints um and you know I
work with young people and they often
think that there's no way they could be
live this holy holy life and become a
saint it's too hard and forget about I'm
never going to make it but um you know
God has created every single one of us
for himself and so holiness is
attainable for every single person um
but we have to have that body of Christ
to help us out and especially our prayer
life has to be
essential and I think one of the
challenges of the Year of Faith is an
important time to reestablish our Center
in Christ and I think the Pope's
writings uh are a tremendous
contribution to that in all of his
writings in his homes in his
catecheses uh what he is trying to to
promote is an encounter with Christ you
remember that in his first encyclical uh
de karitas God is love he says
Christianity is not an idea it's not
even a moral code it's the encounter
with a person but the council was also
interested in how the people of God
achieve Holiness by living in the world
this concern of the Vatican 2 Bishop
served as a catalyst for an entirely
unplanned document on the church in the
modern world
looking at one of the documents uh in
particular the dogmatic constitution of
the church in the modern world uh called
gud mpz we do see a clear understanding
of the church's primary image and that's
that of the people of God before the
council even began a prominent Belgian
Bishop Leo Joseph Cardinal suin was
invited by Pope John the 23d to assume
the role of one of four Council
moderators Cardinal sunnin suggested
dividing the council documents into two
categories to better organize their
Ambitions the council would consider the
church's inner life at intra and its
outer relationship with the world at
extra Pope John agreed that this would
be a good plan all of the Vatican 2
documents had been carefully developed
from a series of pre-approved drafts or
schemata one particular Constitution not
in the drafts at all arose purely from
the discussions on the council floor it
was called Gump or joy and hope and it
addressed the nature and the mission of
the church and Society Cardinal sunin
would become a decisive force behind
this document as would also Carol VOA
the Archbishop of kco and future Pope
John Paul II GPZ grew to be one of the
four crucial documents of Vatican 2 a
constitution that arose amidst a
whirlwind of concerns encompassing
Global needs who are we as church that
really is you know um luminum its
companion document gum mpz uh the
Pastoral constitution of the church in
the modern world teaches us in a way how
are we going to be church today and I
think if we were to get one particular
idea out of all of the uh documents
second Vatican Council it might really
be that we are addressing the needs of
the world uh as it is and the idea that
primarily that the people of God are on
a Pilgrim Journey Gia mitz
States Man was created to the image of
God launching into this study of the
Dignity of the human person the council
father sought to Define man in terms of
not a solitary creature but a being
created for love and communion that is a
relationship between his creator and
subsequently a relationship with with
fellow human beings my mission in life
um as a as a man is to be to be holy you
know as an individual but also my
mission is also to make sure that she
gets there as well in our marriage every
person is called to see the face of
Christ to draw closer to him that's what
Holiness basically is is drawing closer
to Christ and in marriage I mean it's a
greater call you know we're called to
call ourselves to Holiness but also to
one another when to become one in the
sacrament of marriage we draw each other
you know help each other along in the
path to Holiness the council recognized
that the way to fullness of life is
through the cross when cre asked me what
I wanted as a as a wedding band I made
sure that I got it as I got the the
crucified Lord um on my wedding ring to
make sure that I remember that this is
the way I ought to love cre you know as
Christ loved the church I'm also called
to love my wife um in the same way so
just to be able to Give My All In All to
her and also love is is sacrificing you
know you're sacrificing your own your
own wants and needs for the other it's
doing what's best for your beloved and
that's what love really is and that's
where sacrificial love comes in just as
Christ had done his life for his church
you know we're called to L on our lives
for one another
I think marriage is misconstrued in our
society because we're often very selfish
people and when we get into a wh
marriage we think what's best for me
instead of what's best for the other and
we often forget about sacrifice as soon
as the times get hard we want to run and
we want to be selfish and I think that's
often why you know why marriage is
difficult it is hard you know there's we
have hard times in our marriage but that
people um you know we love one another
so therefore we sacrifice for one
another um to draw closer to one another
and to God the image of Christ on the
