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10 Must-Read Vatican Documents

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10 Must-Read Vatican Documents 10 must-read Vatican documents Learning and growing in one’s faith is a lifelong process, and the good news for Catholics is that the teachings of the Church, articulated over centuries, provide seemingly endless resources for enriching that belief and understanding. The writings of Doctors of the Church and, more recently, the Catechism of the Catholic Church are just two distinct examples. But for a Catholic seeking direct, authoritative reading on a range of topics at the heart of the Church’s life and witness, Vatican documents — particularly of the last century — provide a rich guide to what we believe and why. And with so much to choose from, a Catholic eager to learn more might need help navigating what is there. This section offers 10 Vatican documents, including conciliar texts, papal encyclicals and other writings, spanning topics including divine revelation, peace, family life, evangelization and the modern world. Each entry also includes suggestions of further reading for those who want to go deeper. Amy Marter contributed to this story. THE CHURCH Lumen Gentium • 1964 • Second Vatican Council • Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Summary: The principle aim of Lumen Gentium is to define the Church and the various relationships between its members. Starting in Scripture, the document traces the establishment of the People of God in the Old Testament to the founding of the Church in the New Testament and various ways that we understand the Church. It then tackles the purpose of the Church, which is to lead all people to salvation, and who can be said to belong to the Church and to what degree. It describes the roles of the members of the Church in turn, from the hierarchy to priests, religious and the laity. In fact, the document is unique for the attention and importance it devotes to the laity in their role in the Church of bringing the Gospel into the secular world. The document also speaks of members of the Church no longer on earth (the saints and the souls in purgatory) and concludes with a beautiful meditation on Mary as role model for the Church. This document is significant for emphasizing the role of the laity and their call to holiness within the Church, as well as for clearly stating the level of authority with which the pope and bishops speak in various circumstances. “Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It. Thus both by reason of the offering and through Holy Communion all take part in this liturgical service, not indeed, all in the same way but each in that way which is proper to himself. Strengthened in Holy Communion by the Body of Christ, they then manifest in a concrete way that unity of the people of God which is suitably signified and wondrously brought about by this most august sacrament” (No. 11). You might also be interested in: • Mysticii Corporis Christi (1943), Pope Pius XII’s encyclical on the unity of the Church in connection to the Eucharist • Ecclesiam Suam (1964), Paul VI’s encyclical on the Church, written during Vatican II • Christfideles Laici (1988), John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on the role of the laity • Vita Consecrata (1996), John Paul II’s apostolic exhortation on the vocation of religious life • Sacerdotalis Caelibatus (1967) Paul VI’s encyclical on the Church’s teaching on the celibate vocation of the priesthood • Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (1994) John Paul II’s brief 1994 apostolic letter on why the priesthood is conferred only upon men THE MODERN WORLD Gaudium et Spes • 1965 • Second Vatican Council • Pastoral Constitution on the Modern World Summary: While Lumen Gentium is concerned with answering the questions of whom and what the Church consists, Gaudium et Spes devotes itself to the problems facing the modern world and how the Church can address those needs. The document itself is divided into two parts. The first addresses the general world view of modernity, particularly the questions that modern man faces and the guidance and answers the Church can provide. The second half examines particular problems of modernity. “To carry out such a task, the Church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs of the times and of interpreting them in the light of the Gospel. Thus, in language intelligible to each generation, she can respond to the perennial questions which men ask about this present life and the life to come, and about the relationship of the one to the other” (No. 4). You might also be interested in: • Humani Generis (1950), Pius XII’s encyclical on the relationship between intellectual life and the Church that emphasizes that there is no opposition between the Catholic faith and the theory of evolution, with limited caveats • Spe Salvi (2007), Pope Benedict XVI’s encyclical that discusses the