November 23, 2025 - Pastor Message
December 5, 2025JUBILEE 2025 GAUDIUM ET SPES (conclusion)
JUBILEE 2025
GAUDIUM ET SPES (conclusion)
“Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creatures. In him everything in heaven and earth was created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, principalities or powers; all were created through him and for him. He is before all else that is. In him, everything continues in being. It is he who is head of the body, the Church; he who is the beginning, the first-born of the dead, so that primacy may be his in everything” (Colossians 1:15-18).
Last week we reflected on some areas of special concern addressed by Gaudium et Spes (GS), including marriage and family life and the development of human culture. This week we will conclude our reflection on GS, and thus the 60th anniversary of Vatican Council II during this jubilee year, by looking at our economic and political life. Regarding the economy, GS stresses the four basic social principles we discussed in an earlier column: the dignity of the person, the common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity. The economy exists to serve people, not the other way around, and to do so for all people equally, enabling all people to utilize the goods of this world to live more fully human lives. Without endorsing a particular economic system, GS calls societies to ensure that whatever economic system they employ, it furthers these goals and not selfish, individualistic consumerism or nationalistic, collectivist oppression.
Regarding politics, the same principles again apply. Governments exist to serve people, not the other way around, and to serve all their people equally by providing the necessary protections to secure their basic rights and achieve their full humanity. They do so as part of the larger, global community, with responsibilities not just to those who live within their borders but to all people, all while respecting the legitimate rights of their own people and other nations. Again, GS does not endorse any particular system of government to accomplish these goals, leaving that up to the people themselves, but, whatever system of government a country embraces, it must serve these goals.
This delicate balance becomes even more important in matters of war and peace. When nations or groups are in conflict, the Church’s first option is always to work for peaceful reconciliation, stressing mutual charity and nonviolent conflict resolution. However, when a nation’s or group’s basic rights are severely and immediately threatened, and nonviolent means, such as negotiation and mediation, have failed, a government’s responsibility to protect people’s rights means that it may resort to force. This is known as “just war theory”, and is guided by strict principles, such as the protection of noncombatants, legitimate authority, and proportionate force. Note that war is never good or desired, but it may, in the most extreme circumstances, be justified.
This concludes our journey through GS and the other constitutions of Vatican II. I hope we have all learned something this jubilee year about what Vatican II actually said, not just what someone told us it said. As always, I encourage you to read the documents for yourself and learn even more. May the wisdom of the council shape our faith, and may that renewed faith shape our Church today into a fuller realization of the true vision of the council.
Fr. Marc Stockton
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