Day #68: Lumen Gentium Explanatory Note 3-4

Today we really finish our reading of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.

The final part of this explanatory note focuses on the relationship of the Roman Pontiff (i.e. the Pope) with the College of bishops.  This statement encapsulates the point being made:

“In other words, it is not a distinction between the Roman Pontiff and the bishops taken collectively, but a distinction between the Roman Pontiff taken separately and the Roman Pontiff together with the bishops.”

How much confusion could be avoided if we all recalled this important point!

Basically, the Council Fathers are making the point that it’s not a matter of the Pope vs. the College of Bishops as though a bunch of bishops could legitimately act in opposition to the Pope simply because there is a group of them that decides to do so.  If they’re not in union with the Pope, they’re not part of the College of Bishops.

Day #67: Lumen Gentium Explanatory Note 1-2

Not to too quickly close the book on the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, the Council gives us a four-article explanatory note as an appendix to the official Latin version of the document.

Basically, this is a closer look at Chapter III (on the hierarchy).  In particular, these notes look at what precisely is mean by “College of bishops” and it explains some of the word choices.

This may seem significant to the avearge layperson, but it shows us just how much care and attention the Council Fathers put into every word of the Council Documents.

No Scripture citations or footnotes.

Day #66: Lumen Gentium 68-69

After a month and a half, we finally reach the end of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church.  This final section of Chapter VIII on Mary is titled “Mary the sign of created hope and solace to the wandering people of God ”  That pretty much sums up these articles.  Mary is a sign of hope for all of us, and the esteem she is held in by even our “separated brethren” is encouraging.

Here is the Scripture citation:

304 Cf. 2 Pt. 3:10.

And the footnote:

(24) Cfr. Pius XI, Litt. Encycl. Ecclesiam Dei, 12 nov. 1923: AAS 15 (1923) p. 581. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Fulgens corona, 8 sept. 1953: AAS 45 (1953) pp. 590-591.

Day #65: Lumen Gentium 66-67

Today’s reading from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church looks at “The Cult of the Blessed Virgin in the Church.”  In other words, it answers the question, “What should devotion to Mary look like?”  This devotion “differs essentially from adoration.”  This means it differs in essence — not just by a matter of degree — to the adoration we give to God.

We might sum it up with the final sentence of this section:

“Let the faithful remember moreover that true devotion consists neither in sterile or transitory affection, nor in a certain vain credulity, but proceeds from true faith, by which we are led to know the excellence of the Mother of God, and we are moved to a filial love toward our mother and to the imitation of her virtues.”

Here are the Scripture citations:

301 Lk. 1:48.

302 Cf. Col. 1:15-16.

303 Col 1:19.

And the footnotes:

(21) Sub tuum praesidium

(22) Conc. Nicaenum II, anno 787: Mansi 13. 378-379; Denz. 302 (600-601) . Conc. Trident., sess. 2S: Mansi 33, 171-172.

(23) Cfr. Pius XII, Nunius radioph., 24 oct. 1954: AAS 46 (1954) p. 679. Litt. Encycl. Ad coeli Reginam, 11 oct. 1954: AAS 46 (1954) p. 637.

Day #64: Lumen Gentium 64-65

Continuing our reflection on Mary in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, today’s reading looks at how the Church models Mary both as a whole (article 64) and in Her members (article 65).

Just one Scripture citation:

300 Cf. Eph 5:27.

And one footnote:

(20) S. Ambrosius, l. c. et Expos. Lc. X, 24-25: PL 15, 1810. S.Augustinus, In lo. Tr. 13, 12: PL 35 1499. Cfr. Serm. 191, 2, 3: PL 38 1010; etc. Cfr. ctiam Ven. Beda, In Lc. Expos. I, cap. 2: PL 92, 330. Isaac de Stella, Serm. 51. PL 194, 1863 A.

Day #63: Lumen Gentium 62-63

Today’s passage from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church looks at the “divine maternity” of Mary whereby she remains our Mediatrix (understood, of course, in the sense where it takes nothing away from the role of Christ the One Mediator).

Just one Scripture citation:

299 Rom. 8:29.

And the footnotes:

(15) Cfr. Kleutgen, textus reformstus De mysterio Verbi incarnati, cap. IV: Mansi 53, 290. cfr. S. Andreas Cret., In nat. Mariac, sermo 4: PG 97, 865 A. – S. Germanus Constantinop., In annunt. Deiparae: PG 98, 321 BC. In dorm. Deiparae, III: col. 361 D. S. Io. Damascenus, In dorm. B. V. Mariae, Hom. 1, 8: PG 96, 712 BC-713 A.

(16) Cfr. Leo XIII, Litt. Encycl. Adiutricem populi, 5 sept. 1895: ASS 15 (1895-96), p. 303. – S. Pius X, Litt. Encycl. Ad diem illum, 2 febr. 1904: Acta, I, p. 154- Denz. 1978 a (3370) . Pius XI, Litt. Encycl. Miserentissimus, 8 maii 1928: AAS 20 (1928) p. 178. Pius XII, Nuntius Radioph., 13 maii 1946: AAS 38 (1946) p. 266.

(17) S. Ambrosius, Epist. 63: PL 16, 1218.

(18) S. Ambrosius, Expos. Lc. II, 7: PL 15, 1555.

(19) Cfr. Ps.-Petrus Dam. Serm. 63: PL 144, 861 AB. Godefridus a S. Victore. In nat. B. M., Ms. Paris, Mazarine, 1002, fol. 109 r. Gerhohus Reich., De gloria ct honore Filii hominis, 10: PL 194, 1105AB.

