Roman Catholic Theology & Vatican II Faith, Hope and Charity Come Before the Law

Second Vatican Council ( ) A council of reform and renewal Key topics Liturgy Church Aim was revitalization Faith, especially a renewed understanding of the centrality of Christ Worship (thus, Hope), and Renewal of the Christian lifestyle to impact the modern world (i.e., Charity)

Ecclesiology Emphasizes Church as the People of God De-emphasizes institution Mary as mother of the faithful, first disciple, model of faithdistinctly associated with the church (e.g., last section of Lumen Gentium) Validates ministry of the laity, not to serve the church, but to serve God and God's creatures in caring for the world (Gaudium et Spes) Calls for Christians to work for justice and peace on the earth

Liturgy Celebration of the entire people Priest as president of assembly Priest facing the people Encouragement of ministries of the laity, e.G., Lectors Leaders of the prayers of the people Extraordinary ministers of the eucharist Re-establishment of communion under both species, to show that eucharist is a real (although attenuated) meal

Christo-centric Christ as focus of Christian liturgy & devotions Importance of homilies Not sermons Reflect on the scriptural readings, especially the gospels, to Edify the faithful Further their theological understanding, and Help them live out the Christian life

Church v. World Positions the church in the world (Gaudium et Spes) Balances previous other-worldly emphasis in RC teaching Emphasis on the way Christians should live in this world I.e., Witness to the three primary evangelical virtues Faith Hope, & Charity Revives the call to evangelize the world

Scripture Recognizes need for an intellectual approach to the biblical text Recognizes advances of historical-critical scholarship in the 19th-20th centuries (dei verbum)

Ecumenism & Inter-Religious Dialogue Discusses the context of RCC among other Christian traditions Christianity among other world religions Remembers the link of Christianity with Judaism Rejects the anti-Judaism of former RCC teachings and traditions Recognizes religious freedom as basic human right

Church Polity restores the principle of subsidiarity, i.e., that tasks should be handled on the smallest scale and at the lowest level of authority possible to this end the council recovers the authority and role of bishops in their own sees validates and highlights the role of national synods of bishops cf. drive to de-centralization with liturgical change of priest facing the congregation during Mass

Faith, Hope and Charity Come Before the Law The canons must be understood in light of the three central Christian virtues which were the governing aims of the Council Faith Hope, & Charity

Discussion Are any of these features of the Council a surprise to you? Which of these do you think are the most important for church life? What significance do these principles have for understanding the canons? What differences would there be in your view of "canon law" if these things are taken into account?