Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 71 No. 2-3, 2001.
Professional paper
Communion in Church - Value in Crisis?
Marijan Jurčević
; Theology in Rijeka, Dislocated Studies of Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Zagreb, Rijeka, Croatia
Abstract
A lot of value are reexamined and revalorised nowadays and some even rejected. In this study a question about union in Church is raised. Is this value in crisis or is it seriously searching and practising?
Communion is a crucial element of Church. And Church on the side is equalised with Communion. She is confirmed in the Church of Christ if Communion is present. The face of Christ is recognised through an alive and fraternel Communion. Communio is a place of birth for new followers of Jesus, a place of revival through sacraments.
Jesus founded the Church to be an alive organism of brotherhood. Church is the »instrument« of salvation. Therefore, in no case can we talk about crisis of union a value. Nevertheless, there is a crisis in the model of outgoing union. As if the types of outgoing unions were too institutional and lifeless.
Today's Christian looks for more personal and intimate union. As long as a Christian is aware of his personality and human rights, the more is he looking for true union. He is looking for an Communion more fraternal and with non classes or differences between hierarchy and communion people.
Regarding this, there is a need for more responsibility of all the members in church communion. But there is also a need for a more important and more dynamic part for laics in church. They should not only be assistants, but carriers and dealers of the »Holy«.
Values and need for small communities opened toward universal church, is also pointed out. Every small community is the whole Church if it is opened toward universal brotherhood and sisterhood.
Keywords
communion; community; Church; crisis
Hrčak ID:
29120
URI
Publication date:
20.5.2002.
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