One page summary on The Second Vatican Council documents; Unitatis Redintegratio and Gaudium et Spes
Thesis: Our Lord Jesus Christ “founded one Church and one Church only
The Second Vatican Council teaches that our Lord Jesus Christ “founded one Church and one Church only”; (Unitatis Redintegratio, no. 1.) Exhort “all the faithful to recognize the signs of the times and to take an active and intelligent part in the work of ecumenism”. (Unitatis Redintegratio, no. 1.) This call was made by the fathers of the council because they noticed that “the divisions among Christians prevent the Church from realizing the fullness of Catholic proper to her in those of her sons who, though joined to her by baptism, are yet separated from full communion
The Church is joined in many ways to the baptized who are honored by the name of Christian, but who do not however profess the Catholic faith in its entirety or have not preserved unity or communion under the successor of Peter. Among the non-Catholic Churches and Christian communities, there are indeed to be found many elements of the Church of Christ, which allow us to acknowledge the existence of a certain communion, albeit imperfect. Since these are gifts belonging to the church of Christ they are forces impelling towards Catholic unity and ecumenism. Ecumenism, therefore, is directed to those who are ‘related’ to the church in many ways. Chief amongst them are the orthodox churches who share with us the same faith, Eucharist, episcopate but who have not preserved communion with the pope. It is also directed to non-Catholics who have baptism but without Eucharist or episcopacy. Finally, ecumenism is also directed to those who are ordered to the church, that is, those ‘Christian’ communities who have none of these.
The Council, in Gaudium et Spes expresses the Church’s solidarity with the situation of the people of today, then sets out the strength and weakness of the socio-cultural changes of the day. It acknowledges that the world in which the Church lives today, is one which is marked by efforts at different levels to increase human control of nature, and to establish a political, social and economic order that will be of ever greater service to people; and will help cultivate and affirm human dignity. According to the document, the Church is a sacrament of unity and an instrument of bringing about communion with God and among men; she shows the world that social and exterior union comes from a union of hearts and minds, from faith and love which is founded in the Holy Spirit. Hence she calls on her members not to shirk from earthly responsibilities, but by faith fulfils these responsibilities according to each one’s vocation.
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