Church - Tradition, Challenge and Change

• Tourist


  An individual who sees sights, discovers new places, learns interesting facts, takes photographs and accumulates souvenirs for pleasure or interest
• Pilgrim


  An individual who is on a sacred journey in which God is encountered through places, people and situations. The pilgrim gains insights and discerns new truths about oneself. The pilgrim travels with the expectation that the one who returns will not be the same person as the one who set out
• Pilgrimage


  A journey to a holy place, which can lead to a personal transformation, after which the pilgrim returns to their daily life
• Meaning of 'vine' in John 15:1-17, Jesus the true vine, and 'I am the Vine you are the Branches' by Pope John Paul II


  1. Discuss the meaning using the PEEL structure

  2. Two short paragraphs on each text
• The metaphorical employment of the term 'vine' in the texts John 15:1-17, Jesus the true vine, and 'I am the Vine you are the Branches' by Pope John Paul II serve as reflections of the Catholic Church
• The Catholic Church's primary mission

  To reveal Jesus Christ and to proclaim his message
• The vine


  A metaphorical representation of the union humans have with Jesus Christ through baptism and other means, which makes us members of his body
• The repeated use of the term vine


  Suggests that Jesus is the source of human life, and only if individuals remain in him can they be fruitful or successful
• Without Jesus


  Individuals cannot bear fruit or be fruitful, referring to success and life
• The metaphor of the 'vine' is used in the Gospel of John to illustrate the relationship between Jesus and His followers, emphasising the Church's mission to remain united with Christ and bear spiritual fruit
• Jesus: '"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing"'
• Jesus: '"If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you"'
• The 'vine'


  Symbolises the life-giving source that Jesus represents, with the branches symbolising the believers who draw their sustenance from Him
• The 'vine' metaphor underscores the Church's mission to stay deeply rooted in Christ, ensuring that its actions and growth are guided by His teachings and presence
• The fruit that the branches bear represents the good works and spiritual growth that come from this connection
• Catechism of the Catholic Church: '"The Church is a cultivated field, the tillage of God. On that land, the ancient olive tree grows whose holy roots were the prophets and in which the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles has been brought about and will be brought about again"'
• Apostolic writings and contemporary Catholic teachings build upon the 'vine' metaphor to elucidate the Church's role and mission in the world
• Pope John Paul II: '"Christ says, 'I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing'"'
• Pope John Paul II emphasises that the Church must remain in Christ to bear fruit
• Pope John Paul II: '"The Church herself, then, is the vine in the gospel. She is mystery because the very life and love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are the gift gratuitously offered to all those who are born of water and the Holy Spirit (cf. Jn 3:5), and called to relive the very communion of God and to manifest it and communicate it in history (mission)"'
• Pope John Paul II's writings expand on the 'vine' metaphor by highlighting the Church's mission to be a visible sign of Christ's presence and a source of unity and reconciliation in the world
• Pope John Paul II underscores the necessity of the Church's continuous union with Christ to fulfil its mission of religious knowledge and spiritual growth
• Without this union, the Church cannot achieve its purpose or produce the fruits of the Spirit, which include "love, joy, peace, patience"
• The 'vine' metaphor is enriched, portraying the Church's mission as both a spiritual and communal endeavour, rooted in Christ and aimed at spreading His love and unity
• Church a building used for public Christian worship.
• Heresy: any belief or theory that is strongly at variance with established beliefs or customs, particularly the accepted beliefs or religious law of a religious organisation.
• Tradition: practices that can change over time, whether in liturgy, disciplines or devotions.
• Reformation: the act or process of changing a religious, political, or social/societal institution for the better.
• Schism: a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief.