Certain elements of spiritual dimension of Solidarity in Social Documents of the Church

Imajući u vidu kako je današnji svijet nezamisliv bez uzajamnosti i međusobne ovisnosti skupina, država i naroda, autor na temelju crkvenih dokumenata o socijalnom nauku pokazuje brigu i zalaganje Crkve, napose u posljednjih stotinu godina, da stalno i ustrajno posvješćuje potrebu međusobne ovisnosti koja je - kao što to jasno ističu – i jedan od znakova vremena koji treba prerasti u sveopće zalaganje u ovom vremenu, zalaganje koje se danas sve više označava kao solidarnost koju je Pavao VI. nazvao »obvezom solidarnosti«. Da to uistinu postane, važno je - uz sociološku, etičku i teološku označnicu solidarnosti - jasno naglasiti i njezinu specifičnu duhovnu označnicu do te mjere da cjelovitu kršćansku solidarnost danas smijemo držati pravom duhovnošću. S tom SVOJOM unutarnjom duhovnom dimenzijom, koja je poput duše u tijelu, solidarnost postaje evanđeoskom krepošću koja zahtijeva dar stalnog obraćenja koje donosi plodove u konkretnosti života, a temeljni i konačni plod je dostvaranje i izgrađivanje stvarnog zajedništva među ljudima i sa svim stvorenjima, a to u konačnici znači i dostvaranje samoga čovjeka koji je pozvan uzrasti »do mjere uzrasta punine Kristove« (Ef 4, 13). To se solidarno zajedništvo ovdje na zemlji najsnažnije i najcjelovitije izražava, izgrađuje i ispunjava u euharistijskom slavlju koje teži postati liturgijom života, a euharistijsko zajedništvo je ujedno i najživotnije predostvarenje punine konačnoga zajedništva u Bogu. Ovaj rad ne pretendira na svestranu i sustavnu razradu cijele tematike, nego prije svega nastoji sabrati temeljne tekstove crkvenih dokumenata o socijalnom nauku u kojima je očita duhovna dimenzija solidarnosti te putem kratke analize tih tekstova naznačiti područja koja zaslužuju dublju i temeljitiju razradu i konkretnu primjenu u formaciji za istinsku kršćansku solidarnost. Stoga je ovaj rad zamišljen kao pomoć i uporište daljnjim istraživanjima te tematike.Keeping in mind how today\u27s world is unimaginable without mutuality and mutual dependence of groups, countries and nations, based on Church documents about social teachings, the author shows the care and advocacy of the Church, in particular over the past century to constantly and continually dedication to the inevitability of mutual dependence which — as clearly stated in documents — is one of the signs of the times that need to grow into general advocacy of our time, advocacy that today is referred to as solidarity that Paul VI referred to as »compulsory solidarity« and John Paul II called Christian virtue. For this to truly become important — along with the social, ethical and theological dimensions of solidarity - it is necessary to clearly emphasise its specific spiritual dimension to the point of complete Christian solidarity which today we can rightly consider as true spirituality. With that internal spiritual dimension, which is like the soul to the body, solidarity becomes an Evangelic virtue that demands the gift of constant conversion that brings forth its fruits in concrete life while the fundamental and final fruit is to realise and develop true togetherness amongst people and amongst all creation. The author does not pretend to deal with the all encompassing and systematic analysis of the entire issue which would require a great deal more time and space. Instead, he attempts to collect all the more significant texts in Church documents that speak about the spiritual dimension of solidarity and to present a brief analysis of these fundamental texts and in that way mark and in some cases, deepen and inspire certain elements of that dimension of solidarity. It is precisely because this work does not pretend to cover the entiretopic that the author adheres to a chronological order of the emergence of Church documents about social teachings. These are collected and presented in one place identifying the most significant expressions of these documents and in that way, offer an abundance of material for any in depth study with the aim of their concrete application in the formation of true Christian solidarity. It is evident in Church documents that solidarity is an important dimension in the history of salvation and as such is vitally enrooted into human existence and realisation in such a way that it is not imposed externally but instead is a significant without which there cannot be any completion of man and mankind. This is particularly highlighted by the Second Vatican Council, which considered that this solidarity should be offered to all people of good will. The article shows how Church documents, when referring to the spiritual dimension of solidarity, constantly try to emphasise this dimension as being something in fact specifically Christian. As such, these expression constantly keep in mind how solidarity as an ontological dimension of human nature always needs to be treated within its Christo-centric and historically-salvational dimension. As true solidarity unity is expressed in the strongest and in the most complete way and is developed and executed in the celebration of the Eucharist which endeavours to become the liturgy of life and Eucharistic unity is at the same time the most living realisation of the fullness affinal unity in God, the author briefly identifies some Eucharistic elements that signify solidarity and help to form a spirit of solidarity