The Church As It Were

THE CHURCH AS IT WERE
(A Personal Evaluation on the History of the Church and Her Life as Communion)

by Sem. John Andrew D. Avila

Being a Catholic is indeed, for me, enriching. Consequently, I am perpetually grateful that I had the chance to grow up in a family with a solid Catholic atmosphere. Thanks to my family, my mother, my grandmother and our parish priests. They were instrumental in my being able to find myself to where I am now. In God’s grace, I have found myself in the seminary striving to form myself to become an effective and holy priest in the future. In fact, I am already in my second-year theology now. And in this last stage of my seminary formation, I could say that my love for the Church has indubitably increased. Of course, knowing the history of the Church and its richness has continuously edified me to be conscientious, eager and diligent in my seminary formation which will surely aid me in my future ministry. Perhaps, one of the important realizations offered to me by my burning quest to deeply know the history of the Church (from the Ancient Church History up to the present) is the fact that the Church is to be understood as communion. For me, the very word that can describe the Church, founded by Christ, is truly the word: Communion.

It is but proper to underline that the Church has been seen as “a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Eph 1:4-5 and 10). The Acts of the Apostles (4:32) says that this unity is a oneness of mind and heart based on faith in Jesus Christ. I recall in one of our classes in Ancient Church History, Fr. Mark Ivo Velasquez enlightened us that the Acts of the Apostles clearly portrays how the first believers shared an intimate fellowship of communion, love and prayer centered on the Eucharistic breaking of the bread. Also, if we will try to read through the Pauline literature, we will discover that the whole of Paul’s great letter to the Romans reflects his tremendous concern for the unity of the Church. We can indeed say that throughout the history of the Church, there is that yearning to have that unity among believers in the Church and even extending that unity with those non-believers and non-Catholics.

Very close to our knowledge is the Second Vatican Council. It was accentuated by Msgr. Ramon Aguilos, in one of our classes in the Church in Modern Ages, that with the advent of Pope John XXIII, a turning point was reached in the Church’s relations with the modern world. If my memory serves me right, one of the two main goals set by Pope John XXIII for the Second Vatican Council, aside from bringing the presentation of the Church’s doctrine up to date, is the promotion of Christian unity. The Second Vatican Council embraced his optimistic vision of a renewed Church seeking greater unity with all men. Hence, in order to attain these objectives, the Council Fathers undertook a fundamental reflection on ecclesiology. They had the hopes of better defining the Church’s profound nature, her essential structure, and the meaning of her mission in the world. The fruit of this reflection is the ecclesiology of communion. Thus, after the explication and reception of the Council had been promoted, orientation for its interpretation became necessary. The 1985 Synod of Bishops provided this by declaring, “The ecclesiology of communion is the central and fundamental idea of the Council’s documents.” Hence, having read of the Vatican II documents, I can say that it provides us the key to a Catholic understanding of the Church as communion. For example, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium, no.1 states that the Church is “in Christ, in the nature of a sacrament – a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity with the human race.”

I would like to affirm what Dennis Doyle said, in his book Communion Ecclesiology, that the vision of the Church as a communion indeed enlightens and inspires. Thus, we, the Filipino Catholics were given an avenue to reflect on that illuminating and motivating life of the Church as Communion as the Church in the Philippines has declared 2017 as the Year of the Parish as Communion of Communities. Significantly, it heralded the theme which is in line with the PCP-II vision of a renewed Church which is also based on the Vatican II vision of the Church: The Church as Community of Disciples that lived in communion and that participates in the mission of the Church as a priestly, prophetic and kingly people and as the Church of the Poor.

Thus, it has always been my desire, that when I become a priest and even now as a seminarian, to promote a dynamic and healthy interplay between unity and diversity in the Church, between the Church universal and the local churches. I will also put emphasis in my preaching what it means to be in communion and to do justice to catholic inclusivity. But, of course, just like the aspirations of many popes and other Church authorities throughout Church history, I advocate that the Church, as communion, should be experienced as a community and as an extended family where the members feel at home, experience a sense of belongingness, solidarity and sharing. In short, what should prevail is the spirit of unity and solidarity—a mystical communion. I can say that it is true that the Church indeed is a web of relationships. But, ecclesial communion is not automatically experienced by the members of the Church. Hence, as future priests, I believe that this is our primary responsibility as part of our ministry of pastoral leadership and communion – to let the people experience that ecclesial communion. Through the collaborative efforts of all the Church’s members, the Church grows as a communion of communities.

Moreover, from what the Church has already experienced, one of the things that magnified her spiritual power were the persecutions she endured. Even until now, there are many people who would criticize the Church and try to throw false assertions against her. However, what is interesting now is the fact that amidst these persecutions suffered by our Mother Church, her progress remains constant. Amidst the many attempts of certain people so that there will be divisions in the Church, she continues to be unified and that the Catholics are still united in the Creed (Profession of Faith), in the Cult (the Sacraments) and in the Code (Ecclesiastical Governance).

Finally, as we try to live the invitation of the Church to become servants of communion, we should also not forget that all these things will be made possible through Christ who has founded the Church and has shown us the life of unity and communion with our brothers and sisters. Personally, I can attest to the fact that this envisioning of unity would only be possible if we unite ourselves to the One God in Three Divine Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. After all, the Church is a communion and as members of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, we all have to be agents of communion according to our condition and state of life that we have.