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Catechesis. The Documents of the Second Vatican Council. IV.
Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et spes (GS 1–10) 1.
The Church: Listening to and Serving the World
Preface: John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Pope Leo’s Catechesis,
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today, we will begin reflecting on the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes (Joy and Hope), in which the Second Vatican Council intended to focus on the fundamental theme of the relationship between the Church and the contemporary world.
Pope St. John XXIII, as early as his inaugural address of 11 October 1962, had sought to take issue with the “prophets of doom” who, “though burning with zeal for religion […] go about saying that our times, when compared with past centuries, are entirely worse; and go so far as to behave as if they had nothing to learn from history”
(Address Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, 11 October 1962, 4.2).
Hence the task entrusted to the Council Fathers: “In the present state of human events,
in which humanity appears to be entering a new order of things, one must rather see the mysterious plans of Divine Providence, which are brought to fulfilment in due course through the work of men, and often beyond their expectations, and which, with wisdom, arrange everything, even adverse human affairs, for the good of the Church” (Gaudet Mater Ecclesia, 4.4).
Three years later, Gaudium et Spes recognized this discernment as an essential element of the nature of the Church, describing her pastoral character as constitutive.
Hence the definition of “Pastoral Constitution”.
It is not a matter of naive optimism, but rather a renewed commitment to the mystery of Christ, who chose to share our life by becoming incarnate.
He made himself “like his brethren in every respect.”
(Hebrews 2:17 – He had to be made like his brethren in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of the people.; Hebrews 4:15 – we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sinning.) and he took upon himself the consequences of sin, dying “as a ransom for all” (1 Timothy 2:6 – He gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.).
Christ calls the Church to follow the path of sharing in our humanity.
Hence, the Conciliar Constitution Gaudium et Spes begins by declaring that the Church makes her own “the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted.” (GS 1).
This call to action urges us to abandon all passivity and indifference in the face of current events, history, and people’s lives, especially given the rapid and profound changes we are experiencing today.
We cannot remain unengaged spectators.
Rather, we must listen with our hearts, allow ourselves to be challenged, and get involved.
With Christ and sustained by the power of the Holy Spirit, believers are called to bear the burdens of their brothers and sisters, especially those crushed by injustice, discrimination, and violence.
Indeed, adequate responses are only possible through sharing and commitment, always supported by the certainty that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (Romans 8:18).
In this regard, a closer relationship with humanity leads to a deeper understanding of events and Revelation itself.
Similarly, Gaudium et Spes states that “the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and interpreting them in the light of the Gospel.” (GS 4).
This conciliar constitution recalled the church’s ongoing commitment to conversion and bore witness to the fact that the church is not motivated by “earthly ambition,” but rather seeks “a solitary goal: to carry forward the work of Christ under the guidance of the Spirit.”
“Christ entered this world to bear witness to the truth, to save, not to judge, to serve, not to be served.” (GS, 3).
This is not, in fact, merely a moral imperative.
AS Pope Francis reminded us that for the Church, “the option for the poor is primarily a theological category rather than a cultural, sociological, political or philosophical one…
We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them”
(Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, 198 – translated The Joy of the Gospel).
Christian solidarity commits us to engage with reality and unmask the contradictions that characterize personal and social life in the contemporary world.
Examples include
– scientific and technological progress, which offers new possibilities but only to some and which humans do not always succeed in “subjecting to their own welfare”;
– a clearer understanding of the “laws of society,” accompanied by uncertainties “about the direction to give” them;
– a greater abundance of “wealth, resources, and economic power,” which unfortunately leaves “a huge proportion of the world’s citizens … still tormented by hunger and poverty” today as in the days of the Council (GS 4);
– and a shared awareness that the future of the planet is at stake coupled with an inability to renounce selfish consumption and the illusion that war is an effective means of building peace.
The Church is called to serve the human person
In a time marked by profound changes and worrying imbalances, the Church is called to serve the human person.
This means listening to and welcoming the deepest questions and longings of their hearts, and pointing them to Christ as “the key, the focal point, and the goal of all human history.” (GS 10).
Therefore, at every level and in every age of the Church, it is necessary to achieve the merciful kenosis of Christ, who “did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant . . . and became obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:6–8).
Dear brothers and sisters,
May joy and hope — Gaudium et Spes — be the defining characteristics of a Church that proclaims and bears witness to the Gospel by drawing close to the women and men of our time.
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Summary of the Holy Father’s words:
Dear brothers and sisters
In our continuing series of catecheses on the documents of the Second Vatican Council, today we begin our reflection on the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes.
This Document emphasizes the Church’s pastoral responsibility to engage with the contemporary world, sharing in its joys and sorrows.
It calls for a commitment to conversion, bearing witness to Christ’s work, and advocating for the poor and marginalized.
The Church must also be attentive to the signs of the times and interpret them in light of the Gospel. This allows the Church to address pressing issues, such as technological progress that benefits only some and widespread poverty that persists.
In our time, marked by profound change and injustice, we are all called to welcome and listen to the deepest questions and longings of the human heart and to make the merciful love of Christ our Savior present to all.
