Przymioty Kościoła w perspektywie paschalnej

Abstract

Ecclesiology is no autonomous area of theological reflection. It is rather relational, i.e. constituted and defined basically by its relationship with the doctrine of the Holy Trinity, christology (soteriology) and pneumatology. A paschal ecclesiology (ecclesiologia paschalis) is an organic continuation of christology and pneumatology. In this paper the author attempts to show the essential notes or features of the Church in the light of the paschal mystery of Christ and of the Pentecost. First of all he explains the paschal meaning of such notes as unity, holiness, catholicity and apostolicity. Then he presents them in a more dynamic and eschatological context as an expression of the paschal hope of the pilgrim Church striving for its fulfilment at the end of time. The third part of the paper is devoted to the relationship between the notes of the Church and the growing needs of the world. In this context he stresses a ministerial and kenotic character of the Church serving the people (genus diaconicum). Unity may be closely linked with freedom, holiness with poverty, apostolicity and catholicity with human suffering. Thus to the classic notes of the Church one could attach some new ones, expressing more adequately its nature and mission in the world.