Catholic Perspectives on the Second Vatican Council

Vatican II was one of the most important events in the history of modern Christianity. Our focus in the seminar will be on the background and organization of the council; the various points of view represented in the council; the constitutions, declarations and decrees produced by the council; and the controversy over the meaning and significance of the council. Resources will be the council documents and commentaries. The seminar sessions will be held at 9-11 a.m. in the Parish Library on January 17, 24, and 31, and February 14, 21, and 28. Seminar leaders will be Prof. Jim Bolner, Sr., and Prof. Greg Hussey. For more information please write to jimbolnersr@cox.net or phone 766.5987.
[Seminar website:
http://bodoc.net/cathpers/vaticanii/vaticanii.htm.]
 

Outline

Catholic Perspectives on Vatican II

I. Background and Make-up of the Council
    Pope John XXIII
    Pope Paul VI

II. Divisions and Compromises
    The Conservatives
    The Progressives

III. The Council Documents: Constitutions
    Dei Verbum - Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation

    Lumen Gentium - Dogmatic Constitution on the Church

    Sacrosanctum Concilium - Constitution on Sacred Liturgy

    Gaudium et Spes - Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World

IV. The Council Documents: Declarations
    Gravissimum Educationis - Declaration on Christian Education

    Nostra Aetate - Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions

    Dignitatis Humanae - Declaration on Religious Freedom


V. The Council Documents: Decrees

    Ad Gentes - On the Mission Activity of the Church

    Presbyterorum Ordinis - Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests

    Apostolicam Actuositatem - Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity

    Optatam Totius - Decree on Priest

 

Seminar Resources

Texts

Pope John XXIII's Opening Address

Pope Paul VI's Closing Address

Documents of the II Vatican

Documents of Vatican II [From rc.net]

Vatican II Documents [From the Catholic Information Network]

Vatican Council, The Second [Contains a helpful synopsis of the documents]

The Second Vatican Council Resource Guide 

Vatican II Documents [Full Text Search]

Summary of Some of the Documents

Commentary

Avery Dulles, "Vatican II: The Myth and the Reality" America, February 24, 2003

John J. O'Malley, "The Style of Vatican II" America, February 24, 2003

Avery Dulles, "Vatican II: Substantive Teachinge" America, March 31, 2003

John J. O'Malley, "Vatican II: Official Norms" America, March 31, 2003

National Catholic Reporter, Vatican II: 40 Years Later [October, 2002; an enlightening analysis of the work of the council]

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jimbolnersr @ cox.net