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Vatican II became the Twenty first Ecumenical Council. The council opened the Vatican II pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1965. The second vatican council was given birth by what most theologians such as Karl Rahner, SJ, Michael Herbert, and John Courtney Murray, SJ who looked to integrate modern human experience with church principles based on Jesus Christ. During these times the Bishops had a difficulty on governing the church due to many lacking of the Vatican Council I. What is lacking is the pastoral issues concerning the church. Pope John XXIII gave his attention to this issue, hence just after he became a pope he pushed through the SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL.
Preparations
First Period:
Pope John XXII opened the Council on 11 October 1962 in a public session and read the declaration Gaudet Mater Ecclesia before the Council Fathers. October 11 1962-Pope John XXII opened the Council. 13 October 1962- start the initial working of the session for VATICAN II.
To elect members for 10 counciliar commission. Each council would have 16 elected and 8 appointed members.
Senior French Cardinal Achille Linart-asked to post pone the election since bishops can not vote for strangers. It was a time for them to make a list.
Second Period:1963
Pope Paul VI- correct some mistakes of the former period. 29 September 1963 Pope Paul VI opening stressed the need of pastoral nature of council. These are some of the ideas he stressed.
to define more the fully the nature of the church and the role of bishop. To renew the church To restore unity among the Christians, including those seeking pardon. To start the dialogue with the contemporary world.
During this period is when they approved the constitution of liturgy( (Sacrosanctum Concilium) and the decree on the media of
Bishop
The primary role of the bishop is to shepherd Gods people. (21) The ministry of the bishop is that of a servant to the people of God. (24)
It established that the Mass or liturgy is the source and summit of the Christian life.(10) The effectiveness of liturgy:
The faithful must be well disposed Know what they are doing Participate.
Some elements are changeable like language or music but some are not like Scripture and Communion.(21)
It restored the Eucharist as an act than a static devotional object. his meant a down playing of devotions outside of Mass (rosary, benediction, and so forth) in order to focus on the liturgical year and rites. (48) Baptism and Eucharist became primary among the sacraments. reforms
Simpler rites( 50) More use of the Bible(51) Prayer of the faithul(52) Roles of the Laity(30)
(Gadium et Spes)
historic document speaking to the church and to all people about the hopes and dreams of the human family. "The joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ." (1) All human persons have dignity and are our responsibility. (Ch 1) Everyone must consider his or her neighbor as another self. (27) We should have respect and love for those who think differently than we do. (28) Gods voice echoes in our very depths and is called conscience. (16) Treated problems of special urgency: Households of faith, culture, economics, politics, & war and peace. Called all to support and seek the common good. (Part 2) We have an inborn hunger for God. (21)
Decree on Communications
It is a seldom read document. It is addressed to the media and those who control it. Out of touch with overall theology of the council. Approved on 1963
Allows for local training guidelines to produce priests more ready to deal with local pastoral realities. A document calling for training in Scripture, pastoral counselling, ecumenism and others.
The adaptation and renewal of the religious life includes both the constant return to the sources of all Christian life and to the original spirit of the institutes and their adaptation to the changed conditions of our time. Therefore let constitutions, directories, custom books, books of prayers and ceremonies and such like be suitably re-edited and, obsolete laws being suppressed, be adapted to the decrees of this sacred synod.
In our time, when day by day mankind is being drawn closer together, and the ties between different peoples are becoming stronger, the Church examines more closely her relationship to nonChristian religions. No foundation therefore remains for any theory or practice that leads to discrimination between man and man or people and people, so far as their human dignity and the rights flowing from it are concerned
This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.