Summary of Gaudium et Spes

Gaudium et Spes is probably the most controversial of the Vatican II documents, with the exception of Dignitus Human. It is considered as a pastoral constitution; it comments on the ever-changing cultural scene. According to Fr Robert, proponents consider Gaudium et Spes as the canon within the canon, however, he disagrees with this view because he ppppoint out that Gaudium et Spes should be read in the light of Lumen Getum. Fr Robert also pointed that for tractors Gaudium et Spes is the source of mischieves in connection to the morden world.
Gaudium et Spes is the longest of the Vatican document and in the history of the magisterium. Major complains given to it are the critics some which were given by Joseph Ratzinger, who later became Pope Benedict XVI. Before and after the publication of the document Rartinger was critical about the kind of imminentism and a reduction of the supernatural to the natural, he accused the document for giving a reading of the kingdom of God in social and political terms. For Rartinger many parts of GAudium et Spes were frankly pelagianism; they were heretical. The main point of Gauidium et Spes is stressed right from its introduction. “the joys and hopes and sorrows…”. This is where a lot of debates come from. Gaudium et Spes exshoorts that the Church has the transformative mission of Christofying the world, not so mkuch of mmodernizing the Church. According to Fr Robert, GAudium et Spes is about Christofying the world, and this does not mean that the Church has to become “hand and head with culture”. The Church is not called upon to yield to the cultural beliefs. The role of the Church is too read the signs of the times, both good and bad, and to interpret them in the light of the gospel. “It is accordingly in the light of Christ who is the image of the invisible God that the council…”
The main point that Gaudium et Spes talks about is on human dignity. Human dignity comes from the ffact that we are the beloved of God; we are