cross and his sacrifice is analogous to
the Covenant of married couples but how
the greatest example of Love is the
cross you know and what a choice Jesus
chose he chose to lay his life down for
us you know um and and that's a choice
and a tough choice to choose but that's
where that's what love is you know love
is the cross that was the greatest love
shown to us so yeah love is definitely a
choice it's not a Feeling
the Bible begins with Adam and Eve and
concludes with the spirit and the Bride
of Revelation it is not then mere
coincidence that a rich poetry of
marriage lies at the very center of the
Bible the beautiful symbolic verses of
Song of Songs we see it from the
beginning to the end it's all a wedding
feast and it's beautiful that our Lord
is able to show us that because he knows
who we are you know he created us and
it's like and many times we're like
dumbfound like what is going on here but
our lives are written in this beautiful
book he's given us right he's he's just
like speaking to our hearts cuz he knows
we're meant for communion he knows who
we are he created us in that love so
that we can give that love to one
another there just like the Holy Trinity
we're called to be a communion as well
an imitation of that love that the
father Son and Holy Spirit have we two
are called to the same beautiful love
that they share and I don't think it's a
coincidence that our Lord made man and
and female well man and woman um in
order to give life to be you know
co-creators with him in this beautiful
gift that you know after 9 months we can
give that love a name you know and it's
awesome to to experience that and I
think too like even if someone's not
called to the gift of marriage doesn't
mean they're not called to communal you
know we're all called to Holiness and we
have to do that with one another you
know we're part of the body of Christ
we're part of a community of of people
you know the communion of saints are
cheering us on too you know we're called
to communion with one another um that's
why we call the Eucharist the communion
you know it brings us together as well
in the body of Christ we're never called
to be alone and Holiness is is a person
is is for the each person but it's also
we're called to help one another grow in
Holiness friends family Etc through the
education of children and engagement
with the world families are called to
Holiness in a special way following
Christ who is the principle of Life by
the sacrifices and joys of their
vocation and through their faithful love
married people can become Witnesses is
to the mystery of Love which the Lord
revealed to the World by his dying and
rising up to life again I see marriage
as a domestic Church in in the unit of
the family the family um is clearly the
domestic
church as a man woman as a as a dad and
and a mom we're called to be the first
educators of that child we're called to
teach them not only the ways of the
world you know to explain to them you
know maybe the you know science and
gravity you know be careful you're going
to fall down you know but also to
explain to them that there is a loving
God out
there what great love that there is that
is reciprocated through the spouses to
have a child and it's an imitation of
the Holy Trinity and that the love
between the father and the son is the
Holy Spirit you know and one the three
of of them you know one in communion and
the same with a family that we are a
replication an image of the domestic we
are the domestic Church an image of the
Trinity and the love between the spouses
is you know is the child and the same
the love between the father and the son
is the holy
spirit for many One path to Holiness is
through marriage still others may be
called to serve through a religious
vocation one time during Eucharistic
adoration uh in 11th grade I was
Eucharistic Minister and uh I just felt
an invitation from the Lord uh to say
maybe this is maybe this is for you
maybe I want you to to be a priest and
it took me four or five years to get
around to answering him but uh the
journey and just the invitation that
that he calls that Universal cold to
Holiness is where you find your vocation
where any of us will find our vocation
and it's where I found mine you can kind
of build up a relationship with a priest
or a sister and they can help to be part
of your evangelization process cuz I
know that me personally I do have um
actually a pretty close friend who is a
a sister and she's helped me so much in
my Journey of Faith and kind of learning
more about the Catholic church both
formally and informally obviously the
second Council was very insistent on the
vocation you might see of everyone in
the church that that uh everyone is
called to a specific role in the church
uh has that really been uh made have
people been really aware of that that
they do have a specific vocation see I
wonder about that I I think this is one
of the the still untapped contributions
of the council we use vocation language
but we still I believe are inclined to
use it in the plural so we speak of
