Lumen Gentium: The Mystery of the Church (8, continued)

Chapter I of Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is entitled “The Mystery of the Church.” It continues as follows:

“8. . . . This is the one Church of Christ which in the Creed is professed as one, holy, catholic and apostolic, (12*) which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd,(74) and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority,(75) which He erected for all ages as ‘the pillar and mainstay of the truth’.(76) This Church constituted and organized in the world as a society, subsists in the Catholic Church, which is governed by the successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him,(13*) although many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside of its visible structure. These elements, as gifts belonging to the Church of Christ, are forces impelling toward catholic unity.

(74) John 21:17.

(75) Cf. Matthew 28:18, f.

(76) 1 Timothy 3:15.

(12*) Cf. Symbolum Apostolicum: Denz. 6-9 (10-13); Symb. Nic.-Const.: Denz. 86 (150), coll. Prof. fidei Trid.: Denz. 994 et 999 (1862 et 1868).

(13*) Dieitur. Saneta (catholica apostolica) Romana Ecelesia .: in Prof. fidei Trid., 1. c. et Concl. Vat. I, Sess. III, Const. dogm. de fide cath.: Denz. 1782 (3001).

 

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Dogmatic Constitution on the Church - Lumen Gentium