Sacrosanctum concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963.
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Inter Mirifica, Decree On the Means of Social Communication, 1963.
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Lumen Gentium , Dogmatic Constitution On the Church, 1964.
46. ... All men should take note that the profession of the evangelical counsels, though
entailing the renunciation of certain values which are to be undoubtedly esteemed, does
not detract from a genuine development of the human persons, but rather by its very
nature is most beneficial to that development. Indeed the counsels, voluntarily undertaken
according to each one's personal vocation, contribute a great deal to the purification of
heart and spiritual liberty. They continually stir up the fervor of charity. But especially
they are able to more fully mold the Christian man to that type of chaste and detached
life, which Christ the Lord chose for himself and which his Mother also embraced. This is
clearly proven by the example of so many holy founders. Let no one think that religious
have become strangers to their fellowmen or useless citizens of this earthly city by their
consecration.
50. Fully conscious of this communion of the whole Mystical Body of Jesus Christ, the
pilgrim Church from the very first ages of the Christian religion has cultivated with great
piety the memory of the dead,(6*) and "because it is a holy and wholesome thought to
pray for the dead that they may be loosed from their sins,"(273) also offers suffrages for
them. The Church has always believed that the apostles and Christ's martyrs who had
given the supreme witness of faith and charity by the shedding of their blood, are closely
joined with us in Christ, and she has always venerated them with special devotion,
together with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the holy angels.(7*) The Church has piously
implored the aid of their intercession. To these were soon added also those who had more
closely imitated Christ's virginity and poverty,(8*) and finally others whom the
outstanding practice of the Christian virtues (9*) and the divine charisms recommended
to the pious devotion and imitation of the faithful.(10*)
Chapter 8 to devoted entirely to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God in the Mystery
of Christ and the Church, 52-69.
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Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern
Rite, 1964.
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Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964.
15. ... In this liturgical worship, the Christians of the East pay high tribute, in beautiful
hymns of praise, to Mary ever Virgin, whom the ecumenical Council of Ephesus
solemnly proclaimed to be the holy Mother of God, so that Christ might be acknowledged
as being truly Son of God and Son of Man, according to the Scriptures. Many also are the
saints whose praise they sing, among them the Fathers of the universal Church.
20. Our thoughts turn first to those Christians who make open confession of Jesus Christ
as God and Lord and as the sole Mediator between God and men, to the glory of the one
God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are aware indeed that there exist considerable
divergences from the doctrine of the Catholic Church concerning Christ himself, the
Word of God made flesh, the work of redemption, and consequently, concerning the
mystery and ministry of the Church, and the role of Mary in the plan of salvation. But we
rejoice to see that our separated brethren look to Christ as the source and center of Church
unity. Their longing for union with Christ inspires them to seek an ever closer unity, and
also to bear witness to their faith among the peoples of the earth.
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Christus Dominus , Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the
Church, 1965.
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Perfectae Caritatis , Decree On Renewal of Religious Life, 1965.
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Optatam Totius , Decree On Priestly Training, 1965.
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Gravissimum Educationis , Declaration On Christian Education, 1965.
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Nostra Aetate , Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian
Religions, 1965.
4. As the sacred synod searches into the mystery of the Church, it remembers the bond
that spiritually ties the people of the New Covenant to Abraham's stock. ...
The Church keeps ever in mind the words of the Apostle about his kinsmen: "theirs is the
sonship and the glory and the covenants and the law and the worship and the promises;
theirs are the fathers and from them is the Christ according to the flesh" (Rom. 9:4-5), the
Son of the Virgin Mary. She also recalls that the Apostles, the Church's main-stay and
pillars, as well as most of the early disciples who proclaimed Christ's Gospel to the world,
sprang from the Jewish people.
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Dei Verbum , Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, 1965.
Complete document: [Czech,
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Apostolicam Actuositatem , Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, 1965.
Complete document: [Czech,
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Dignitatis Humanae , Declaration On Religious Freedom, 1965.
Complete document: [Czech,
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Ad Gentes , Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965.
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Italian,
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Spanish,
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Presbyterorum Ordinis , Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests, 1965.
Complete document: [Czech,
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French,
German,
Italian,
Portuguese,
Spanish,
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Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution On the Church In the Modern
World, 1965.
Complete document: [Czech,
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Italian,
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103. In celebrating this annual cycle of Christ's mysteries, holy Church honors with
especial love the Blessed Mary, Mother of God, who is joined by an inseparable bond to
the saving work of her Son. In her the Church holds up and admires the most excellent
fruit of the redemption, and joyfully contemplates, as in a faultless image, that which she
herself desires and hopes wholly to be.
No references to Mary
15. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being
baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in
its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For
there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of
life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and
in Christ, the Son of God and Savior. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which
they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their
own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate,
celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of
God.(16*) ...
...
Our union with the Church in heaven is put into effect in its noblest manner especially in
the sacred Liturgy, wherein the power of the Holy Spirit acts upon us through sacramental
signs. Then, with combined rejoicing we celebrate together the praise of the divine
majesty;(18*) then all those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation (278) who
have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and gathered together into one Church, with
one song of praise magnify the one and triune God. Celebrating the Eucharistic sacrifice
therefore, we are most closely united to the Church in heaven in communion with and
venerating the memory first of all of the glorious ever-Virgin Mary, of Blessed Joseph
and the blessed apostles and martyrs and of all the saints.(19*)
30. The Sacred Council feels great joy in the fruitful zealous collaboration of the Eastern
and the Western Catholic Churches and at the same time declares: All these directives of
law are laid down in view of the present situation till such time as the Catholic Church
and the separated Eastern Churches come together into complete unity. Meanwhile,
however, all Christians, Eastern as well as Western, are earnestly asked to pray to God
fervently and assiduously, nay, indeed daily, that, with the aid of the most holy Mother of
God, all may become one. ...