vocations to religious life vocations to
marriage vocations to the priesthood and
the good news is we speak of them all
positively and we tend today not to rank
them or so on we speak of these
different calls but I think the real
gift of the council is that it said all
of those are ultimately grounded in one
call the call through faith and baptism
to Christian discipleship the call to
follow Jesus the call to the Perfection
of Charity the call to Holiness that all
of us receive and what we still need to
do is to realize that one call is
primary the Bishops of Vatican 2 through
gaudium at spz called upon all people to
recognize their unique dignity as
created in the image of God it is
through that awareness that human beings
can grow in Holiness this subject would
resonate throughout the very core of
modern Catholicism for years to come the
council's teachings on the human person
would also go on to contribute to the
writing of the catechism of the Catholic
church in
1992 this year I've uh kind of resolved
to read the catechism from cover to
cover uh as just a a goal for the Year
of Faith and I would encourage other
people to take advantage of this uh this
opportunity during the Year of Faith to
really just utilize the gift of the
catechism in the catechism the principal
emphasis throughout the whole catechism
it's 75% on what God has done 25% on how
we respond so the initiative is God's
God's grace is the principal uh driving
force for the Christian Life the
centrality of the dignity of the human
person would go on to inspire Pope Paul
V 6's 1968 encyclical human which
upholds the god-given values of marriage
this document would also have a profound
effect on writings by both Pope John
Paul II and Pope Benedict V 16th
concerning marriage and sexual
ethics in jp2 I mean Pope John Paul II
and his theology the body and so many
other writings really stresses the great
dignity we are as man and women um and
same with our Pope Emeritus benedith the
16th you know he said so much about how
how special we are and and just our
greatness that we are called to be just
for the simple fact that we're made in
God's image and
likeness in Gia mitz the council fathers
emphasize the inherent Dignity of the
human person and emphasize the role of
the church as a mother to the faithful
in lumium the Bishops expounded on the
Blessed Virgin Mary's role as the model
of all Holiness Pope John the 23rd's
opening address to the council GA M
elesia included a bold statement
entrusting the council to the motherly
protection of Mary in Lumin genium the
council fathers would address Mankind's
spiritual adoption by Mary and solidify
her role as the most revered person
after Christ himself Mary's dignity in
her role of motherhood is made possible
by her relationship to the Holy Trinity
the Blessed Mother plays a key role in
the salvation of humanity described as
both full of grace and blessed among
women Mary leads the faithful to her son
Christ her Fiat a word that signifies
her acceptance to be the mother of
Christ is a sign of her trust in the
Lord Mary is a constant intercessor who
has a special bond with her
son our lady our Blessed Mother's
relationship with the Holy Trinity is
one of true love of of of just Selfless
Love we see um from the gospels that our
lady was truly there to receive you know
our Lord calls a full of grace because
she was immaculately conceived she was
able to receive that love so blamelessly
right she was able to receive that love
so perfect you know she is the F the
daughter of the father she is the mother
of the son and she is the spouse of the
Holy Spirit her love is in herf flowing
with the Trinity you know she is she's
not part of the Holy Trinity you know
let's not be confused but her love is
just flowing within the Trinity she's so
beautiful so Mary is our Queen you know
she's Our Queen Mother and with that she
is you know the mother of all Nations
Jesus is the king of all Nations the
second Vatican Council would soon turn
its focus to that which Christians have
in common and what draws them together
in Fellowship in a later declaration the
council would highlight dialogue and
collaboration between Interfaith
communities at the core of this dialogue
is always the relationship between God
and man and man to each other and the
central question of where we are headed
as Humanity Cardinal Dolan said recently
quoting uh Archbishop Fon Sheen uh that
two key words are come and go so Jesus
invites us to come to him especially in
the Eucharist but then at the end of the
Eucharist it's go forth and share the
good news what happened at Vatican 2 was
not just impacting the Catholic church
but the wider uh Christian Community how
would the church embark on a journey of
ecumenical and Interfaith dialogue and
collaboration without compromising its
core beliefs and how would the rest of
the world including atheists and
agnostics receive what the church had to
say tune in next time to Vatican 2
inside the council
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