Posted by John Derrig
I regard the Sixteen documents of the Second Vatican Council as a treasure of the Catholic church. In the first chapter or two of each document, the council fathers provide a summary statement of what will be contained in the document. The following summary from Lumen Gentium has always been moving for me:
At all times and in every nation, anyone who fears God and does what is right has been acceptable to him (see Acts 10:35). He has, however, willed to make women and men holy and to save them, not as individuals without any bond between them, but rather to make them into a people who might acknowledge him and serve him in holiness.
This messianic people has as its head Christ, "who was delivered up for our sins and rose again for our justification" (Rom 4:25). This people possesses the dignity and freedom of the daughters and sons of God, in whose hearts the holy Spirit dwells as in a temple. Its law is the new commandment to love as Christ loved us (see Jn 13:34). Its destiny is the kingdom of God which has been begun by God himself on earth and which must be further extended until it is brought to perfection by him at the end of time.
This people is a most certain seed of unity, hope and salvation for the whole human race. Established by Christ as a communion of life, love, and truth, it is taken up by him also as the intrument for the salvation of all; as the light of the world and the salt of the earth (see Mt 5:13-16) it is sent forth into the whole world.
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From the beginning of chapter 2 of Lumen Gentium, The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
I prayer I can be a worthy and contributing member of this people.
