ECUMENISM

Prayer: Direct we beseech you, O Lord,

all our actions by your holy inspiration
and carry them on by your gracious
assistance so that every thought, prayer
and act of ours may always begin from
you and be happily ended through Christ
our Lord. Amen.
Objectives:
At the end of the lesson, the learner must
have;
•described what Ecumenism is;
•determined the principle of unity in
Christian churches around the world; and
•examine the specific document of the
church teaching in ecumenism.
MU
How would you handle
that kind of situation?
1 Corinthians 12:12-27
  What is the main idea of the
biblical passages?
 What do you think the passages
encourage Christians to act?
THE PRINCIPLE OF UNITY
IN THE BODY OF CHRIST
What is Ecumenism?
 Ecumenism - Definition
Ecumenism is
the movement
for the unity of
the Christian
churches.
Scriptural foundation

 The New Testament emphasises that the

visible unity of Christians is an essential
aspect of their witness as followers of Jesus
Christ .
1. John 17:21 : “that they may all be one. As you,
Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also
be in us, so that the world may believe that you
have sent me”
Scriptural foundation

2. Corinthians 12:12 : “For just as the body is one

and has many members, and all the members of
the body, though many, are one body, so it is
with Christ. ”
3. Galatians 2:27-28: “As many of you as were
baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves
with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek,
there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer
male and female; for all of you are one in Christ
Jesus. “
Declaration on the Relationship of the Church
to Non-Christian Religions
“Nostra Aetate,” Oct. 28, 1965.
Pope Paul VI.

Decree on Ecumenism: The restoration of

unity among all Christians “Unitatis
Redintegratio,” Nov. 21, 1964.
Pope Paul VI
Why there is a need for Ecumenism?
The unity of the church refers to the
union of the people of God, in all
their various distinctive and
expressions, bound to God and to
one another by the gospel.
What is the principle of unity
in Christian churches around
the world?
The model of church unity presented
in Scripture is a unity-in-diversity
which protects it on one side from an
over-reliance on human hierarchies
but also from too great of an
emphasis upon human autonomy.
 Ecumenism
 The word ECUMENISM comes
from the Greek word
OIKOUMENE
 OIKOUMENE means the whole
inhabited earth
Symbol
The symbol for
ecumenism shows the
Cross of Christ above
the boat – the Church –
sailing together on the
(rough) waters of life.
 Ecumenism
 Ecumenism is a challenge to the Christian churches to build
bridges of understanding

Whilst

 At the same time recognising and preserving the dignity,

wealth and beauty of the individual person’s beliefs, customs
and creeds.
 Ecumenism
 Ecumenism is about
renewal within and of the
Church
 Ecumenism
Ecumenism is about:
 Praying
 Working
 Studying
 Witnessing
 Celebrating
 Dreaming
TOGETHER
Exploring the Religions
of Our World

Church Documents on
Ecumenism and Interreligious
Dialogue
Nostra Aetate

 “Declaration on the Relation of the Church

to Non-Christian Religions,”
• First words of the text, Nostra Aetate =
In Our Age or In Our Time
• Shortest of the Vat II documents
 41 sentences in five paragraphs

• October 28, 1965 under Paul VI

 Call to forgiveness, understanding & unity

 Nostra Aetate continued

1. One human family

A. Stronger & closer ties in our age
B. Promote unity & love by celebrating what
we have in common
C. Origin, final goal, and religious expectations
D. Universal questions
 Nostra Aetate continued
2. Shared religious truths
A. Hidden power, supreme
being, or even Father
A. Advanced culture
B. Hinduism—myths, philosophy,
asceticism, & meditation to seek
freedom from world
C. Buddhism—illumination & liberation
from contingency of insufficient world
D. Teachings, rules, & rites
E. Embrace true & holy as a ray of truth
F. Prudent & loving dialogue & collaboration
 Nostra Aetate continued

3. Muslims or Moslems

A. Similarities—Monotheist, creation &

revelation, Abraham & patriarchs, Mary,
judgment, moral life & worship, prayer,
almsgiving, & fasting
B. Differences—submission, Jesus the prophet
C. History of tension—forget past
D. Promote understanding, work for social
justice, moral welfare, peace, & freedom
Nostra Aetate continued
4. Jewish

A. Beginning of Christian faith with Abraham

& patriarchs, Moses, & prophets
A. Church foreshadowed by, scriptures revealed to, &
gentiles joined Jews
B. Christ died for both gentiles & Jews
C. Sonship, glory, covenants, law, worship, promises,
fathers, Jesus, Mary & Apostles are theirs first
D. Scripture testifies that we will be one again
E. Respect & understanding through study & dialogue
F. All/today’s Jews not responsible for Christ’s death
G. Church is New People but Chosen People not accursed
H. Hatred, persecution, & anti-Semitism contra the Gospel
I. Christ died freely for the sins of all men
 Nostra Aetate
continued

5. Conclusion
A. Hypocritical to call God Father if any person is
not our brother or sister
B. Any discrimination is foreign to the mind of
Christ in human dignity & human rights
• Race, color, condition of life, or religion
C. Fellowship & peace
 Unitatis
Redintegratio
 “Decree on Ecumenism,”
• First words of the text, Unitatis
Redintegratio = The restoration of unity
• 24 paragraphs (much longer than Nostra Aetate)
• November 21, 1964 under Paul VI
 Call to forgiveness, understanding & unity
 Introduction(1)
 Chpt. 1: Catholic Principles on Ecumenism(2-4)
 Chpt. 2: The Practice of Ecumenism(5-12)
 Chpt. 3: Churches & Ecclesial Communities(13-24)
• Eastern Churches (14-18)
• Western Church and Ecclesial Communities (19-24)
Unitatis Redintegratio

Introduction

1. The restoration of unity among all

Christians is one of the principle
concerns that the Second Vatican Council.
All wish for unity and long for the one
visible Church of God. This council wishes
to set before all Catholics the ways in
which they can respond and take
action.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on
Ecumenism

2. Christ, the Eucharist, and the Holy

Spirit each bring a wonderful
communion to the faithful. Christ selected
Peter, that on him he would build his
Church. The Church, then, is God’s only
flock.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals
on Ecumenism cont.

