FIRST VATICAN COUNCIL SUMMONED BY POPE PIUS IX BY THE BULL AETERNI PATRIS

FIRST SESSION HELD IN SAINT PETERS BASILICA ON DECEMBER 8, 1869 28TH ECUMENICAL COUNCIL OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH 800 CHURCH LEADERS ATTENDED.

PRIMARY PURPOSE
TO OBTAIN CONFIRMATION OF THE POSITION HE HAD TAKEN IN HIS SYLLABUS OF ERRORS (1864) CONDEMNING A WIDE RANGE OF POSITIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RATIONALISM, LIBERALISM AND MATERIALISM.

THE SYLLABUS OF ERRORS (Syllabus Errorum) ISSUED BY POPE PIUS IX IN 1864, CONDEMNING CONCEPTS SUCH AS FREEDOM OF RELIGION AND THE SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE

PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL BESIDES THE CONDEMNATION

TO DEFINE THE DOCTRINE CONCERNING THE CHURCH

TWO CONSTITUTIONS:

the Dogmatic Constitution On The Catholic Faith DEFINED THE SENSE IN WHICH CATHOLICS BELIEVE THE BIBLE IS INSPIRED BY GOD

Dei Filius,

The First Dogmatic Constitution on the Church of Christ

DEFINES THE PRIMACY AND INFALLIBILITY OF THE POPE WHEN SOLEMNLY DEFINING DOGMA

Pastor Aeternus,

SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL 1962-1965

OPENING POPE JOHN XXIII IN 1962

CLOSING POPE PAUL VI IN 1965

THE ITALIAN WORD AGGIORNAMENTO (UPDATING) WAS USED

TO CAPTURE THE INTENT OF MODERNIZING THE CHURCH

TO THROW OPEN THE WINDOWS OF THE CHURCH SO THAT WE CAN SEE OUT AND THE PEOPLE CAN SEE IN

TO INTEGRATE MODERN HUMAN EXPERIENCE WITH CHRISTIAN DOGMA

TO SEEK NEW WAYS TO ADDRESS CHALLENGES OF POLITICAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES.

PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL:

TO REVITALIZE CATHOLICS IN THEIR SPIRITUALITY

TO ADAPT CHURCH OBSERVANCES TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE TIMES TO UNITE ALL CHRISTIANS TO STRENGTHEN THE CHURCHS MISSION TO ALL PEOPLES.

OUTCOME OF THE COUNCIL:

4 CONSTITUTIONS
DEI VERBUM (Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation) LUMEN GENTIUM (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)
(Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

GAUDIUM ET SPES

SACROSANCTUM CONCILIUM (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

9 DECREES:

AD GENTES (MISSION ACTIVITY) APOSTOLICAM ACTUOSITATEM (LAY PEOPLE) CHRISTUS DOMINUS (BISHOPS IN THE CHURCH)

INTER MIRIFICA (SOCIAL COMMUNICATION)

OPTATAM TOTIUS (PRIESTLY TRAINING) ORIENTALIUM ECCLESIARUM (RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS LIFE) PRESBYTERORUM ORDINIS (LIFE OF PRIESTS) UNITATIS REDINTEGRATIO (ECUMENISM)

3 DECLARATIONS:

DIGNITATIS HUMANAE
(RELIGIOUS FREEDOM)

GRAVISSIMUM EDUCATIONIS
(CHRISTIAN EDUCATION)

(RELATIONS WITH NON-CHRISTIANS)

NOSTRA AETATE