Day #62: Lumen Gentium 60-61

After reflecting in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church on Mary’s presence in Scripture, we now look at her role in the the history of the Church.  This passage articulates just what Mary’s mediation means.  It does not conflict with the one mediation of Jesus, but cooperates with it.

Just one Scripture citation:

298 1 Tim. 2:5-6.

And no footnotes.

Day #61: Lumen Gentium 57-59

Today in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, we keep reflecting on Mary’s role in Scripture from Jesus’ conception, infancy, and childhood (article 57) through his public ministry, suffering, and death (article 58), to Pentecost and her eventual Assumption into heaven (article 59).

Here are the Scripture citations:

288 Cf. Lk. 1:41-45.

289 Cf. Lk. 2:34-35

290 Cf. Lk. 2:41-51.

291 Cf. Jn. 2:1-11.

292 Cf. Mk. 3:35; Lk. 11:27-28.

293 Cf. Lk. 2:19, 51.

294 Cf. Jn. 19:25.

295 Cf. Jn. 19:26-27.

296 Acts 1:14.

297 Cf Rev. 19:16

And the  footnotes:

(10) Cfr. Conc. Lateranense anni 649, Can. 3: Mansi 10, 1151. S. Leo M., Epist. ad Flav.: PL S4, 7S9. – Conc. Chalcedonense: Mansi 7, 462. – S. Ambrosius, De inst. virg.: PL 16, 320.

(11) Cfr. Pius XII, Litt. Encycl. Mystici Corporis, 29 iun. 1943: AAS 35 (1943) pp. 247-248.

(12) Cfr. Pius IX, Bulla Ineffabilis 8 dec. 1854: acta Pii IX, I, I, p. 616; Denz. 1641 (2803).

(13) Cfr. Pius XII, Const. Apost. Munificensissimus, 1 no. 1950: AAS 42 (1950) ú Denz. 2333 (3903). Cfr. S. Io. Damascenus, Enc. in dorm. Dei gcnitricis, Hom. 2 et 3: PG 96, 721-761, speciatim col. 728 B. – S. Germanus Constantinop., in S. Dei gen. dorm. Serm. 1: PG 98 (6), 340-348; Serm. 3: col. 361. – S. Modestus Hier., In dorm. SS. Deiparae: PG 86 (2), 3277-3312.

(14) Cfr. Pius XII Litt. Encycl. Ad coeli Reginam, 11 Oct. 1954: AAS 46 (1954), pp. 633-636; Denz. 3913 ss. Cfr. S. Andreas Cret., Hom. 3 in dorm. SS. Deiparae: PG 97, 1089-1109. – S. Io. Damascenus, De fide orth., IV, 14: PG 94, 1153-1161.

Day #60: Lumen Gentium 55-56

In today’s excerpt from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, we continue with our reflection of the Blessed Mother.  Today we look at her role in salvation history, both her being forshadowed in the Old Testament (article 55) and her cooperation in the Incarnation (article 56).

Here are the Scripture citations:

284 Cf. Gen. 3:15.

285 Cf. Is 7:14; cf. Mich. 5:2-3; Mt. 1:22-23.

286 Cf. Lk. 1:28.

287 Lk. 1:38.

And the  footnotes:

(5) Cfr. S. Germanus Const., Nom. in annunt. Deiparae: PG 98, 328 A; In Dorm. 2: col. 357. Anastasius Antioch., Serm. 2 de Annunt., 2: PG 89, 1377 AB; Serm. 3, 2: col. 1388 C. S. Andrcas Cret. Can. in B. V. Nat. 4: PG 97, 1321 B. In B. V. Nat., 1: col. 812 A. Hom. in dorm. 1: col. 1068 C. – S. Sophronius, Or. 2 in Annunt., 18: PG 87 (3), 3237 BD.

(6) S. Irenaeus, Adv. Hacr. III, 22, 4: PG 7, 9S9 A; Harvey, 2, 123.

(7) S. Irenaeus, ib.; Harvey, 2, 124.

(8) S. Epiphanius, Nacr. 78, 18: PG 42, 728 CD; 729 AB.

(9) S. Hieronymus, Epist. 22, 21: PL 22, 408. Cfr. S. Augwtinus, Serm. Sl, 2, 3: PL 38, 33S; Serm. 232, 2: col. 1108. – S. Cyrillus Hieros., Catech. 12, 15: PG 33, 741 AB. – S. Io. Chrysostomus, In Ps. 44, 7: PG SS, 193. – S. Io. Damasccnus, Nom. 2 in dorm. B.M.V., 3: PG 96, 728.

Day #59: Lumen Gentium 52-54

Showing once again that He has a plan even when I do not, on this great Marian Solemnity, for our reading from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, we appropriately begin Chapter VIII on the Blessed Mother — the great icon of the Church.

Just one Scripture citation:

283 Gal. 4:4-5.

And the  footnotes:

(1) Credo in Missa Romana: Symbolum Constantinopolitanum: Mansi 3, 566. Cfr. Conc. Ephesinum, ib. 4, 1130 (necnon ib. 2, 665 et 4, 1071); Conc. Chalcedonense, ib. 7, 111-116; Cow. Constantinopolitanum II, ib. 9, 375-396.

(2) Canon Missae Romanae.

(3) S. Augustine, De S. Virginitate. 6: PL 40, 399.

(4) Cfr. Paulus Pp. VI, allocutio in Concilio, die 4 dec. 1963: AAS 56 (1964) p. 37.