PASTORAL

CONSTITUTION

Gaudium
E t Sp e s
Group II
 Introduction
“ Gaudium et Spes ” i s l ati n" t r ansl at es t o
"J oy and Hope" in Engl i s h. I t i s t he t i t l e of
a document that was cr eat ed dur i ng t he
Second Vatican Counci l , whi ch was a maj or
event in the history of t he Cathol i c Chur ch.
The document focus es on pr omot ing j oy and
hope among believer s , as wel l as addr es s i ng
var i ous social issues and chal l enges of t he
moder n wor l d.
Pope John XXIII

"Ga u d i u m e t Sp e s ," t h e Pa s t o ra l
Co n s t i t u t i o n o n t h e Ch u rc h i n t h e
Mo d e rn Wo rl d , e me rg e d d u ri n g
t h e Se c o n d Va t i c a n Co u n c i l
(1 9 6 2 – 1 9 6 5 ), c o n v e n e d b y Po p e
J o h n XXIII.
Pope John XXIII
With the failure of the Church to respond promptly
to major global events such as World War II , Pope
John XXIII began Vatican II with an emphasis on
examining the role of the church in the world.
During the creation of the document itself,
Gaudium et spes went through multiple
versions of Schemas to reflect the idea Pope
John XXIII wanted to achieve during the
council.
Pope Paul VI
Gaudium et Spes specifically refers to
the Pastoral Constitution on the Church
in the Modern World. It was
promulgated by Pope Paul VI on
December 7, 1965. This document
addresses the relationship between the
Catholic Church and the modern world,
covering a wide range of topics such as
marriage and family, the development
of culture, economics, politics and
peace and war .
 Co n t ex t wi t h i n Vat i can I I

At the beginning of the Second Vatican Council on

October 11, 1862 ,Pope John summoned the
council to discuss such issues included the
devastation of World War II, Nazi horrors, the
current threat of a nuclear war between the United
States and Russia, and the end of colonialism and
racism. The church had failed to act substantially
on these issues, contributing to a feeling of
irrelevance within larger considerations of the state
 Th e cr eat i o n o f t h e
Gau d i u m et S p es
Approved by a vote of 2,307 to 75 of the bishops assembled at the
council, it was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on 7 December 1965,
the day the council ended.
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, It was the
last and longest published document from the council and is the first
constitution published by an ecumenical council to address the entire
world. It was the first time that the church took explicit responsibility
for its role in the larger world.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

"Gaudium et Spes" offers numerous teachings on various aspects

of the Church's engagement with the modern world.

The first step in this pastoral approach was an extension of the

Church’s open hand. The first words of the document are “the
joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of
this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted,
these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the
followers of Christ.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

Here are some of the key social teachings found within

"Gaudium et Spes":
1. Dignity of the Human Person: The document
affirms the dignity of every human person, echoing
the principle found in your initial statement. It
emphasizes that human beings are created in the
image and likeness of God, possessing inherent
dignity and worth.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

2. Solidarity and the Common Good:

"Gaudium et Spes" emphasizes the
importance of solidarity among individuals
and nations. It calls for a commitment to the
common good, where the well-being of all
members of society is prioritized over
individual interests.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

3. Social Justice and Human Rights: The

document advocates for social justice and the
protection of human rights. It condemns any
form of discrimination, exploitation, or
oppression and calls for the promotion of
justice, equality, and human dignity for all
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

4. Peace and Reconciliation: "Gaudium et

Spes" promotes peace as a central value. It
calls for the peaceful resolution of conflicts,
the pursuit of disarmament, and the
promotion of reconciliation and dialogue
among nations and peoples.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

5.Family and Community: The document

highlights the importance of the family as the
basic unit of society. It emphasizes the value of
marriage, parenthood, and family life, calling
for support and protection for families and the
fostering of strong communities.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

6.Economic Development and Poverty: The

document reflects on economic development
and poverty, highlighting the need for
economic systems that prioritize the well-
being of all people and address the root
causes of poverty and inequality.
 The Social teaching of the Gaudium et Spes

7. The Church's Mission in the Modern World:

The document explores the role of the Church
in the context of modern society, highlighting
its mission to bring the message of Christ to all
people and to engage with the world in a
constructive and transformative way.
 Gaudium et Spes continues addressing the “genuinely human”
when it declares that the Church is dedicated not just to Catholics
but to the whole world. More than that, the Church is dedicated to
more than mere socioeconomic freedom, but to the freedom that
comes from knowing and accepting God’s love. As we come to
know God, say the conciliar fathers who wrote the document, we
come to know ourselves.
The laity have a particular duty. From our pastors the laity may
seek “spiritual light and nourishment,” but it is their primary
duty to make sure “that the divine law is inscribed in the life of
the earthly city” (No. 43).

Enlightened by the teachings of the Church, the layperson

must both act in a Christian spirit and “be witnesses to Christ
in all things in the midst of human society” (No. 43). The laity
must carry Christ whom we encounter in the Church out into
the world so that all men might be saved.
 Is Gaudium Et
spes applic’able
in todays
generation?
 What are the
challenges of Gaudium
et Spes?
Some of the challenges of applying the teachings of
"Gaudium et Spes" in today's world include:

Addressing social injustices: The document

calls for the promotion of social justice and
the common good, but many societies still
struggle with issues such as poverty,
inequality, and discrimination.
 Environmental degradation: "Gaudium et
Spes" emphasizes the importance of caring
for the environment, but today, the world
faces significant environmental challenges
such as climate change and biodiversity loss.
 Dialogue and understanding: The
document highlights the importance of
dialogue and engagement with the world,
but in today's polarized society, fostering
genuine dialogue and understanding can
be difficult.
Promoting human dignity: While "Gaudium
et Spes" stresses the dignity of every
human person, issues such as human
trafficking, exploitation, and violations of
human rights continue to be prevalent.
W hat is the Injustice s
of Ga iudium e t Spes?
 Gaudium et Spes" does not specifically outline
injustices, but rather addresses the Church's role
in responding to social injustices and promoting
social justice. The document emphasizes the
importance of addressing issues such as poverty,
inequality, discrimination, and lack of access to
basic rights and resources.
 How pe ople
misunde rsta nd the
me ssage of the
Ga udium e t Spes?
 Gaudium et Spes discusses how the Church needs to
respond to the modern world. People often misunderstand
the message of this document. They think it says that the
Church needs to modernize. But Gaudium et Spes actually
says that the Church needs to be more aware of the “signs
of the times.” It needs to elevate what is authentically good
for humanity. It also needs to be aware of the areas where
the world might be especially open to the Gospel.
 Ga udium e t Spes
invite s you to a sk
yourself
 The Council acknowledges the positive
aspects of modern development. But it
also acknowledges the challenges and
downfalls. Gaudium et Spes invites us to
open our eyes to what is good about the
modern world.
 Acknowledging the challenges and evils of the
modern world calls us to conversion. Conversion
means changing our own lives to conform
ourselves to Christ. But it also means doing what
we can to bring the world around us in line with
authentic human development. What can you do
to make the world a better place?
 Some specific themes of Gaudium et Spes are
human dignity, family, the development of
culture, and the authentic development of the
economy. Which of these areas do you have
the power to influence in a positive way? What
can you do to make a difference?
 Our tasks as disciples of Christ is to conform the world
to the Gospel. We are to be Christian first and members
of the world second. Our tendency is to get wrapped up
in the world. If we’re not careful we can find that we
become conformed to the world.
“Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of
God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2).
 Tha nk
you!
Presented By : GROUP II