Vatican II In A Year Day 53: LG 8: The Church as the work of Christ
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Feb 22, 2025 A close reading of Lumen Gentium 8 unpacks what it means for the Church to 'subsist in' Christ and the Catholic communion. The lecture traces historical teachings and debates about Church identity. There is a careful look at elements of sanctification found beyond visible structures and a reflection on the Church’s call to poverty, humility, and solidarity with the poor.
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Dominus Iesus Clarifies Subsist In Purpose
- Dominus Iesus clarifies that 'subsist in' harmonizes two truths: the Church continues fully in Catholicism, yet elements of truth and sanctification exist outside it.
- The phrase prevents saying 'is' to account for partial ecclesial realities elsewhere.
Church Is One Complex Divine Human Reality
- The Church is both a visible, hierarchical society and a spiritual, mystical body united as one complex reality.
- Lumen Gentium compares this union to the Incarnation: divine and human elements cohere like Christ's divine Word and assumed human nature.
Subsists In Balances Fullness And Presence Elsewhere
- The Council says the Church of Christ subsists in the Catholic Church while acknowledging real elements of sanctification and truth outside its visible structure.
- 'Subsists in' intentionally balances the claim of fullness in Catholicism with recognition of Orthodox and some Protestant elements.