1. Vatican II

2. Unique among Church councils.
Called not to stamp out heresy but to help the Church enter the modern world.
Largest council in history and most representative in terms of culture and nations.
Both non-Catholic and lay observers were invited.
Had tremendous press coverage.

3. Began Oct. 11th, 1962, ended Dec. 8th, 1965.
Council was responsible for 16 documents, seven of which emerged as most important.
These seven documents deal in one way or another with the inner nature of the Church and its workings or with the Church and its relationship to the world.

4. Seven Key Documents

5. Document
Some Key Insights

6. (Constitution on the Church)
Document
Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation

7. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel

8. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel
Decree on Ecumenism
talks of restoring Christian unity, rather than a return of fallen-away Christians to Roman Catholicism

9. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel
Decree on Ecumenism
talks of restoring Christian unity, rather than a return of fallen-away Christians to Roman Catholicism
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
everyone is encouraged to participate fully in the Eucharist and other Sacraments

10. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel
Decree on Ecumenism
talks of restoring Christian unity, rather than a return of fallen-away Christians to Roman Catholicism
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
everyone is encouraged to participate fully in the Eucharist and other Sacraments
Constitution on Divine Revelation
sacred tradition, sacred scripture and the Church's teaching authority are closely linked together; they come under the action of the Holy Spirit and contribute to salvation

11. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel
Decree on Ecumenism
talks of restoring Christian unity, rather than a return of fallen-away Christians to Roman Catholicism
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
everyone is encouraged to participate fully in the Eucharist and other Sacraments
Constitution on Divine Revelation
sacred tradition, sacred scripture and the Church's teaching authority are closely linked together; they come under the action of the Holy Spirit and contribute to salvation
Declaration on Religious Freedom
the dignity of the human person and faith demand that everyone should be free from coercion in matters of religious belief and practice

12. Document Some Key Insights
Lumen Gentium
(Constitution on the Church)
the Church is the whole people of God
all Christians are called to holiness; the laity have a special vocation
Gaudium et spes
(The Church in the Modern World)
the Church must read the signs of the time and interpret them in the light of the Gospel
Decree on Ecumenism
talks of restoring Christian unity, rather than a return of fallen-away Christians to Roman Catholicism
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
everyone is encouraged to participate fully in the Eucharist and other Sacraments
Constitution on Divine Revelation
sacred tradition, sacred scripture and the Church's teaching authority are closely linked together; they come under the action of the Holy Spirit and contribute to salvation
Declaration on Religious Freedom
the dignity of the human person and faith demand that everyone should be free from coercion in matters of religious belief and practice
Declaration of the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
the Church rejects nothing that is good and true in other religious faiths

13. Some changes within the Church

14. Liturgy: Pre-Vatican II
Emphasis on sacredness of liturgy as a means of salvation. Care in keeping liturgy uniform. Latin used throughout the world. Priests perform, laity observe.

15. Liturgy: Pre-Vatican II Post-Vatican II
Emphasis on sacredness of liturgy as a means of salvation. Care in keeping liturgy uniform. Latin used throughout the world. Priests perform, laity observe.
Many liturgical changes:
liturgy as celebration.
vernacular languages
all participate, allowing for diverse ministries: lay lectors, ministers of the Eucharist, etc.

16. Ecumenism: Pre-Vatican II
Church is the true Church of Jesus- no toleration of error. Catholics were barred from reading works written by Protestant Reformers.

17. Ecumenism: Pre-Vatican II Post-Vatican II
Church is the true Church of Jesus- no toleration of error. Catholics were barred from reading works written by Protestant Reformers.
Ecumenical spirit encouraged:
freedom of inquiry
joint study groups
joint prayer services
common edition of the Bible
respect for dignity of others
intercommunion in some cases if allowed by the bishop.

18. Modern World: Pre-Vatican II
Only scholasticism allowed. New learning looked on with suspicion.

19. Modern World: Pre-Vatican II Post-Vatican II
Only scholasticism allowed. New learning looked on with suspicion.
More tolerance:
for different kinds of learning
for dialogue with the modern world
for new forms of spirituality.

20. Leadership models

21. Pre-Vatican II
POPE
BISHOPS
PRIESTS
RELIGIOUS
LAITY

22. Post-Vatican II
PRIESTS
POPE
LAITY
BISHOPS
RELIGIOUS