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Encyclicals of Pope John Paul II
Veritatis Splendor
The Splendor Of Truth is addressed by the Supreme Pontiff Pope John Paul II to all the Bishops of the Catholic Church. The context contains the fundamental questions of the church's moral teaching.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1993
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About the author
Pope John Paul II
1,052 books628 followersSaint Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II), born Karol Józef Wojtyła was elected Pope at the Conclave of 16 October 1978, and he took the name of John Paul II. On 22 October, the Lord's Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate, one of the longest in the history of the Church, lasted nearly 27 years.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city's 333 parishes.
He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers.
His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. At the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994. John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi.
Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path.
With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church.
He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia.
In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on 2 April 2005 at 9.37 p.m., while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord's Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church's beloved Pastor, John Paul II, departed this world for the Father. On April 1, 2011, he was raised to the glory of the altars and on April 27, 2014 canonized.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
April 2, 2018
I never thought a class at Georgetown would assign something so red meat.
March 31, 2024
Con Veritatis Splendor san Juan Pablo II desarrolla amplia y profundamente las cuestiones referentes a los fundamentos mismos de la teología moral. Debemos estar unidos firmemente a la Verdad en Cristo, cumplimiento los M andamientos. Como buen maestro nos alerta contra aquellas corrientes de pensamiento erróneas sobre la moral, y nos enseña que el camino a seguir para alcanzar la vida eterna es la vida en rectitud a Cristo nuestro Señor.
Dejo aquí algunos pasajes seleccionados:
La pregunta inicial del diálogo del joven con Jesús: "Qué he de hacer de bueno para conseguir la vida eterna?" (Mt 19, 16) evidencia inmeditamente el vínculo esencial entre el valor moral de un acto y el fin último del hombre. Jesús, en su respuesta, confirma la convicción de su interlocutor: el cumplimiento de actos buenos, mandados por el único que es "Bueno", constituye la condición indispensable y el camino para la felicidad eterna: "Si quieres entrar en la vida, guarda los mandamiento" (Mt 19, 17). La respuesta de Jesús remitiendo a los mandamientos manifiesta también que el camino hacia el fin está marcado por el respeto de las leyes divinas que tutelan el bien humano. Sólo el acto conforme al bien puede ser camino que conduce a la vida. (p.94)
"Sucede frecuentemente -afirma el Aquinate- que el hombre actúe con buena intención, pero sin provecho espiritual porque le falta la buena voluntad. Por ejemplo, uno roba para ayudar a los pobres: en este caso, si bien la intención es buena, falta la rectitud de la voluntad porque las obras son malas. En conclusión, la buena intención no autoriza a hacer ninguna obra mala. "Algunos dicen: hagamos el mal para que venga el bien. Estos bien merecen la propia condena" (Rm 3, 8)" (p.102)
..."No basta realizar obras buenas, sino que es preciso hacerlas bien. Para que nuestras obras sean buenas y perfectas, es necesario hacerlas con el fin puro de agradar a Dios". (p.103)
Dejo aquí algunos pasajes seleccionados:
La pregunta inicial del diálogo del joven con Jesús: "Qué he de hacer de bueno para conseguir la vida eterna?" (Mt 19, 16) evidencia inmeditamente el vínculo esencial entre el valor moral de un acto y el fin último del hombre. Jesús, en su respuesta, confirma la convicción de su interlocutor: el cumplimiento de actos buenos, mandados por el único que es "Bueno", constituye la condición indispensable y el camino para la felicidad eterna: "Si quieres entrar en la vida, guarda los mandamiento" (Mt 19, 17). La respuesta de Jesús remitiendo a los mandamientos manifiesta también que el camino hacia el fin está marcado por el respeto de las leyes divinas que tutelan el bien humano. Sólo el acto conforme al bien puede ser camino que conduce a la vida. (p.94)
"Sucede frecuentemente -afirma el Aquinate- que el hombre actúe con buena intención, pero sin provecho espiritual porque le falta la buena voluntad. Por ejemplo, uno roba para ayudar a los pobres: en este caso, si bien la intención es buena, falta la rectitud de la voluntad porque las obras son malas. En conclusión, la buena intención no autoriza a hacer ninguna obra mala. "Algunos dicen: hagamos el mal para que venga el bien. Estos bien merecen la propia condena" (Rm 3, 8)" (p.102)
..."No basta realizar obras buenas, sino que es preciso hacerlas bien. Para que nuestras obras sean buenas y perfectas, es necesario hacerlas con el fin puro de agradar a Dios". (p.103)
May 19, 2019
"Chýba jej vraj láskavosť a milosrdenstvo. V skutočnosti sa však materské cítenie Cirkvi nedá odlúčiť od jej učiteľského poslania, čo vždy musí plniť ako verná nevesta Krista, ktorý sám je pravdou... V skutočnosti pravá láskavosť a spravodlivé milosrdenstvo majú znamenať lásku k osobe, k jej pravému dobru a súčasne pravej slobode. To sa však neuskutočňuje tým, že mravná pravda je skrývaná a oslabovaná, ale že je predkladaná v skrytom význame ako vyliatie večnej Božej múdrosti, ktorá k nám prichádza v Kristovi, a službu človeku, čím mu pomáha vzrastať v slobode a dosiahnuť šťastie." (95)
August 29, 2024
This was a long read, but good. I am convicted by the realization of how tempting and easy it is to ignore certain moral teachings, to justify lifestyles (my own included) by saying it’s just impossible to live the Christian standard. In reality, we are never asked by the Lord to an unattainable way of life. You simply cannot separate truth and freedom.