setting of the modern world and how the Church offers modern man reasons and the ability to hope in such circumstances • Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (1996), Pope John Paul II’s address that follows upon Humani Generis and the question of evolution in relation to Church teaching REVELATION Dei Verbum • 1965 • Second Vatican Council • Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Summary: The Second Vatican Council took a renewed look at the role of Scripture and Tradition in the life of the Church by taking a view with Jesus Christ, rightfully, at the center of everything. God chose to reveal himself to us in his totality in the person of Jesus Christ. Everything flows from that — the Church, Scripture and the Church’s mission to communicate to others what has been revealed to us. The document reaffirmed everything in Scripture as having been inspired by the Holy Spirit and that the Gospels have a preeminent place among all Scripture. It said believers should have easy access to Scripture, and that the reading of Scripture is encouraged. “God, who through the Word creates all things (see Jn 1:3) and keeps them in existence, gives men an enduring witness to Himself in created realities (see Rom 1:19-20). … He ceaselessly kept the human race in His care, to give eternal life to those who perseveringly do good in search of salvation (see Rom 2:6-7)” (No. 3). You might also be interested in: • Redemptor Hominis (1979), John Paul II’s inaugural encyclical on Jesus Christ • Veritatis Splendor (1993), John Paul II’s encyclical on moral teaching in various areas of human life • Deus Caritas Est (2005), Benedict XVI’s first encyclical dealing with God’s love as the heart of Christian faith • Jesus of Nazareth (2007, 2011, 2012), a three-part book reflection on the life of Jesus written by Benedict XVI while pope PEACE Pacem in Terris • 1963 • John XXIII • Encyclical on world peace Summary: The final encyclical of John XXIII paints a vision for global peace and justice, rooted in solidarity and human rights. Having lived through the horrors of World War II and seeing the Cuban Missile Crisis play out on his watch, Pope John urged people everywhere to recognize the global responsibility they have to their neighbors. Tellingly, Pacem in Terris was the first encyclical addressed not only to the hierarchy, clergy and laity of the Catholic Church but also “to all people of goodwill.” The human rights that Pope John discussed in this encyclical include religious freedom, a value the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) would formally affirm two years later. John’s successor, Pope Paul VI, took up the prophetic call for peace and nuclear disarmament. Pope Francis called the latter a “moral imperative” in 2017. “… [E]ach country’s social progress, order, security and peace are necessarily linked with the social progress, order, security and peace of every other country. From this it is clear that no State can fittingly pursue its own interests in isolation from the rest, nor, under such circumstances, can it develop itself as it should. The prosperity and progress of any State is in part consequence, and in part cause, of the prosperity and progress of all other States” (No. 130-31). You might also be interested in: • Paul VI’s UN address (1965), famous for the appeal “Never again war!” • Paul VI’s World Day of Peace Message (1972), famous for the quote “If you want peace, work for justice.” • “The Challenge of Peace” (1983), pastoral letter of the U.S. bishops • Pope Francis’ address to the U.S. Congress (2015) EVANGELIZATION Evangelii Gaudium • 2013 • Francis • Apostolic exhortation on evangelization Summary: The first major text of the pontificate of Pope Francis lays out his vision of a Church that goes out into the world and evangelizes amidst the mess of everyday life. Evangelii Gaudium challenges Christians to put their faith into concrete practice in the world, something he asserts is essential to the authenticity of the Christian witness. “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security” (No. 49). You might also be interested in: • John XXIII’s Opening Address at Vatican II (1962), which provided a prophetic, hope-filled vision and direction for the council • Ad Gentes (1965), Vatican II document on the Church’s missionary activity • Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975), Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation on evangelization in the modern world ECOLOGY Laudato Si‘ • 2015 • Francis • Encyclical on the environment Summary: Released three years ago, Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ (“On Care for Our Common Home”) offers a challenge to the “technocratic paradigm” it acknowledges at the heart of modern society, which consists of a “throwaway culture” that disregards the resources of the earth as well as the poor and marginalized members of the human family.
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