Significant Person - Pope John XXIII

● EXPLAIN THE CONTRIBUTION AND IMPACT TO THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXPRESSION OF

CHRISTIANITY OF POPE JOHN XXIII
Context of the 20th century
● Tensions between the European countries due to industrial revolution
● Creation of the united nations → human rights
● Large movements against political and religious views
● Clericalism: emphasis on the clergy at execution of laity
● Triumphalism: perception that the catholic church alone held the truth
● Juridicism: overemphasise the rules or laws to determinant of the people

Contribution 1: Church Reformation (Second vatican council)

Contribution Impact

Goals Important changes from Vatican II

● Not to deal with crisis but promote peace and unity ● Removal of
● Need for mercy and understanding ○ Triumphalism – belief that the
Documents Catholic Church alone held the
● The council issued sixteen formal documents truth
***The below are not in order but I think are important ones*** ○ Clericalism – the emphasis on
1. Constitution of the Sacred liturgy - change to christian the clergy and exclusion of the
reunion and strengthen ecumenism laity
2. Dogmatic Constitution on the church - explained the ○ Juridicism – legalism to the
church's nature in connecting with God and unity detriment of people
among men. Clarified churches mission of salvation ● Returns relationship of the trinity
3. Decree on Ecumensim - Distinction between spiritual ● Renewed study of the bible
ecumanism, mainly prayer and virtue, and practical ● Improved relationships with other
ecumanism, which actively fosters christian reunion. churches and faiths
Restoring unity among denominations Changes to the liturgy
● Renew to every aspect of liturgical ife
● Greater meaning of liturgical life and
active participation in the laity
● Communal rather than a personal act
● Disappearance of Latin as the language
and now said in the vernacular
● Alter being moved forwarded, allowing
the priest to face the congregation
● Greater involvement of laity
● Inclusion of new prayers and music

Contribution 2: Ecumanism

Contribution Impact
 ● Establishing relationships with other christian faiths ● Profound impact → healing divisions
Vatican II discussing faith and ministry and social
● Encourage dialogue between the world Council of justice projects
churches and the catholic church by: ● Pre council → catholic saw themselves
○ Promoting an authentic ecumenical spirit within are the one true faith
the catholic church ● Openness to christian ecumenism
○ Dialogue and collaborating with other christian ● Ended sectarian conflicts between
churches and world communions catholics and protestants
● Produced two documents in 1964 relating to ● Ecumenicl agreemens with other
ecumanism and the nature of the chich and its Christan denominations, recognising
relationship with other christians that which is held in common - faith in
○ Decree on Ecumenism - restoring christian Jesus, the bible, baptism and the desire
unity rather than a return of fallen-away for peace and justice.
Christians to Roman Catholicism ● Broke barriers of sectarianism
○ Dogmatic Constitution on the church -
instrument of communion with God and unity
among men. Mission as the universal
sacrament of salvation. Laity have a special
vocation
Quotes
- “All Catholics must aim at Christian perfection”, “to
promote Christian unity”
- “What unites us, is much greater than what divides us”

Contribution 3: Interfaith Dialogue

Contribution Impact

Vatican II ● After the vatican II the church “rejects

● The document Nostra Estate marked the beginning of nothing that is true and holy” in other
a new era in the church’s relationship with other religions
religious traditions. ● Jews were not blamed for the death of
● The wrongs were put right Jesus Christat and anti-semitism was
● End of separation from jews wrong
● Urged catholics to enter, with prudence and charity, ● Today the Pontifical council of
into discussion and collaboration with members of interreligious dialogue promotes the
other religions study of other religions and the
Quote development of mutual respect and
- All men…should turn their attention away from those understanding between different faiths
things that divide and separate us” ● Invited representatives from other faith
making genuine relationships

Significant Practise - Baptism

● DESCRIBE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BAPTISM WITHIN CHRISTIANITY

Baptism
● Gives meaning to society
● Ordinary rite of initiation welcoming new members into their faith community
● Expression of faith in one god
● Ritual purification by water
● For some, a formal acceptance into the church or public statement of faith
● Beginning of a new life in christ
 ● Baptism and salvation
○ Orthodox and catholic → baptism does affect salvation
○ Protestant reformation → reject this idea
● Baptism in the bible
○ Jesus submitted to baptism which john intended for sinners as a sign of willingness to
empty himself and become one with us
○ Noahs art → washing away the sin of the world
● Therefore go and make disciple of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:16-20)

Essential elements
Water:
● Represents the death of the old sinful self and rebirth into a new life as an adherent of jesus Christ
● Represents b=death and burial
● Aspersion - sprinkling of water over the head
● Affusion - pouring of water over the head
● Immersion - the complete lowering of the entire body in a pool of water. Represents the dying of
the person before being brought back to life as a member of god's church
Triniaritan formula:
● The process is to symbolise the believers identification with jesus Christ and his death, burial and
resurrection.

Baptism in the principle beliefs of chrisitanity

Divinity and humanity ● Jesus both human and god → chosen to submit to baptism
of Jesus ● Shows his humanity and willingness to empty himself

Death, resurrection ● Enter a new life in christ

and ascension of jesus ● Die to sin and reborn into a life of innocence

The nature of God and ● Baptised in the name of the father the son and the holy spirit
the trinity ● Connects a individual to their salvation

Revelation ● Communication of knowledge from jesus

● Entering baptism → they are entered into a life of revelation with God

Salvation ● Orthodox and catholic → signifies repentance and forgiveness. And

baptism is needed for salvation
● Lutheran, baptists and pentecostals → not necessary but shows a
commitment to faith

Significance to individuals
Chrsitanity presented a cleansing and rebirth approach to the new covenant of Jesus
Following the example of christ
- Shows that the individual (or parents of the individual for infant baptism) desire to follow the
example set by Jesus
- Chrsitans become god's property
- Have the responsibility and commitment to live according to the teachings, practises and the life of
jesus and of the community
Membership of the Christian community
- Welcomed into the community
 - Revere either sacremts or rites
- Fully in the spiritual life of the church
- Life guided by the holy spirit
- Lifelong service of God in faith, hope and charity
- Share the mission of the church
- Through baptism God adopts us as his own sons and daughters. - Father Anthony M. Coniaris,
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
Death and rebirth
- Death to sin and rebirth in christ
- Dies to sin in the water of baptism and is reborn to a life of innocence in christ through the holy
spirit
- Given the responsibility of professing the faith and actively participating in the life of their
worshipping community
- Participate in the mission of the church
The light of christ
- Share in the light Jesus brought into the world
- The parents and godparents are asked to keep the light of faith burning in the child's life so that he
or she can participate in the coming of the kingdom of God, through faith and good works.

Community
- The whole community as a whole benefits from the baptism process
- All differences disappear after baptism. This doesn't mean a loss of identity because it uses the
concept of salvation of the individual soul.
- And individual is becoming one with christ
- Common concert of identify
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have
clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are
all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.
(Gal 3:26-29)
- Baptism unites all individuals with Jesus’ death and resurrection, christians are born to a new life
with jesus
- Extend to the past and into the future
- In baptism a person is welcomed and initiated into sharing the mission of Jesus in the world
- “Baptism unites in one fellowship of love, service, suffering and joy” - Uniting church
- Reaffirms the community’s commitment to their own physical promises
- Adds communal significance through the role of sponsors or godparents