For me this is the key question - do I believe in the redemption of Christ?
For me this is the key question - do I believe in the redemption of Christ?
December 30, 2023
This encyclical powerfully states what is truth, the role of evangelization and moral theologians in sharing the truth and the need to counteract relativism in our current culture. Not something to read quickly on one sitting, but to read in short chunks so you can really ponder and pray with the words of JP2.
August 13, 2018
Leitura muito densa, por vezes difícil de acompanhar. Algumas passagens são preciosas, e a mensagem global da reafirmação da verdade moral cristã é muito válida e actual. Apesar de me terem recomendado a leitura, penso que como leiga também não sou o principal público alvo desta encíclica, e talvez por isso para mim a leitura tenha sido mais árdua.
March 12, 2022
4/5⭐
"Mientras es humano que el hombre, habiendo pecado, reconozca su debilidad y pida misericordia por las propias culpas, en cambio es inaceptable la actitud de quien hace de su propia debilidad el criterio de la verdad sobre el bien, de manera que se puede sentir justificado por sí mismo, incluso sin necesidad de recurrir a Dios y a su misericordia. Semejante actitud corrompe la moralidad de la sociedad entera, porque enseña a dudar de la objetividad de la ley moral en general y a rechazar las prohibiciones morales absolutas sobre determinados actos humanos, y termina por confundir todos los juicios de valor."
Me ha gustado mucho y pese a que lo escribió en el año 1993 cuando la postmodernidad estaba en pañales, lo que dice bien se puede aplicar a nuestros tiempos actuales. Los que amamos la filosofía, les recomiendo leerlo. sí, es cierto, es para analizar en profundidad, pero yo en mi caso lo leí para tener una mínima idea y no quedarme con la parte de la filosofía que estudié muchos años atrás sin ver el lado teológico porque nunca tuve teología. El esplendor de la verdad es una base para mirarnos a nosotros mismos, sobre todo si las preguntas nos invaden la cabeza.
La encíclica trata sobre algunos aspectos de la Moral y el papel que tiene la Iglesia en esta rama de la Teología. Entre lo que se destacan puedo mencionar que está estructurado en tres capítulos: El primero analiza el diálogo entre Jesús y el joven rico. Y allí nos muestra la capacidad que tiene el hombre para discernir el bien del mal; En el capítulo dos (el que más me gustó porque siento que en estos tiempos ni la propia voz de nuestra conciencia se respeta y que cuando ésta habla en el silencio el hombre y la mujer moderna de estos tiempos hace lo contrario ) plantea el papel de la libertad humana y de la conciencia en el actuar de la moral, qué relación hay entre ley divina y ley natural. Y en el capítulo tres, la importancia de la moral en la vida de la iglesia para su evangelización.
El objetivo es exponer las razones de una enseñanza moral basada en la sagrada Escritura y en la Tradición viva de la Iglesia, mostrando al mismo tiempo los tiempos que corren y las consecuencias que existen el querer “hacer” una iglesia acorde a estos nuevos tiempos.
En lo personal es un estímulo a mi moral y mis valores de cómo yo quiero vivir, y si, algunas cositas no estaba de acuerdo pero en general me ha gustado mucho.