14. ... Similarly it must not be forgotten that from the beginning the Churches of the East
have had a treasury from which the Western Church has drawn extensively in liturgical
practice, spiritual tradition, and law. Nor must we undervalue the fact that it was the
ecumenical councils held in the East that defined the basic dogmas of the Christian faith,
on the Trinity, on the Word of God who took flesh of the Virgin Mary. To preserve this
faith these Churches have suffered and still suffer much.
No references to Mary
25. Religious institutes, for whom these norms of adaptation and renewal have been laid
down, should respond generously to the specific vocation God gave them as well as their
work in the Church today. The sacred synod highly esteems their way of life in poverty,
chastity and obedience, of which Christ the Lord is himself the exemplar. Moreover, their
apostolate, most effective, whether obscure or well known, offers this synod great hope
for the future. Let all religious, therefore, rooted in faith and filled with love for God and
neighbor, love of the cross and the hope of future glory, spread the good news of Christ
throughout the whole world so that their witness may be seen by all and our Father in
heaven may be glorified (Matt. 5:16). Therefore, let them beseech the Virgin Mary, the
gentle Mother of God, "whose life is a model for all,"(1) that their number may daily
increase and their salutary work be more effective.
8. The spiritual training should be closely connected with the doctrinal and pastoral, and,
with the special help of the spiritual director, should be imparted in such a way that the
students might learn to live in an intimate and unceasing union with the Father through
his Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit. Conformed to Christ the Priest through their
sacred ordination they should be accustomed to adhere to him as friends, in an intimate
companionship, their whole life through. They should so live his paschal mystery
themselves that they can initiate into it the flock committed to them. They should be
taught to seek Christ in the faithful meditation on God's word, in the active participation
in the sacred mysteries of the Church, especially in the Eucharist and in the divine office,
in the bishop who sends them and in the people to whom they are sent, especially the
poor, the children, the sick, the sinners and the unbelievers. They should love and
venerate with a filial trust the most blessed Virgin Mary, who was given as mother to the
disciple by Christ Jesus as he was dying on the cross.
Those practices of piety that are commended by the long usage of the Church should be
zealously cultivated; but care should be taken lest the spiritual formation consist in them
alone or lest it develop only a religious affectation. The students should learn to live
according to the Gospel ideal, to be strengthened in faith, hope and charity, so that, in the
exercise of these practices, they may acquire the spirit of prayer, learn to defend and
strengthen their vocation, obtain an increase of other virtues and grow in the zeal to gain
all men for Christ.
No references to Mary
3. The Church regards with esteem also the Moslems. They adore the one God, living and
subsisting in himself; merciful and all- powerful, the Creator of heaven and earth,(5) who
has spoken to men; they take pains to submit wholeheartedly to even his inscrutable
decrees, just as Abraham, with whom the faith of Islam takes pleasure in linking itself,
submitted to God. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere him as a
prophet. They also honor Mary, his virgin Mother; at times they even call on her with
devotion. ...
No references to Mary
4. ...The perfect example of this type of spiritual and apostolic life is the most Blessed
Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles, who while leading the life common to all here on earth,
one filled with family concerns and labors, was always intimately united with her Son and
in an entirely unique way cooperated in the work of the Savior. Having now been
assumed into heaven, with her maternal charity she cares for these brothers of her Son
who are still on their earthly pilgrimage and remain involved in dangers and difficulties
until they are led into the happy fatherland.(7) All should devoutly venerate her and
commend their life and apostolate to her maternal care.
No references to Mary
4. To accomplish this, Christ sent from the Father his Holy Spirit, who was to carry on
inwardly his saving work and prompt the Church to spread out. Doubtless, the Holy Spirit
was already at work in the world before Christ was glorified.(5) Yet on the day of
Pentecost, he came down upon the disciples to remain with them forever (cf. John 14:16).
The Church was publicly displayed to the multitude, the Gospel began to spread among
the nations by means of preaching, and there was presaged that union of all peoples in the
catholicity of the faith by means of the Church of the New Covenant, a Church which
speaks all tongues, understands and accepts all tongues in her love, and so supersedes the
divisiveness of Babel.(6) For it was from Pentecost that the "Acts of the Apostles" took
again, just as Christ was - conceived when the Holy Spirit came upon the Virgin Mary,
and just as Christ was impelled to the work of his ministry by the same Holy Spirit
descending upon him while he prayed.(7)
Aids to the Life of Priests
18. (Aids to encourage the spiritual life.) In order that, in all conditions of life, they may
be able to grow in union with Christ, priests, besides the exercise of their conscious
ministry, enjoy the common and particular means, old and new, which the Spirit never
ceases to arouse in the People of God and which the Church commends, and sometimes
commands,(54) for the sanctification of her members. ... Nourished by spiritual reading,
under the light of faith, they can more diligently seek signs of God's will and impulses of
his grace in the various events of life, and so from day to day become more docile to the
mission they have assumed in the Holy Spirit. They will always find a wonderful example
of such docility in the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was led by the Holy Spirit to dedicate
herself totally to the mystery of man's redemption.(56) Let priests love and venerate with
filial devotion and veneration this mother of the Eternal Highpriest, Queen of Apostles
and Protector of their own ministry.
22. ... He who is "the image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15),(21) is himself the perfect
man. To the sons of Adam he restores the divine likeness which had been disfigured from
the first sin onward. Since human nature as he assumed it was not annulled,(22) by that
very fact it has been raised up to a divine dignity in our respect too. For by his incarnation
the Son of God has united himself in some fashion with every man. He worked with
human hands, he thought with a human mind, acted by human choice(23) and loved with
a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly been made one of us, like us in all
things except sin.(24)