Statement of Purpose

Statement of Purpose

Introduction

Sunday, April 24th, 2005 - St. Peter's Square, Rome; After the imposition of the Pallium and the conferral of the Fisherman's Ring, his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI gives his first Sunday homily as the Successor of St. Peter. In this homily he makes reference to his "program of governance" and what he perceives to be his "task" as Pontiff. Quite simply he says, "At this moment there is no need for me to present a program of governance. I was able to give an indication of what I see as my task in my Message of Wednesday 20 April..." The referred to message of Wednesday April 20th, was his first official message as Pontiff, and was delivered in the Sistine Chapel at the end of the Eucharistic Celebration, just one day after his election to the Papacy on April 19th, 2005. In this first message he not only outlines his "program of governance" and "task" as Pontiff, but by right ecclesiology is simultaneously providing, in his typical manner, a brilliant summary of the mission of the Catholic Church and an outline of the means and methods necessary to achieve it. It is this simple, yet brilliant message that lays the groundwork for the purpose of this organization. Adopting his program of governance as our own and his tasks as our tasks, the mission of the organization thus becomes the striving to accomplish the mission of the Catholic Church via the implementation of the wisdom of the means and methods outlined in this the first message of Pope Benedict XVI.

The Mission, The Task, and The Means & Methods

The Mission - It is here that Benedict XVI expresses as his Papal mission, that which is also the Church's mission; "to set out, with the sole concern of proclaiming the living presence of Christ to the whole world." - A statement in need of a book to unpack. He further states that God, “through his Church, wants to make a great family of all the peoples by means of the unifying power of Truth and Love..." The Mission: Evangelization. - Simply put, to be sure.

The Task – To achieve this mission, he, like the Church, takes responsibility for a variety of tasks. In the forefront of these tasks stands the task of internal unity. On this the Pontiff states that he, "…takes on as his primary task the duty to work tirelessly to rebuild the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers. This is his ambition, his impelling duty." And that he, "… is prepared to do everything in his power to promote the fundamental cause of ecumenism." This is his, and the Church's, primary task in the service of her mission to evangelize. For it is this internal unity, the essence of ecumenism, that most impacts the "efficacy of evangelization." In his words, "…the Successor of Peter and the Bishops… must be closely united with one another. This collegial communion, despite the diversity of roles and functions of the Roman Pontiff and Bishops, is at the service of the Church and of unity in the faith, on which the efficacy of evangelizing action largely depends." The primary task then: Ecumenism. - To Ecumenize, in order to more effectively Evangelize. To ecumenize however, the Pontiff is, "aware that good intentions do not suffice for this. Concrete gestures that enter hearts and stir consciences are essential, inspiring in everyone that inner conversion that is the prerequisite for all ecumenical progress." On inspiring this "inner conversion" He expressed that, "Theological dialogue is necessary; the investigation of the historical reasons for the decisions made in the past is also indispensable.”

The Means & Methods – What should guide our "theological dialogue" and “historical investigations” that are so indispensable to the ecumenical project? Here enters a theme in the pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI that he speaks of from this, his first message, to nearly his last speech as Pope. Namely, the importance of the Second Vatican Council. In his words, “I also wish to confirm my determination to continue to put the Second Vatican Council into practice, following in the footsteps of my Predecessors and in faithful continuity with the 2,000-year tradition of the Church.” In continuing, Benedict XVI echoes the words of his predecessor Pope Saint John Paul II: “Pope John Paul II rightly pointed out the Council as a “compass” by which to take our bearings in the vast ocean of the third millennium.” This deeply profound symbol of the Second Vatican Council being our “Compass” is the principal concept behind this organization and the origin of its name. In expressing the effects of what happens when one actually uses The Council as one’s Compass, Pope Benedict XVI provides us with the example of his saintly predecessor’s life when he says of him that, “He leaves a Church that is more courageous, freer, more youthful. She is a Church which, in accordance with his teaching example, looks serenely at the past and is not afraid of the future. With the Great Jubilee she entered the new millennium, bearing the Gospel, applied to today’s world, through an authoritative rereading of the Second Vatican Council.” Thus emphasizing the profoundly positive effects of the proper implementation and unpacking of the Second Vatican Council and its ability to truly lead the Church in this third millennium. For it to be, as both Pontiffs state, our “Compass”.

The Council: Our Compass

Pope Benedict XVI, in this first message, goes on to again quote Pope John Paul II who says, on the topic of the Second Vatican Council, “I am convinced that it will long be granted to the new generations to draw from the treasures that this 20th-Century Council has lavished upon us.” On the same topic, Pope Benedict XVI continues in his own words, “This year marks the 40th anniversary of the conclusion of the Council (8 December 1965). As the years have passed, the Conciliar Documents have lost none of their timeliness; indeed, their teachings are proving particularly relevant to the new situation of the Church and the current globalized society.” Both Pontiffs, in harmony, proclaim the relevance of the Second Vatican Council to the Church’s mission of evangelization. Both Pontiffs express the need to and the benefits of putting it “into practice” with a “rereading” of the Conciliar Documents which requires that “inner conversion” inspired by the necessary theological dialogue and historical inquiries that are a part of the ecumenical project. Support for The Second Vatican Council is a dominant and recurring theme in the Pontificate of Pope Benedict XVI and Saint John Paul II. Both Pontiffs, saintly and intellectual giants of the Church, rightly speak of the Vatican Council as the needed “Compass” that will guide our personal, ecumenical, and evangelical endeavors in the third millennium.

The Eucharist: Our Strength

Another dominant theme that defines Pope Benedict XVI’s reign: The Eucharist. In his speaking on the Eucharist in this message, he ties all the aforementioned themes together and simultaneously expresses for us the right order of Christian life in the Church. The newly elected Pontiff says that we must draw strength for all our endeavors from the Eucharist which is “the heart of the Christian life and the source of the Church’s evangelizing mission…” He goes on to say, “From full communion with Him (God) flows every other element of the Church’s life: first of all, Communion among all the faithful (Ecumenism), the commitment to proclaiming and witnessing to the Gospel (Evangelization), the ardor of love for all, especially the poorest and lowliest.” Note the order in which he expresses the effects of Communion with God in the Eucharist. An effective model indeed for Christian life. A movement from the inside to the outside. God. Family. Community. - God. Ecumenism. Evangelization.

I.S.V.C. - Mission Statement

Heeding the words spoken by his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in his “inaugural” message of April 20th, 2005, and striving to implement the wisdom contained therein is sure to be a powerfully effective way to live out our Christian Life. This then is the mission of The Institute for the Study of the Vatican Councils:

We at I.S.V.C. are dedicated to the living out of and the promoting of the concept that the Second Vatican Council should be our “Compass” in this third millennium. (“Secundus Ecclesiae in Concilio illo demonstravit indicem seu ut dicitur quasi "nauticam pyxidem", qua in vasto mari tertii millennii dirigeretur.”) We will use The Conciliar Documents as the guide to direct our theological conversations, our historical investigations, and our philosophical queries. We like Pope Benedict XVI dedicate ourselves to the proper implementation of the Second Vatican Council. To draw strength from the Eucharist for that inner conversion of self and personal sanctification; to promote ecumenism for the strengthening of communion among our brothers and sisters; to proclaim and witness to the Gospel for the evangelization of the world. – To live The Council. To let it be our “Compass”.

I.S.V.C. – Services

To achieve the above Mission, we at I.S.V.C. intend to offer now, or in the future, the following services to the Church and the Community:

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