En conclusión la postura es que depende de uno ya sea a favor o en contra de Dios y que de allí dependerá nuestra salvación y la conexión interna que hay entre la libertad y la verdad y que la presencia de Dios siempre estuvo, está y estará en la toma de decisiones que el hombre hace.
Algunas de las citas que me llegaron: “Cristo revela la condición del hombre y su vocación integral. Por esto, «el hombre que quiere comprenderse hasta el fondo a sí mismo —y no sólo según pautas y medidas de su propio ser, que son inmediatas, parciales, a veces superficiales e incluso aparentes—, debe, con su inquietud, incertidumbre e incluso con su debilidad y pecaminosidad, con su vida y con su muerte, acercarse a Cristo. Debe, por decirlo así, entrar en él con todo su ser, debe apropiarse y asimilar toda la realidad de la Encarnación y de la Redención para encontrarse a sí mismo. Si se realiza en él este hondo proceso, entonces da frutos no sólo de adoración a Dios, sino también de profunda maravilla de sí mismo»”
“a conciencia es el único testigo. Lo que sucede en la intimidad de la persona está oculto a la vista de los demás desde fuera. La conciencia dirige su testimonio solamente hacia la persona misma. Y, a su vez, sólo la persona conoce la propia respuesta a la voz de la conciencia.”
“Nunca se valorará adecuadamente la importancia de este íntimo diálogo del hombre consigo mismo. Pero, en realidad, éste es el diálogo del hombre con Dios”.
“la conciencia da testimonio de la rectitud o maldad del hombre al hombre mismo, pero a la vez y antes aún, es testimonio de Dios mismo, cuya voz y cuyo juicio penetran la intimidad del hombre hasta las raíces de su alma, invitándolo a la obediencia”.
“La conciencia formula así la obligación moral a la luz de la ley natural: es la obligación de hacer lo que el hombre, mediante el acto de su conciencia, conoce como un bien que le es señalado aquí y ahora.”
"Mientras es humano que el hombre, habiendo pecado, reconozca su debilidad y pida misericordia por las propias culpas, en cambio es inaceptable la actitud de quien hace de su propia debilidad el criterio de la verdad sobre el bien, de manera que se puede sentir justificado por sí mismo, incluso sin necesidad de recurrir a Dios y a su misericordia. Semejante actitud corrompe la moralidad de la sociedad entera, porque enseña a dudar de la objetividad de la ley moral en general y a rechazar las prohibiciones morales absolutas sobre determinados actos humanos, y termina por confundir todos los juicios de valor."
Me ha gustado mucho y pese a que lo escribió en el año 1993 cuando la postmodernidad estaba en pañales, lo que dice bien se puede aplicar a nuestros tiempos actuales. Los que amamos la filosofía, les recomiendo leerlo. sí, es cierto, es para analizar en profundidad, pero yo en mi caso lo leí para tener una mínima idea y no quedarme con la parte de la filosofía que estudié muchos años atrás sin ver el lado teológico porque nunca tuve teología. El esplendor de la verdad es una base para mirarnos a nosotros mismos, sobre todo si las preguntas nos invaden la cabeza.
La encíclica trata sobre algunos aspectos de la Moral y el papel que tiene la Iglesia en esta rama de la Teología. Entre lo que se destacan puedo mencionar que está estructurado en tres capítulos: El primero analiza el diálogo entre Jesús y el joven rico. Y allí nos muestra la capacidad que tiene el hombre para discernir el bien del mal; En el capítulo dos (el que más me gustó porque siento que en estos tiempos ni la propia voz de nuestra conciencia se respeta y que cuando ésta habla en el silencio el hombre y la mujer moderna de estos tiempos hace lo contrario ) plantea el papel de la libertad humana y de la conciencia en el actuar de la moral, qué relación hay entre ley divina y ley natural. Y en el capítulo tres, la importancia de la moral en la vida de la iglesia para su evangelización.
El objetivo es exponer las razones de una enseñanza moral basada en la sagrada Escritura y en la Tradición viva de la Iglesia, mostrando al mismo tiempo los tiempos que corren y las consecuencias que existen el querer “hacer” una iglesia acorde a estos nuevos tiempos.
En lo personal es un estímulo a mi moral y mis valores de cómo yo quiero vivir, y si, algunas cositas no estaba de acuerdo pero en general me ha gustado mucho.
