The Splendor of Truth

In 1993, Pope John Paul II published Veritatis Splendor (The Splendor of Truth) regarding fundamental questions of human action. The Pope addressed this encyclical (letter) to all the bishops of the Catholic Church, but the content of the letter is accessible to everyone with a basic understanding of Christianity and moral action.

The basic question the Pope addresses is ``What is truth and its relation to human actions?'' The encyclical has three chapters. Chapter one discusses the content of truth, intellectual and moral, as revealed by God throughout history, especially in the person of Jesus Christ. Chapter two clarifies the concept of freedom by showing its relation to law and conscience. Chapter three covers the necessity of moral good for life and true freedom.

This encyclical treats with the apparent oppositions that form the basis of many modern errors:

The modern world often sees these pairs as conflicting and even mutually exclusive where there are actually two realities that reinforce and protect each other.

Veritatis Splendor is not a small work (~280 kb). We encourage everyone to read the whole of this document and make use of it to know the truth and, with the truth, to live life to the full.

Veritatis Splendor

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CONTENTS

Introduction


Jesus Christ, the true light that enlightens everyone (Nos. 1-3)
The purpose of the present Encyclical (Nos. 4-5)

Chapter One
``TEACHER, WHAT GOOD MUST I DO ...?'' (Mt. 19:16)
Christ and the answer to the question about morality


``Someone came to him...'' (Mt 19:16) (Nos. 6-7)
``Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?'' (Mt 19:16) (No. 8)
``There is only one who is good'' (Mt 19:17) (Nos. 9-11)
``If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandment'' (Mt 19:17) (Nos. 12-15)
``If you wish to be perfect'' (Mt 19:21) (Nos. 12-15)
``Come, follow me'' (Mt 19:21) (Nos 19-21)
``With God all things are possible'' (Mt 19:26) (Nos. 22-24)
``Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age'' (Mt 28:20) (Nos. 25-27)

Chapter Two
``DO NOT BE CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD'' (Rom 12:2)
The Church and the discernment of certain tendencies in present-day moral theology


Teaching what befits sound doctrine (cf. Tit 2:1) (Nos. 28-30)
``You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free'' (Jn 8:32) (Nos. 31-34)
  1. FREEDOM AND LAW
    ``Of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat'' (Gen 2:17) (Nos. 35-37)
    ``God left man in the power of his own counsel'' (Sir 15:14) (Nos. 38-41)
    Blessed is the man who takes delight in the law of the Lord (cf. Ps 1:1-2) (Nos. 42-45)
    ``What the law requires is written on their hearts'' (Rom 2:15) (Nos. 46-50)
    ``From the beginning it was not so'' (Mt 19:8) (Nos. 51-53)
  2. CONSCIENCE AND TRUTH
    Man's sanctuary (Nos. 54-56)
    The judgment of conscience (Nos. 57-61)
    Seeking what is true and good (Nos. 62-64)
  3. FUNDAMENTAL CHOICE AND SPECIFIC KINDS OF BEHAVIOUR
    ``Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh'' (Gal 5:13) (Nos. 65-68)
    Mortal and venial sin (Nos. 69-70)
  4. THE MORAL ACT
    Teleology and teleologism (Nos. 71-75)
    The object of the deliberate act (Nos. 71-75)
    ``Intrinsic evil'': it is not licit to do evil that good may come of it (cf. Rom 3:8) (Nos. 79-83)

Chapter Three
``LEST THE CROSS OF CHRIST BE EMPTIED OF ITS POWER'' (1 Cor 1:17)
Moral good for the life of the Church and of the world


``For freedom Christ has set us free'' (Gal 5:1) (Nos. 84-87)
Walking in the light (cf. 1 Jn 1:7) (Nos. 88-89)
Martyrdom, the exaltation of the inviolable holiness of God's law (Nos. 90-94)
Universal and unchanging moral norms at the service of the person and of society (Nos. 95-97)
Morality and the renewal of social and political life (Nos. 98-101)
Grace and obedience to God's law (Nos. 102-105)
Morality and new evangelization (Nos. 106-108)
The service of moral theologians (Nos. 109-113)
Our own responsibilities as Pastors (Nos. 114-117)

Conclusion


Mary, Mother of Mercy (Nos. 118-120)

©The Augustine Club at Columbia University, 1997
augustine@columbia.edu
 Last update: January 25, 1997