Previous reflections | The 16 Documents of Vatican II | Resolution |
LUMEN GENTIUM , 1964 |
The one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church
which Jesus established "subsists
in the Catholic Church,
which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the bishops in communion with
him,
although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its
visible structure.
These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling
toward catholic unity"
The above statement
- honestly admits that there's more to the Church of Jesus than just the
Catholic Church
(in fact, the number of "non-Catholic" Christians will soon be greater than
the number of Catholic Christians!)
- humbly teaches that the Catholic Church is the root and main stem of the tree
that is Jesus' Church
- commits the Catholic Church to work for unity with other branches of
Christianity
Jesus, you established one Church.
You prayed that all your followers "would be one".
Please help us give more than lip-service to the goal of Christian Unity