En conclusión la postura es que depende de uno ya sea a favor o en contra de Dios y que de allí dependerá nuestra salvación y la conexión interna que hay entre la libertad y la verdad y que la presencia de Dios siempre estuvo, está y estará en la toma de decisiones que el hombre hace.
Algunas de las citas que me llegaron: “Cristo revela la condición del hombre y su vocación integral. Por esto, «el hombre que quiere comprenderse hasta el fondo a sí mismo —y no sólo según pautas y medidas de su propio ser, que son inmediatas, parciales, a veces superficiales e incluso aparentes—, debe, con su inquietud, incertidumbre e incluso con su debilidad y pecaminosidad, con su vida y con su muerte, acercarse a Cristo. Debe, por decirlo así, entrar en él con todo su ser, debe apropiarse y asimilar toda la realidad de la Encarnación y de la Redención para encontrarse a sí mismo. Si se realiza en él este hondo proceso, entonces da frutos no sólo de adoración a Dios, sino también de profunda maravilla de sí mismo»”
“a conciencia es el único testigo. Lo que sucede en la intimidad de la persona está oculto a la vista de los demás desde fuera. La conciencia dirige su testimonio solamente hacia la persona misma. Y, a su vez, sólo la persona conoce la propia respuesta a la voz de la conciencia.”
“Nunca se valorará adecuadamente la importancia de este íntimo diálogo del hombre consigo mismo. Pero, en realidad, éste es el diálogo del hombre con Dios”.
“la conciencia da testimonio de la rectitud o maldad del hombre al hombre mismo, pero a la vez y antes aún, es testimonio de Dios mismo, cuya voz y cuyo juicio penetran la intimidad del hombre hasta las raíces de su alma, invitándolo a la obediencia”.
“La conciencia formula así la obligación moral a la luz de la ley natural: es la obligación de hacer lo que el hombre, mediante el acto de su conciencia, conoce como un bien que le es señalado aquí y ahora.”
December 13, 2013
My only complaint was that sometimes the Holy Father would say with a lot of words what could have been said simply. But what he had to say and the encouragement to live a moral life were excellent.
November 17, 2022
Homeboy can really write
March 1, 2019
Veritatis Splendor is a great companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, lighting up the heart and soul of church teaching. This encyclical, whose incipit and title means the splendor of truth, goes into some detail on the teachings of the Catholic Church on morality as answer to the question "What must I do to achieve salvation?" This question is placed in hearts of mankind as well as put to Christ in the gospel.
Christ's answer begins with reference to the second part of the decalogue, a reminder that some moral laws are unmovable and not subject to relativism. In fact Saint John Paul goes to great lengths to illuminate that truth is not relative to time and while the Church has an obligation to "read the signs of the times" and "continue always in discernment of moral theology" it also must continue to uphold some actions which are always wrong as such and uphold Truth as not merely subjective. Human dignity is one of these truths. Saint John Paul also discusses freedom and how freedom does not mean radical freedom beyond any other Good in the world.
Christ further answers when the rich man tells him he has kept the commandments that one must "sell off all his things and come follow me." This is a good encyclical to read in the year of the gospel of Luke. The last couple of weeks the gospels have revolved near the story so central to this encyclical with Jesus giving the beatitudes: Happy are the poor in spirit, the merciful, the meek, the hungry, those who are spit upon and hated. Woe to those who enjoy lives pleasures now. Jesus tells us if we only love those who love us we cannot enter the kingdom, we must love our enemies.
These gospel readings, the rest of the liturgy, and this encyclical have been a reminder that the example we have of a perfect human was tortured to death in the most humiliating way and told us that we are called to experience what is conventionally thought of as suffering and sadness in order to live a happy life.
Christ's answer begins with reference to the second part of the decalogue, a reminder that some moral laws are unmovable and not subject to relativism. In fact Saint John Paul goes to great lengths to illuminate that truth is not relative to time and while the Church has an obligation to "read the signs of the times" and "continue always in discernment of moral theology" it also must continue to uphold some actions which are always wrong as such and uphold Truth as not merely subjective. Human dignity is one of these truths. Saint John Paul also discusses freedom and how freedom does not mean radical freedom beyond any other Good in the world.
Christ further answers when the rich man tells him he has kept the commandments that one must "sell off all his things and come follow me." This is a good encyclical to read in the year of the gospel of Luke. The last couple of weeks the gospels have revolved near the story so central to this encyclical with Jesus giving the beatitudes: Happy are the poor in spirit, the merciful, the meek, the hungry, those who are spit upon and hated. Woe to those who enjoy lives pleasures now. Jesus tells us if we only love those who love us we cannot enter the kingdom, we must love our enemies.
