Thursday, October 22, 2015

"Ecumenical" and "Catholic" Mean the Same Thing


"Ecumenical" must not mean concealing truth so as not to displease others. What is true must be said openly and without concealment; full truth is part of full love.

"Ecumenical" must mean that we cease seeing others as mere adversaries against whom we must defend ourselves. We have pursued such a course long enough...That we must try to recognize as brothers, with whom we can speak and from whom we can also learn, those who do not share our views. [Fraternal Zeal]

"Ecumenical" must mean that we give proper attention to the truth which another has, and to another's serious Christian concern in a matter in which he differs from us, or even errs. [Give proper attention to the truth which another has, or thinks he has.]

"Ecumenical" means to consider the whole, and not [simply] to single out some partial aspect that calls for condemnation or correction,...[but rather] that we present the inner totality of our faith in order to make known to our separated brothers that...all that is truly Christian...[is innately Catholic].

"Ecumenical" and "Catholic" in their very etymology say the same thing. Therefore, to be a Catholic is not to become entangled in separatism, but to be open to the fullness of Christianity.

Joseph Ratzinger, Theological Hightlights of Vatican II, Paulist Press: New York, 1966, 24. (Google books [Ignatius] edition here). Cf. Gediminas T. Jankunas, The Dictatorship of Relativism: Pope Benedict's Response, Saint Pauls: New York, 2011, 74. Editing of the text (brackets) and emphasis by Plinthos, comparing to the German original as found in Joseph Ratzinger Gesammelte Schriften 7/1: Zur Lehre Des Zweiten Vaticanischen Konzils, Herder: Freiburg, 2012, 315.

P.S. However, we must consider these thoughts in light of the readings for today's ordinary form Mass, especially the Gospel: LK 12:49-53 on Christ's mission of discord!

"I am come to cast fire on the earth; and what will I, but that it be kindled?

...Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation."

The primacy of truth will, ultimately, necessitate separation: Death, the Judgement, Heaven and Hell are absolutely the four last things with which every man must contend!
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