Gaudium et Spes
Summary:
God created the world and sustains it. The Church, in light of the Gospel, should look to the world and offer humanity the means of salvation bestowed on her by Christ. The Church should seek to provide meaningful answers to life’s questions and concerns. Society, through its developing technology, is rapidly transforming itself in both positive and negative ways apart from the Gospel leaving a spiritual deficiency in the world. Communities are rapidly changing and their traditions and values are disappearing. The Church looks out and recognizes a growing neglect for the poor and suffering, combined with increased conflict and a growing atheistic view. From here the Church considers there are many who desire to know what the purpose of life is, and its responsibility to point humanity toward the unchanging love of God.
Part One – The Church and Man’s Vocation We must try and understand the needs, events, and desires of the world.
Chapter One – The Dignity of the Human Person
The dignity of being human is found in his being created in God’s image and the truth of life rests in God. This image in man is damaged by sin and restored by Christ. Being body and soul composites, man is called to care for both aspects of the self. We progress as we seek heavenly truth, seeing beyond what our eyes reveal. The law of love written in our heart and an inner voice that calls us to love God and humanity. Having an ability to choose God or to reject him leaves man to face the problems of atheism, agnosticism, and a self-centered pride that doesn’t leave room for God. Meanwhile the question of death can only truly be understood in light of the Gospel. Following Jesus, we learn to love in such a way that reveals man’s truest self.
Chapter Two – The Community of Mankind
Man sees his truest self in seeking what is good not only for himself individually but for all, recognizing the mutual progress of one life goes and that of society. Economies, politics, and the pursuit of social status contribute to much of the conflict in the world. The inherent nature of these can often breed pride and selfishness. This can only be overcome with the help of grace. Good prevails when people have access to food, clothing, shelter, freedom, the right to have a family or not, employment, education, a sound name, privacy, to follow one’s conscience, and a choice to choose God or not. Society improves based on truth, and survives on justice and love. Those most in need must be heard, and that great need should disturb the conscience of humanity. Life is to be preserved and elevated at all cost. We must learn to love and respect those who think differently than us. In accepting them we should seek to understand, and in understanding we can seek out truth. Those we know to be in error are to be loved even more fervently. We never have the right to judge the heart of another. Many will seek to elevate their stature in life, but the truth is there is basic equality in all humanity. Each of us is responsible to fulfill the call to live justly and to walk in love always. God created us to be social, and we are bound together.
Chapter Three – Man’s Activity in the Universe
Through work we can develop ourselves as individuals. A person though is truly valued by who they are, not by what they do. It is also true that whatever is done to promote justice and dignity is infinitely more valuable than what is technologically created. Peace is threatened wherever self-centeredness exists. The hope of the world rests in love.
Chapter Four – The Role of the Church
The Church is the visible sign of the invisible God, existing because of God’s love for man. Unity is to be sought through the Church. God leads us to His truth. Through the Word of God the Church proclaims the rights of humankind. Divine law always has precedence over human laws. The Church’s greatest responsibility and challenge is to promote and attain unity. One cannot separate faith from secular life. When we disagree, we should not attempt to persuade someone as if we are speaking for God and His Church. We need to enter into honest discussion with mutual love and respect. Christ was, is, and always will be the center of the Church.
Part Two – Some More Urgent Problems Five priorities of concern: Marriage and family, human culture, social-political and economic life, bonds among nations, and war and peace.
Chapter One – The Dignity of Marriage and the Family Marriage promotes a healthy human society. Society is harmed by polygamy, divorce, free-love, excessive self-love, and improper use of birth control. Sacramental married life is a covenantal love of man and woman, created by God. All Sacraments are a sign of God’s faithful love and are sources of grace. Love in marriage is divinely ordained love and is expressed through holy sex and lived out in raising a family. The intimate love of marriage is expressed and perfected through sexual intercourse. The Church rejects the taking of any life, including the abortion of a fetus. All life comes from God and is sacred. To raise children best, a father should be fully present as well as a nurturing mother.
Chapter Two – Proper Development of Culture Culture implies community living. Growth in natural human and social science, as well as communications and technology, provide a means to change culture positively and negatively. There are many challenging and difficult questions facing the world: How do we blend knowledge with realized truths, in order that this knowledge does not become an end in itself, but rather leads to true wisdom? How do we separate ourselves from aspects of culture that do not lead to God and promote humanism? Faith and culture have many of the same goals. They both can elevate humanity through goodness and beauty. However, faith points people toward divine life of truth and justice. The Church will never be bound to culture or any period of history. The Church must remain faithful to its traditions and be responsive to its universal mission. If a culture is to be of value, it must provide people freedom to search for truth, to speak out, and to openly express beliefs. The way truths of faith are expressed often determine how well they take root.
Chapter Three – Economic and Social Life There is more than enough available to the world to provide for the needs of humanity. Those consumed by the enhancement of their own personal lives is what mostly prevents those in dire need from having what will sustain them. The purpose of currency and material resources is not to gain wealth for wealth’s own sake, or to dominate others. A just world seeks to provide opportunity for all to grow intellectually and morally. The act of work is a greater value to a human being than to seek material wealth. Through work one should have the ability to support themselves and their family. Work is how we can serve one another, too. There should be incentive in place for one to have private ownership and private control over their possessions.
Chapter Four – The Political Community Authority is required in society in order to prevent people from persecuting others. Authority must function as a moral force and not as a tyranny. Governments exist for the sake of people. People should always have a voice in choosing those who represent them, and it is the duty of citizens to actively vote for their leaders. The laws of society must protect the rights of people. However, when a government takes on too much authority it weakens the sense of responsibility individuals, families, and groups must take ownership for. Citizens should be loyal to their country, but not at the expense of becoming blind to the needs of people in the world. The truest duty politically is to oppose injustice, oppression, and intolerance. Church and government are rightly independent and self-governing. The work of the Church is to preach the faith and teach social doctrines. The Church has the right and responsibility to pass moral judgments on society when the salvation of souls is at stake.
Chapter Five – Fostering Peace Peace is not the absence of war. True peace is of God, it involves the harmony of people and pursuing justice. Peace is directly relevant to people’s ability to love. Peace will never be obtained or maintained unless people can trust and share. Peace requires sincere respect for others and an effort to see that the basic human needs of others is met. Peace flows from Christ. Governments have a legitimate right to defend themselves. They have a duty to protect their citizens. No nation is free to choose to wage war for gain in any way. Blind obedience to a nation is never an excuse to destroy populated areas. The destruction of inhabited areas of people is a crime against God and humanity. Peace is not possible where these exist: injustice, economic inequality, thirst for power, or disregard for human life. The escalating population in the world is a serious concern and should be addressed. The solution to this problem must agree with moral law.
Conclusion — All that is stated in Guadium et Spes is rooted in the Gospel. The Church recognizes that it needs to engage others with a more prominent message of goodwill, and to embrace those who do not believe in Christ but also desire peace. Christians have a greater responsibility to introduce love to the world and the love we give must be rooted in the love we receive from Christ. When we seek to have Christ present in all we do, the love of Christ is revealed.