3. There have been certain rights and

dissensions in the history of the church, but
the church remains a perfect body in Christ,
though its believers are imperfect
themselves. We can see elements of the
endowments of Christ himself visible outside of
the Catholic Church, for those churches were
separated have not been deprived of the
mystery of salvation.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on
Ecumenism cont.

4. This Council exhorts all Catholic

faithful to recognize the signs of the times and
to take an active an intelligent part in the
work of ecumenism. Catholics must pray for
and stay informed about their separated
brothers and sisters, and also must gladly
knowledge and esteem the true Christianity
common to our separated family.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 1 – Catholic Principals on
Ecumenism cont.

4. The Four steps of Ecumenism

• Non-judgmental
• Dialogue
• Cooperation
• Self-reflection for renewal and reform
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism

5. The attainment of unity is the

concern of the whole Church.

6. It is in fidelity that this concern is

grounded. Deficiencies and moral
conduct and continual reformation must be
corrected and formulated.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

7. There can be no ecumenism worthy

of the name without a change of heart.
Therefore we should pray to the Holy
Spirit for the grace to be genuinely
self-denying in service to others.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

8. Holiness of life should be regarded

as the soul of the whole ecumenical
movement, and Catholics should also
joined in prayer with their separated
brethren.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

8. Spiritual Ecuemenism

• Change of heart and holiness of life

• Coupled with public and private
prayer
• For Christian unity
• Soul of ecumenism
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

9. We must now get to know the

outlook of our separated brethren, from
such dialogue the situation of the Catholic
Church is truly understood.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

10. Sacred theology and other

branches of knowledge must be taught
with due regard for the ecumenical point of
view, not one of polemic nature.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

11. The way we express our fate

should never be an obstacle to
dialogue with our brethren, and also,
doctrine should be clearly presented
it in its entirety. Therefore the catholic
faith must be explained profoundly
and precisely.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 2 – The Practice of Ecumenism
cont.

12. When all Christians confess their

faith in the Triune God for all men
without exception are called to work
together but most of all Christians that
bear the name of Christ.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See

13. There are two chief types of division:

First, that of the East who separated in
the dogmatic formulae of the councils of
Ephesus and Chalcedon, and later when
communion between Eastern Patriarchates
and the Roman See was dissolved.
Second, the West, stemming from the
events of the Reformation.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the Roman
Apostolic See cont.
I. The Special Consideration of the
Eastern Churches
a

14. The Churches in the East hold a

special closeness to the Catholic Church in
liturgy, ecclesiology, and history. Eastern
Christianity stems from proper apostolic teaching,
communicated with differing form and matter.
Anyone wishing to restore unity is well off when
relying on these facts.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.
I. The Special Consideration
of the Eastern Churches cont.
a

15. Everybody knows of the great love which

the Eastern Christians celebrate the sacred
liturgy, especially the Eucharist. Their
communion with the than other is made manifest
through this, and some form of common
worship is not only possible but encouraged.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the Roman
Apostolic See cont.
The Special Consideration
I.

of the Eastern Churches cont.

16. This holy Council solemnly and declares

that the churches of the East have the power
to govern themselves according to the
disciplines proper to them, which is one of the
essential prerequisites for any restoration of
unity.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the Roman
Apostolic See cont.
I. The Special Consideration of
the Eastern Churches cont.
a

17. The East and West have followed different

methods and have developed differently to our
understanding and confession of God’s truth. The
heritage of their spirituality, liturgy, and their
discipline of theology, are declared to belong to
the full Catholic and apostolic character of the
Church.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.
I. The Special Consideration of
the Eastern Churches cont.

18. For unity, it is necessary to impose no

burden beyond what is essential, and this
Council commends those who develop a
closer relationship with those who are no
longer living in the East are far from home.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.

II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial

Communities in the West

19. Churches in the West have retained a

close affinity with the Catholic Church, though
they differ in teachings in matters of doctrine,
which is where describing them adequately is
extremely difficult.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.

II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial

Communities in the West cont.

20. We rejoice to see that our separated

brethren look to Christ as the source in center of
Church unity.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.

II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial

Communities in the West cont.

21. A love and reverence of the scriptures

lead our brothers and sisters to a constant
meditative state of the sacred text, though
these books do often differ from ours.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.
II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial
Communities in the West cont.
a

22. Whenever the sacrament of baptism is

duly administered a person is truly
incorporated into the crucified and glorified
Christ, and though they do not recognize the
Eucharistic mystery in its true reality, day due
regard that it signifies a communion with
Christ.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.

II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial

Communities in the West cont.

23. A the daily Christian life of these

brethren is one of private prayer,
meditation on the bible, solid family life,
in a community gathered to worship.
Unitatis Redintegratio cont.
Chapter 3 – Churches and Ecclesial
Communities Separated from the
Roman Apostolic See cont.
II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial
Communities in the West cont.
a

24. Now that we have briefly set the

conditions for ecumenical action we
look forward to the future with
confidence, toward that fullness to which
Our Lord wills His Body to grow in the
course of time.