These gospel readings, the rest of the liturgy, and this encyclical have been a reminder that the example we have of a perfect human was tortured to death in the most humiliating way and told us that we are called to experience what is conventionally thought of as suffering and sadness in order to live a happy life.
April 19, 2018
Veritatis Splendor is a profound reflection on the rich young ruler’s question to Jesus, “What must I do to have eternal life?” To which Jesus responds with “if you wish to enter eternal life, keep the commandments.” JPII beautiful shows that morality is linked with salvation and that freedom is tied to truth. Both of these claims have become unraveled during the modern era. In order words, Veritatis Splendor articulates the fundamental principles of Catholic moral theology rather than engaging with specific moral issues. Perhaps the most controversial statement, at least for Protestants, is JPII rejection of the “fundamental option” theory which states one’s fundamental posture or self-determination either for or against God is what is truly significant for salvation, not specific moral failures even if they be patterns of mortal sin. JPII states that this ought to be rejected on biblical and traditional grounds for it proposes a “radical revision of the relationship between person and acts” (p 83). This is a hard truth to swallow the those “once saved, always saved” Protestants and even for Catholics who presume their moral uprightness…. A must-read for anyone theologically inclined.
March 12, 2023
Once again, the pope's writing style let him down. Content-wise, there's nothing wrong with what he has written. Christian morality makes sense, is beautiful, and certainly does not take away from our freedom (a common assertion aimed at us by the world) but enriches it. I realise that the encyclical is directed to the Episcopate but even still, one could write with much more fluency in exposing the perennial truths of reality. I do miss Benedict in this respect.
July 24, 2023
What a vision of the moral life and the need to teach and for it through Christ. He treats the reality of sin seriously something that is needed in our time. He teaches clearly what are the issues in moral theology and which schools of thought to avoid and why to avoid them. John Paul II has the pulse of the moral situation at least in the west.
January 25, 2020
The Title Says it all!
January 26, 2020
St. John Paul II’s encyclical on moral theology. Unflinching in its adherence to the deposit of faith and insightful in addressing contemporary deviations from the same.
January 7, 2021
Joyful and hopeful reading, one of his first encyclicals
December 19, 2021
Lucidez máxima y gran esperanza. Nadie debería considerarse intelectual ni científico sin conocerlo.
February 23, 2022
boring
April 26, 2023
Bleh.
October 2, 2023
"Freedom itself needs to be set free." (n. 86) I recommend reading it slowly. Every page set off sparks in my head.
February 29, 2024
Good Lord (literally) this was awful. God if you were real you would have made John Paul II a better writer.
September 2, 2024
Really interesting read.
February 17, 2015
An important Encyclical clearly demonstrating and calling for both full, faithful continuity and authentic development of doctrine in the Church. A prevailing theme consists in the dichotomy between freedom/truth which is often encountered in modern life and thought, but which are in fact complementary and allied in Christianity.
Some great quotes (among many, many others):
"In fact, genuine understanding and compassion must mean love for the person, for his true good, for his authentic freedom. And this does not result, certainly, from concealing or weakening moral truth, but rather from proposing it in its most profound meaning as an outpouring of God's eternal Wisdom, which we have received in Christ, and as a service to man, to the growth of his freedom and to the attainment of his happiness." (95)
"The Church's firmness in defending the universal and unchanging moral norms is not demeaning at all. Its only purpose is to serve man's true freedom. Because there can be no freedom apart from or in opposition to the truth, the categorical — unyielding and uncompromising — defence of the absolutely essential demands of man's personal dignity must be considered the way and the condition for the very existence of freedom." (96)
"Only God, the Supreme Good, constitutes the unshakable foundation and essential condition of morality, and thus of the commandments, particularly those negative commandments which always and in every case prohibit behaviour and actions incompatible with the personal dignity of every man. The Supreme Good and the moral good meet in truth: the truth of God, the Creator and Redeemer, and the truth of man, created and redeemed by him. Only upon this truth is it possible to construct a renewed society and to solve the complex and weighty problems affecting it, above all the problem of overcoming the various forms of totalitarianism, so as to make way for the authentic freedom of the person." (99)
"Today, when many countries have seen the fall of ideologies which bound politics to a totalitarian conception of the world — Marxism being the foremost of these — there is no less grave a danger that the fundamental rights of the human person will be denied and that the religious yearnings which arise in the heart of every human being will be absorbed once again into politics. This is the risk of an alliance between democracy and ethical relativism, which would remove any sure moral reference point from political and social life, and on a deeper level make the acknowledgement of truth impossible." (101)
