VATICAN COUNCIL II Gaudium Et Spes

Why Another Council?  We’ve discussed Trent  There was a First Vatican Council  Called by Pope Pius IX  Ended in 1870  Papal infallibility  Many other items left unresolved

Why Another Council?  Second Vatican Council  Called by Pope John XXIII  It is the 21 st ecumenical council recognized by the Western church  Started October 1962  By the end of the first session of the initial commission, the council was starting to take a different direction than merely tying up loose ends of Vatican I

What was the Second Vatican Council?  The most recent truly ecumenical council – observers from 28 denominations and the Orthodox churches  Initial intent was to finalize things that had been delayed by war and controversies over the years – not to address any theological controversies  Quickly turned into refining the role of the Church in the world  Liturgy  The collegial role of the bishops  The maturing role of the laity

What Came Out of VC II?  Liturgical Reform  Sacrosanctum Concilium – Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy  Liturgy had become a spectacle to the laity  As in Trent, liturgical reform was seen as necessary for further reform in the Church and to call the faithful to their full mission as Christians  The council looked back to find the traditions of liturgy and brought many of them forward (ressourcement)

What Came Out of VC II?  The Role of the Bishops  Christus Dominus – Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church – a further clarification of papal authority (collegiality)  Simplified: Bishops get together to support one another Synods aid the Pope, but he has power over them. At the same time, the Pope listens carefully to what the local Bishop’s Conferences are saying.

What Came Out of VC II?  The Role of the Laity  Apostolicam Actuositatem – Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity  …an apostolate of this kind does not consist only in the witness of one's way of life; a true apostle looks for opportunities to announce Christ by words addressed either to non-believers with a view to leading them to faith, or to the faithful with a view to instructing, strengthening, and encouraging them to a more fervent life. "For the charity of Christ impels us" (2 Cor. 5:14). The words of the Apostle should echo in all hearts, "Woe to me if I do not preach the Gospel" (1 Cor. 9:16). (AA 6)

What Came Out of VC II?  Interfaith and Interreligious Dialogue  Commissions with fellow Christians Orthodox Anglicans Lutherans Baptists  Commissions with other religions Jews Buddhists Islam Hindus Even non-believers

What Came Out of VC II?  Ex Cathedra – “From the Seat/Chair” of authority  One of the leftovers from Vatican I – clarification of infallibility  The Pope speaks officially and infallibly from the Chair of Peter  Along with the collegiality of the bishops, the Pope is the FINAL AUTHORITY ON FAITH AND MORALS  All final documents of Vatican II were approved and signed by the Pope

So Where Are We Now?  Still seeing implementations of Vatican II  Liturgy  Role of the Bishops  Council Legacy  All 21 councils in concert with each other No one council is more important than another Neither Trent nor Vatican II is not the final authoritative council  Each one helps make the Church present to the world!