“About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they’re just one thing, and we shouldn’t complicate the matter,” replied Saint Joan of Arc during her trial (cf. CCC 795), demonstrating impressive theological precision despite her lack of education, that was due to her great union with the Divine Savior.
Indeed, Jesus Christ confided to his Church the mission of enlightening all peoples, announcing the Good News of salvation. This same light, however, pleases some and troubles others: ‘For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed’(Jn 3:20). Being lumen Christi in the world means manifesting the truth, but it also implies denouncing error.
What would we think then, if someone were to accuse the light of a kind of spiritual conceited narcissism in fulfilling exactly that which is proper to its condition of being light?
Francis
Teachings of the Magisterium
Enter the various parts of our study
II – Holy and Immaculate, the Church Contemplates Christ when Looking Towards Herself
III – By Preaching the Truth and Condemning Error, the Church fulfills Her Mission
I – Jesus Christ and the Church: One Body and One Light, or Two Separate Entities?
Leo XIII
Benedict XVI
John Paul II
Pius XII
Saint Ambrose
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
II – Holy and Immaculate, the Church Contemplates Christ when Looking Towards Herself
Sacred Scripture
Gregory XVI
Pius XII
John Paul II
Paul VI
III – By Preaching the Truth and Condemning Error, the Church fulfills Her Mission
Vatican Council II (Ecumenical XXI)
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Vatican Council I (Ecumenical XX)
Pius XI
Leo XIII
Pius IX
Saint Thomas Aquinas
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Ecclesiology
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