Vatican II
The Church in the “Modern” World
Vatican II
Convened by Pope John XXIII on
December 25, 1961.
In his opening address he said he called for
the new council because he saw the
Church as the cure to the “grave state of
spirituality” of the world.
Council was to be a gift to the world
Council was also meant to be a New Pentecost.
Pope to Pope
John XXIII – dies 8 months into the council
Replaced by Paul VI
Constitutions (4)
Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen
Gentium – Light of the Nations)
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
(Dei Verbum – The word of God)
The constitution on the Sacred Liturgy.
(Sacrosanctum Concilium – The Sacred Council)
The Pastoral Constitution on the church in the
Modern World (Gaudium et spes – Joy and Hope)
Dogmatic Constitution of the Church
Lumen gentium (Latin for Light of the Nations)
Uses language like the “Body of Christ” “People of God”
“Flock” etc. Language that emphasized the human
dimension of the church.
Emphasized the hierarchy of the church and stated that
the lay member and the ordained ministers have roles of
equal importance (not the same role)
Discusses the Universal call to holiness
Contains a chapter that discusses the principal treatment
on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine
Revelation
Dei Verbum (Latin for The Word of God)
Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture make up a single
sacred deposit of the Word of God.
Contemporary scholarship used in a responsible way.
Scripture and Tradition are joined together and not
independent sources of revelation.
Proper and authentic interpretation of God‟s word has
been entrusted to the living teaching office of the Church
alone.
Constitution on Sacred Liturgy
Sacrosanctum Concilium (Latin for The Sacred
Council)
Recognized the liturgy as the summit toward which the
activity of the Church is direced.
The Liturgy is the font from which all her powers flows.
(Liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life0
Opened the door for the use of the vernacular.
Called for „active participation‟ in the liturgy.
The Pastoral Constitution on the
Church In The Modern World
Gaudium et spes ( Latin for Joy and Hope)
Expressed the desire to put the Church at the service of
the World.
Topics Addressed
Dignity of the Human person in the light of Christ.
Contemporary atheism
Marriage and family
Work and private property
Politics.
War and peace.
Sanctity of human life.
Controversial Encyclical
Humanae Vite (On Human Life)
The Church reaffirmed it‟s teachings on the use of artificial
contraception as being intrinsically wrong.
“This particular doctrine, often expounded by the
Magisterium of the Church, is based on the inseparable
connection, established by God, which man on his own
initiative may not break, between the unitive significance
and the procreative significance which are both inherent
to the marriage act. (HV 12)