Please read LR, p. 343f.
There is little doubt that the influence of the Second Vatican Council has permeated the world wide Catholic community. This was in spite of the conflicts and tensions during the Council when there emerged, (in the words of Adrian Hastings, a reputed Catholic commentator of Vatican II documents,) “disagreements, the variety and genuine clash of attitudes, the redrafting of text after text to satisfy the requirements of different groups of Fathers”, (Adrian Hastings, A Concise Guide too the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, Volume One, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1968, p. 20f) and, later in the various interpretations of the documents that emerged from it. In regard to the latter McSweeney described the Council documents as “a monument to ambiguity; considered as a whole, they offer support for diverging and at times, incompatible theologies”. (Bill McSweeney, Roman Catholicism: The Search for Relevance, Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1980, p. 138f.)
Also see Walter M. Abbott, ed., The Documents of Vatican II With Notes and Comments by Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Authorities, New York: Guild Press, 1966.
Pope John XXIII formally inaugurated the Council on the 11th of October 1962 in accordance with his announcement on the 25th January 1959, of his intention to summon a council of bishops, within three months of his election as Pope.
The Council was officially convoked on the 25th December 1961. McSweeney informs us that the Catholic community responded to this announcement in a variety of ways:
a. Some were very curious.
b. Others were alarmed.
There were altogether four sessions, one session each year, of the Council, which went on until 8th December 1965.
After the first session of the Council, Pope John died and the election took place of his successor, Pope Paul VI, who continued the task of his predecessor.
At the time of the original announcement, according to McSweeney, Pope John XXIII did not have “any clear idea of what the Council should or could achieve”. It may be possible that McSweeney has overstated his point. Even if that is true, what is clear is that at least Pope John XXIII had not intended that the council should make any pronouncements about world religions, which they did.
The need for such a council according to Pope John was aggiornamento, which is updating the Catholic Church. Pope John saw the Catholic Church as outdated and not relevant in the context of modernization and of contemporary world events.
There is little doubt that the influence of the Second Vatican Council has permeated the world wide Catholic community. This was in spite of the conflicts and tensions during the Council when there emerged, (in the words of Adrian Hastings, a reputed Catholic commentator of Vatican II documents,) “disagreements, the variety and genuine clash of attitudes, the redrafting of text after text to satisfy the requirements of different groups of Fathers”, (Adrian Hastings, A Concise Guide too the Documents of the Second Vatican Council, Volume One, London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 1968, p. 20f) and, later in the various interpretations of the documents that emerged from it. In regard to the latter McSweeney described the Council documents as “a monument to ambiguity; considered as a whole, they offer support for diverging and at times, incompatible theologies”. (Bill McSweeney, Roman Catholicism: The Search for Relevance, Oxford: Basil Blackwell, 1980, p. 138f.)
Also see Walter M. Abbott, ed., The Documents of Vatican II With Notes and Comments by Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox Authorities, New York: Guild Press, 1966.
Pope John XXIII formally inaugurated the Council on the 11th of October 1962 in accordance with his announcement on the 25th January 1959, of his intention to summon a council of bishops, within three months of his election as Pope.
The Council was officially convoked on the 25th December 1961. McSweeney informs us that the Catholic community responded to this announcement in a variety of ways:
a. Some were very curious.
b. Others were alarmed.
There were altogether four sessions, one session each year, of the Council, which went on until 8th December 1965.
After the first session of the Council, Pope John died and the election took place of his successor, Pope Paul VI, who continued the task of his predecessor.
At the time of the original announcement, according to McSweeney, Pope John XXIII did not have “any clear idea of what the Council should or could achieve”. It may be possible that McSweeney has overstated his point. Even if that is true, what is clear is that at least Pope John XXIII had not intended that the council should make any pronouncements about world religions, which they did.
The need for such a council according to Pope John was aggiornamento, which is updating the Catholic Church. Pope John saw the Catholic Church as outdated and not relevant in the context of modernization and of contemporary world events.
While the council was in progress Pope John expressed his desire for a statement about the Jews. The council, however, finally made several statements not only about Judaism but also about other religions.
Documents of Vatican II:
1. Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) - 12/4/1963
2. Decree on Means of Social Communication (Inter Mirifica) - 12/4/1963
3. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) - 12/4/1963
4. Decree on the Churches of the Eastern Rite (Orientalium Ecclesiarum) - 11/21/1964
5. Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) - 11/21/1965
6. Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops (Christus Dominus) - 10/28/1965
7. Decree on Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis) - 10/28/1965
8. Decree on Priestly Training (Optatum Totius) - 10/28/1965
9. Declaration on Christian Education (Gravissum Educationis) - 10/28/1965
10. Declaration on the Relation to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) - 10/28/1965
11. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum) - 11/18/1965
12. Decree on Apostolate of Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem) - 11/18/1965
13. Declaration on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis Humanae) - 12/7/1965
14. Decree on Mission Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes), - 12/7/1965
15. Decree on Ministry of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis) - 12/7/1965
16. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) - 12/7/1965
Visit: http://www.stjosef.at/council/
Nostra Aetate:
It is in the document called Nostra Aetate, A declaration on Catholic Church’s relation to Non-Christian religions, issued on October 28, 1965 – 43 years ago – that we read the contemporary Catholic position.
The concerns emphasised in that are:
1. A positive appreciation of other religions.
Documents of Vatican II:
1. Constitution on Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) - 12/4/1963
2. Decree on Means of Social Communication (Inter Mirifica) - 12/4/1963
3. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) - 12/4/1963
4. Decree on the Churches of the Eastern Rite (Orientalium Ecclesiarum) - 11/21/1964
5. Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio) - 11/21/1965
6. Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops (Christus Dominus) - 10/28/1965
7. Decree on Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis) - 10/28/1965
8. Decree on Priestly Training (Optatum Totius) - 10/28/1965
9. Declaration on Christian Education (Gravissum Educationis) - 10/28/1965
10. Declaration on the Relation to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate) - 10/28/1965
11. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum) - 11/18/1965
12. Decree on Apostolate of Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem) - 11/18/1965
13. Declaration on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis Humanae) - 12/7/1965
14. Decree on Mission Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes), - 12/7/1965
15. Decree on Ministry of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis) - 12/7/1965
16. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes) - 12/7/1965
Visit: http://www.stjosef.at/council/
Nostra Aetate:
It is in the document called Nostra Aetate, A declaration on Catholic Church’s relation to Non-Christian religions, issued on October 28, 1965 – 43 years ago – that we read the contemporary Catholic position.
The concerns emphasised in that are:
1. A positive appreciation of other religions.
2. A need to establish dialogue with people of other religions.
3. Building bridges and promoting co-operation between people of different religions is considered as a vital and an urgent concern.
4. However Christianity – Catholicism – is considered as “a unique religion” that needs to be proclaimed to “the ends of the world”.
Questions to Explore:
1. Discuss the importance of the Second Vatican Council for contemporary Catholics.
2. Explain the major concerns expressed in the Nostra Aetate.
3. Explain the various seasons of the liturgical years of the Catholics and the important festivals of Christians.
4. What is Marion devotion? Explain.
Questions to Explore:
1. Discuss the importance of the Second Vatican Council for contemporary Catholics.
2. Explain the major concerns expressed in the Nostra Aetate.
3. Explain the various seasons of the liturgical years of the Catholics and the important festivals of Christians.
4. What is Marion devotion? Explain.
