CHURCH

TEACHING
MODULE 4 UNIT 2
 VATICAN II

Pope John XXIII, now St. john XXXIII in convening the second
Vatican council sets out 3 general purposes for the council
namely:
1. Spiritual renewal for the of life Church
2. An updating (aggiornamento) of its official attitudes and
approaches and
3. The promotion of unity among Christians.
 VATICAN II

The term that St. John XXIII employed to capture his agenda
was “aggiornamento”, an Italian word which means “bringing
up to date”. Aggiornamento envisions a profound inner
transformation (not only external changes).
 VATICAN II

The endeavour demands a second principle: ressourcement.

This French word expresses a return to the sources of faith (ex.
Scripture, Tradition, Church Fathers) and integrating into
contemporary ecclesiology.
Aggiornamento and ressourcement are the two foundational
pillars that guided the four sessions of the second Vatican
Council. They also guide all efforts today to truly Christ’s
church, to be the holy people of God. (James Kroeger)
 VATICAN II

With some issues mentioned above, Vatican II is God’s way of

opening the Church’s door to the world. The Church was opened
for more dialogue with the different realities/situations in the
world for the effective spread or proclamation of the Kingdom of
God. Examples are the use of vernacular language, inculturation,
the need for the active participation of the Laity and others.
 PCP II

The Church in the Philippines was not an exemption from the

realities in the Church before Vatican II. The effect of this in the
Philippine Church is presented by PCP II in the Lights and
Shadows (#8-33).
 PCP II

In the Philippine Church despite her existence since the arrival

of the missionaries with the Spanish colonizers, the spirit of true
Catholicism or true Christian is not yet well manifested or being
live by the Filipinos. Many are still “unchurched” – not well
catechize, not well educated about the Church’s doctrine though
their deep faith is manifested in their active practice of popular
religiosity/devotion.
 PCP II

Some special concerns also exist such as the proliferation of

different sects who are extreme in their ways of looking at their
groups compared with others, the rampant practice of graft and
corruption, the elitist group of political powers who perpetuate
their status in their family circle, the big gap between the rich
and the poor, and others.
 EXPLAIN

The 16 documents of Vatican II were produced as our guide in

our life of faith. The church in the Philippines came out with 2
documents namely the Catechism for Filipino Catholics (CFC)
and the acts and Decrees of the Second Plenary Council of the
Philippines and continue to be revisited in our time to ensure the
changes.
 EXPLAIN

Like the Church that is dynamic and continue updating itself, we

are called to participate in this renewal. We can do this by
updating ourselves with the contemporary issues in our church,
involve in the parish activities of your church and volunteer your
talents and skills most especially in making the liturgy active and
vibrant.
 POPULAR
RELIGIOSITY

One neglected issue PCP II focused in its work on renewal is

worship. It is on this account that guidelines are provided on
popular religiosity in our times.
 POPULAR
RELIGIOSITY

A renewed life of worship will also mean the critical and fervent
use of popular religious practices. These religious practices are
rich in values. They manifest a thirst for god and enable people
to be generous and sacrificing in witnessing their faith.
 POPULAR
RELIGIOSITY

These practices show a deep awareness of the attributes of God’s

fatherhood, providence, loving and constant presence. They
engender attitudes of patience, the sense of the Cross in daily
life, detachment, openness to others and devotion.
 POPULAR
RELIGIOSITY

But we need to foster these popular religious practices in such a

way that they do not distortions of religion or remain at the level
of superficial form of worship but become rather expressions of
faith. We must continue to foster our devotion to the Blessed
Virgin Mary including the saints but we must make sure that
these devotions are seen in relationship with, and in
subordination to, Christ, the one Mediator between God and the
human kind.
 POPULAR
RELIGIOSITY

In practice the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary seem to

preoccupy the attention of many of the faithful more than Christ
does. Our pastoral practice must ensure that the Catholic religion
does not become saints or Mary-centered bit it always remains
Christ-centered. (172-174)