Some great quotes (among many, many others):
"In fact, genuine understanding and compassion must mean love for the person, for his true good, for his authentic freedom. And this does not result, certainly, from concealing or weakening moral truth, but rather from proposing it in its most profound meaning as an outpouring of God's eternal Wisdom, which we have received in Christ, and as a service to man, to the growth of his freedom and to the attainment of his happiness." (95)
"The Church's firmness in defending the universal and unchanging moral norms is not demeaning at all. Its only purpose is to serve man's true freedom. Because there can be no freedom apart from or in opposition to the truth, the categorical — unyielding and uncompromising — defence of the absolutely essential demands of man's personal dignity must be considered the way and the condition for the very existence of freedom." (96)
"Only God, the Supreme Good, constitutes the unshakable foundation and essential condition of morality, and thus of the commandments, particularly those negative commandments which always and in every case prohibit behaviour and actions incompatible with the personal dignity of every man. The Supreme Good and the moral good meet in truth: the truth of God, the Creator and Redeemer, and the truth of man, created and redeemed by him. Only upon this truth is it possible to construct a renewed society and to solve the complex and weighty problems affecting it, above all the problem of overcoming the various forms of totalitarianism, so as to make way for the authentic freedom of the person." (99)
"Today, when many countries have seen the fall of ideologies which bound politics to a totalitarian conception of the world — Marxism being the foremost of these — there is no less grave a danger that the fundamental rights of the human person will be denied and that the religious yearnings which arise in the heart of every human being will be absorbed once again into politics. This is the risk of an alliance between democracy and ethical relativism, which would remove any sure moral reference point from political and social life, and on a deeper level make the acknowledgement of truth impossible." (101)
January 28, 2017
A wonderful encyclical by Pope Saint John Paul II addressing moral theology. Yes, it can be a bit dense and some hard reading but it is really full of information.
July 4, 2014
Favorite passage:
"In fact, genuine understanding and compassion must mean love for the person, for his true good, for his authentic freedom. And this does not result, certainly, from concealing or weakening moral truth, but rather from proposing it in its most profound meaning as an outpouring of God's eternal Wisdom, which we have received in Christ, and as a service to man, to the growth of his freedom and to the attainment of his happiness." #95
Written in '93, I was amazed at the tough words JP2 gave to moral theologians in the last section, warning them about their "grave duty" and "insisting that the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity must always be respected."
Sign. Sure wish they would've listened.
"In fact, genuine understanding and compassion must mean love for the person, for his true good, for his authentic freedom. And this does not result, certainly, from concealing or weakening moral truth, but rather from proposing it in its most profound meaning as an outpouring of God's eternal Wisdom, which we have received in Christ, and as a service to man, to the growth of his freedom and to the attainment of his happiness." #95
Written in '93, I was amazed at the tough words JP2 gave to moral theologians in the last section, warning them about their "grave duty" and "insisting that the right of the faithful to receive Catholic doctrine in its purity and integrity must always be respected."
Sign. Sure wish they would've listened.
March 7, 2024
This is a very well written, and often inspiring piece of writing. Extremely articulate response to still relevant issues and concerns, a brilliant connection between truth and morality. This book brought me home to the Catholic faith and set me on a journey that would change not only my life, but that of my family as well.
April 17, 2007
A must read for anyone interested in truth. I'd recommend either reading sections online or buy it (paperbacks are super cheap from paulist press - look online) and just pick out sections from the table on contents to wet your appetite.
September 28, 2016
GREAT read on Christian morality. It's one of those rare texts that takes you to the beginning/root of the problem before bringing the conclusions. It's so much better than reading something for which you need prior knowledge. Very informative!
January 1, 2023
Gran libro que explica la base de la enseñanza moral de la iglesia católica y cómo ésta tiene fundamento para promover la verdadera plenitud y él bienestar personal. Realza el valor de la enseñanza moral de la iglesia qué en la sociedad actual se ha mal entendido y desvirtuado
October 14, 2009
Contrary to what the GR entry says, this was promulgated in the 1990s, not 2003.
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