Second Vatican Council Research Paper

The contribution of Pope John XXIII has been profound, as many of his initiatives and actions are still resonating today. His acceptance of Jesus’ words “I came to save all nations.” Represented his motivation to do well and bring peace upon the world. He was an advocate of Christian unity, social justice, human rights and the promotion of world peace. It is through his development of the Second Vatican Council, his contribution to ecumenism and his empathy for humanity that Pope John XXIII made a significant impact upon the development and expression of Christianity.

The Second Vatican Council, or Vatican II as it is often called, was an Ecumenical Council, (which means it affected the worldwide Christian community) of the Roman Catholic Church. It began on October 11, 1962 under, Pope John XXIII with over two thousand attendants (Hollis 23). The council ended on December 8, 1965, with Pope Paul VI presiding over the council due to the death of Pope John XXIII in 1963. The council consisted of four different sessions convening in the fall of the four years during which the council took place. Topics discussed and debated throughout the council were issues concerning the church, the liturgy, revelation and scripture, and the clergy.

As time constantly presses forward and the earth continues to revolve, the world will never stop progressing and adapting to better suit the needs of mankind. The evolution of religion has greatly enhanced the quality of life for humanity by providing individuals with a strong belief system that is now the foundation of many peoples’ core values. One universal religion that has undergone extensive amounts of reform is Christianity. In particular, the Catholic church is well-known for the development of their famous ecumenical council meetings that help determine the future of the church. Numerous Councils have been conducted throughout the course of history, but none more significant than the most recent, the Second Vatican Council or Vatican II. The Catholic church was operating as if it was still the medieval period and desperately needed to be modernized. As a result, every Roman Catholic Church official was gathered to meet and devise a plan for how to introduce the church to the modern world. Consequently, the following will reveal the Second Vatican Council and the ramifications of the agenda, history and theology evolution, significant texts, and new developments.

A 54-year-old Catholic woman stated in an interview conducted on the topic of the modernization of the church insightfully noted that Vatican II allowed for “practical changes,” like “ music and singing, and women allowed into upfront roles as readers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers, as well as altar servers in some places.” Vatican II “aimed to produce a different experience of the mass,” but also set out to reposition the church in a relative relationship with the modern world (Mathis).

Before the Vatican II the Catholic Church was an aging dinosaur, still crippled by the Reformation and unable to relate to contemporary man. It emerged from it a modern Church, tolerant and accepting of other religions,

In an age filled with war and political instability, the Roman Catholic Church served as a way to unify members of Europe during the Middle Ages. The Middle Ages was a time of low literacy rates. The Roman Catholic Church allowed members of medieval society (both literate and illiterate) an understanding of how the world worked. Although political leaders had only great local power, the Church was recognized as the most powerful institution, as its power covered all of Europe. The Roman Catholic Church was able to touch everyone’s life, no matter their class or ranking. In a time of darkness and suffering, The Church gave everyone a sense of belonging and place in the world. During the Middle Ages, the Roman Catholic Church stood as the central

Pope Pius IX called the First Vatican Council in 1868. It was the Roman Catholic Church’s twentieth ecumenical council. It was held in the Vatican City. The purpose of this council was to attend to issues such as secularism, rationalism, and materialism. This council explored the principle of papal infallibility as well.

The Roman Catholic Church was an extremely powerful organization during the middle ages and for the most part controlled all aspects of people’s lives. However, this organization does not last forever and over time begins to crack and crumble until a series of schisms split the church into multiple opposing sides. The Church’s message and authority was eventually undermined by corruption and the lay people demanding reform.

A council member would make a proposal about the changes that would make the church more relevant to the modern day and the council fathers, bishops, would vote. Observers, auditors and experts were not allowed to vote on the matter but superior generals who were not subject to religious orders were. The council officially explained lots of Christian beliefs and teachings, beliefs and teachings such as the nature of the church, the role of bishops and the role of the laity (general people). The council also taught Christians that God could work through other Christian churches and non-Christian religions. It explained Christ’s presence in the Eucharist celebration, the ministry and life of priests, the renewal of religious life, the dignity of humans and the fact that anti-Semitism is a dreadful sin. During the time of the council, four constitutions, nine decrees and three declarations were issued on subjects: Devine Revelation, Sacred Liturgy, Church in the Modern World, Instrument of Modern Communication, Ecumenism, Renewal of Religious Life, the Laity, Ministry and Life as Priests, Christian Education and Religious Freedom. Two examples would be the Decree of Ecumenism and the Declaration of Religious Freedom. The Decree of Ecumenism is divided into three sections: the doctrines (the belief of the promises of Christ), registrations and commands (obeying commands

It is important to understand the reformation and mechanism of religion in the making of European history. As Christianity was expanding a hierarchy was established around 312 to 540 B.C.E in the church with male bishops as the powerful leaders of the church. Over time the bishops took over some of the emperor’s rule and eventually bishops went against one another, outranking each other. The bishop or Rome eventually became the church’s supreme leader and gave himself the title of pope, the head of the Roman Catholic Church. The same concept that occurred in the earlier centuries was now seen amongst popes in the eleventh century. The church wanted a separation between secular powers and the pope but the movement was subtle and did not create

This essay will identify and examine the significance of the Roman Catholic Church’s influence and governance over Europe throughout the Middle Ages. For the purposes of this essay, the Middle Ages refers to the period between the Conversion of Constantine in 313CE and the onset of the Renaissance Period during the early 14th century. In addition, this essay will examine and account for change in the institution and theology of the Roman Catholic Church. It will identify the nature and importance of continuity and the diversity of causes and outcomes of the Church’s influence through a range of historical perspectives.

The Second Vatican Council lasted from 1962-1965 and it was the 21st ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church. This council was called together by Pope John XXII and it was continued under the lead of Pope Paul VI. The Council was important for renewal in the understanding of the Church. The Second Vatican Council needed to figure out how to bring its inner life and its relationship to other Christian traditions, other religions and most importantly, the world. The council also wanted to discuss principles from the Council of Trent and Vatican I that were supposed to happen, but never took place. These principles were taken back from old traditions, practices, and teachings that had often been neglected and forgotten. The second

The Second Vatican Council (Vatican II), in an effort to reacquaint the faithful to their three-fold dignity of priest, prophet and king received during their baptism, reaffirmed in the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, also known as the ad intra (“Church within”) conciliar document Lumen Gentium, that, “…all the faithful, that is, who by Baptism are incorporated into Christ…have been made sharers in their own way in the priestly, prophetic, and kingly office of Christ and play their part in carrying out the mission of the whole Christian people in the church and in the world” (48). Since the laity, religious, and clergy now had a shared responsibility as the People of God in bringing about the Kingdom of God, no longer would they be as

Roman Catholicism has long been seen as one of the most unwelcoming religions to date. With its strict guidelines and little to no forgiveness, the church is sometimes feared by other religious groups around the globe. Though lately, there seems to be promise being brought to the Catholic religion. The election of the 266th pope, Pope Francis, has ushered in extensive change for both Catholicism and the way it is perceived by non-Catholics. These reforms of the current pope, although many are controversial, drive the public to believe the church is becoming more open-minded and less austere in its manner.

In order to have an overall better understanding of the Catholic Church, we must look at its history in order to see the reasoning behind changes that the church is making today. Throughout the ages of the Catholic Church, there have been both cultural epochs and problems that have helped form the church into what it is presently.