Why Vatican II convened

The greatest concern of the Ecumenical Council is this, that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine should be more effectively defended and presented. This teaching embraces the whole human person, body and soul, and it commands us pilgrims, who dwell on this earth, to strain eagerly towards the heavenly homeland. This shows how this mortal life is to be ordered in such a way that, as we meet our duties towards our earthly and heavenly cities, we can reach the goal set for us by God. For all human beings, individually or joined together in society, are required constantly and throughout their lives to seek heavenly things, and to achieve this they must make use of earthly things but in such a way that the use of temporal goods does not threaten their eternal happiness. It is quite true that Christ the Lord once said: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and his justice” (Mt 6:33). That word “first” states where we must above all direct our energies and thoughts; but the other words in this command of the Lord must never be neglected: “and all these things shall be given to you besides” (Ibid.). And indeed there have always been and still are in the Church people who, while devoting themselves fully to the attainment of evangelical perfection, at the same time offer their own cooperation to social tasks; and from the example of their lives and from their saving charitable efforts what is highest
and noblest in human society receives no small strength and growth. — from Gaudet Mater Ecclesia(1962 

RECENT COLUMNS

Archives