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This slightly complicated word is a big part of Benedict XVI's legacy, and it's a word every Catholic should know well.
Among the things Pope Benedict XVI will be remembered for is his use of the word hermeneutic outside purely academic discourse. His “hermeneutic of continuity” as the way to understand Vatican II put that word into broader circulation.
And . . . who cares?
You should, as a Catholic.
First of all, what is a “hermeneutic”? Put simply, it’s a “key” or “principle” to interpret something. Many things are not self-explanatory. They need to be interpreted, and to do so, one must use the right key, the right “hermeneutic.”
As regards the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict contrasted a “hermeneutic of continuity” with a “hermeneutic of rupture.” What he meant is this: do you understand Vatican II in a relationship with all that preceded it in the Church, or do you see Vatican II as a break with what came before it?
That’s not a choice. It’s not a Chinese menu: choose A or B. The answer is directly tied with how you understand what the Church is.
As Catholics, we maintain that the Church was established by Jesus Christ. It is not a purely human institution designed to help us along in our “personal relationship with Jesus.” It is a divinely established institution that is essential to our having a relationship with Christ. It is how God clearly wants to lead human beings—not as isolated individuals, but as the family of God and member of Christ’s mystical body—to salvation.
Continued below.
www.catholic.com
Among the things Pope Benedict XVI will be remembered for is his use of the word hermeneutic outside purely academic discourse. His “hermeneutic of continuity” as the way to understand Vatican II put that word into broader circulation.
And . . . who cares?
You should, as a Catholic.
First of all, what is a “hermeneutic”? Put simply, it’s a “key” or “principle” to interpret something. Many things are not self-explanatory. They need to be interpreted, and to do so, one must use the right key, the right “hermeneutic.”
As regards the Second Vatican Council, Pope Benedict contrasted a “hermeneutic of continuity” with a “hermeneutic of rupture.” What he meant is this: do you understand Vatican II in a relationship with all that preceded it in the Church, or do you see Vatican II as a break with what came before it?
That’s not a choice. It’s not a Chinese menu: choose A or B. The answer is directly tied with how you understand what the Church is.
As Catholics, we maintain that the Church was established by Jesus Christ. It is not a purely human institution designed to help us along in our “personal relationship with Jesus.” It is a divinely established institution that is essential to our having a relationship with Christ. It is how God clearly wants to lead human beings—not as isolated individuals, but as the family of God and member of Christ’s mystical body—to salvation.
Continued below.
The Word You Must Add to Your Catholic Vocabulary
This one, slightly complicated word—hermeneutic—is a big part of Pope Benedict XVI's legacy, and it's a word every Catholic should know well.
