In our last article, we saw how Lumen Gentium opens by affirming that the Church, as the entire people of God\u2014pastors and faithful alike\u2014exist for \u201cthe entire world.\u201d Emphasis was ultimately put on the Church\u2019s role of \u201cbrining the light of Christ to all\u201d (par. 1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the first chapter On the Mystery of the Church, which had shown the divine origin of the Church in the Trinity and the significance of the Incarnation, the second chapter is mainly intended to, firstly, explain what all the members of the People of God hold in common on the plane of the dignity of Christian existence, prior to any distinctions based on office or state, and, secondly, to show that the Christian community has, at its essence, a \u2018messianic role\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being a \u201cLiving Sacrifice\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a most concise fashion, Lumen Gentium<\/em> recognises all the baptised as participating in Christ\u2019s three functions of Priest, Prophet and King, and hence, as holding a common and equal dignity:<\/p>\n\n\n\n the baptised, by regeneration and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, are consecrated as a spiritual house and a holy priesthood, in order that through all those works which are those of the Christian man they may offer spiritual sacrifices and proclaim the power of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvellous light. Therefore all the disciples of Christ, persevering in prayer and praising God, should present themselves as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God. Everywhere on earth they must bear witness to Christ and give an answer to those who seek an account of that hope of eternal life which is in them. <\/p>Lumen Gentium, par. 10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Each of us, all disciples, are given the common mission of \u201cpresenting ourselves as a living sacrifice\u201d and of \u201cbearing witness to Christ [by giving] an answer to those who seek.\u201d In simpler words, both ministerial priests who received the sacrament of Holy Orders and \u201cthe faithful, in virtue of their royal priesthood,\u201d we are all called to bear Christ\u2019s face in our actions and love, and also in our words and intentions (par. 10). Indeed, in a sense, we are not only called to grow in charity, but also in intellectual virtue\u2014being able to reasonably defend our faith too (as 1 Peter 3:15 affirms). This points towards a holistic form of evangelisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA Messianic People\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Lumen Gentium also presents the People of God as a \u201cmessianic people.\u201d This means that each of us, as a Church, are called to be \u201can instrument for the redemption of all, and are sent forth into the whole world as the light of the world and the salt of the earth\u201d (par. 9). To be \u2018messianic\u2019 implies to serve and to be a sign. It means to love others and to will their good, as Christ did. More specifically, it also means to be a balm and a medicine, as the Church should be. it is not only through the sacraments and the ministries of the Church that the Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads the people of God and enriches it with virtues, but, \u201callotting his gifts to everyone according as He wills\u201d (1 Cor 12:11), He distributes special graces among the faithful of every rank. Each person may be blessed with Charisms rooted in the Holy Spirit. By these gifts, the Spirit makes persons fit and ready to undertake the various tasks and offices which contribute toward the renewal and building up of the Church, according to the words of the Apostle: \u201cthe manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for profit\u201d (1 Cor 12:7).<\/p>Lumen Gentium, par. 12<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, this emphasis of the Church as \u2018one people\u2019 is extremely valuable because it acknowledges that the Church is made up not only of the hierarchy or the episcopate, but of all the baptised; the entire people of God are vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, in the remaining paragraphs of Chapter II, the document addresses one of the single most misunderstood and controversial axioms of the Church: \u201coutside the Church, there is no salvation\u201d (extra ecclesiam nulla salus). But we will explore this fully in our next article.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":7650,"template":"","rizors":[61],"yoast_head":"\n
Here, it is also important to note that Lumen Gentium recognises that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n