THE “CHURCH-SACRAMENT” IN THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL’S DOCUMENTS

Abstract

Ecclesiology is the main topic of Vatican II, able to encompass the main part of its contents either as ecclesia ad intra or as ecclesia ad extra. Moreover, it matched one of the main aims of the synod: a deeper view of the essence of the Church for a dialogue with a world under cultural change as became ever clearer after mid XXth century. For this purpose, the sacramental ecclesiology showed itself accurate. The idea was not new but not recently common save among theologians. The paper shows how in the final documents, the sacramental ecclesiology allows the Council to highlight: its structure, its relation to Christ, the Church as sign and as instrument of salvation, its union to all of mankind, and its eschatological purpose.