25. a) The Church's deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (kerygma-martyria), celebrating the sacraments (leitourgia), and exercising the ministry of charity (diakonia). These duties presuppose each other and are inseparable. For the Church, charity is not a kind of welfare activity which could equally well be left to others, but is a part of her nature, an indispensable expression of her very being
22. As the years went by and the Church spread further afield, the exercise of charity became established as one of her essential activities, along with the administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the word: love for widows and orphans, prisoners, and the sick and needy of every kind, is as essential to her as the ministry of the sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. The Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than she can neglect the Sacraments and the Word
What do they mean exactly?
The church cannot separate the three responsibilities. They are intertwined and inseparable.
Is there any particular part of either of these passages that you don't understand? (They seem pretty straightforward to me.) Be sure to repost with any specific questions you have.
25. a) The Church has three responsibilities:
* preach God's word
* celebrate the sacraments (marriage, baptism, confirmation, death rituals)
* helping other people
22. Helping the poor and helpless (charity) is as important as preaching and celebrating the sacraments.
These passages are referring to the nature and essential responsibilities of the Church. They emphasize that the Church has three-fold responsibilities: proclaiming the word of God, celebrating the sacraments, and exercising the ministry of charity. These duties are described as inseparable and interdependent.
The first passage (25) states that these responsibilities presuppose each other and are essential aspects of the Church's identity. It highlights that charity is not just a welfare activity that can be left to others, but an integral part of the Church's nature. Charity, in this context, refers to acts of love and service towards those in need, including widows, orphans, prisoners, and the sick.
The second passage (22) builds upon the first, emphasizing that as the Church spread and evolved over time, the exercise of charity became firmly established as one of her essential activities. It is compared to the administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the word. The passage emphasizes that love for the needy is just as crucial to the Church as the administration of sacraments and preaching of the Gospel. It emphasizes that the Church cannot neglect the service of charity any more than it can neglect the sacraments or the word of God.
In essence, these passages convey that for the Church, the practice of charity is not merely an optional or secondary responsibility, but an inseparable and indispensable component of its identity and mission.