A Quick Tour of the Documents of Vatican II

Most Catholics have never read the documents from the Second Vatican Council and don’t really know what the Council teaches. Instead they assume they know what the Second Vatican Council taught based on the changes that happened in the Church after the Council. Unfortunately, this means that the actual teachings of the Council have yet to be fully realized.

Let’s change that, shall we? Let’s make a pact during this Year of Faith to learn what the Council actually intended to do. Let’s study the actual documents together and discover what the Holy Spirit wants to teach us.

Here’s a quick tour of the sixteen documents from the Second Vatican Council.

The first set of documents explores the Church and its response to the modern world.

Lumen Gentium (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church)

A sort of examination of conscience on behalf of the Church. The Church asks itself, “Church, what do you say of yourself?” This document reviews what the Church is as Christ created her.

Gaudium et Spes (Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)

This document examines the main issues of the modern world and discusses how the Church can bring the hope of the Gospel into modern circumstances. The message of the document was not that the Church needs to “modernize” its message, but that it needs to make the Gospel clear and show how Jesus presents the answer to humanity’s questions and problems.

Dei Verbum (Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation)

This document encourages Catholics to grow in intimacy with Jesus – the one, true “Word of God” – by learning more about Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. Special emphasis is placed on knowing the Bible.

Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy)

The reform of the sacred liturgy included the Mass, but also other liturgical traditions such as the Liturgy of the Hours. The main mission of the Council was to encourage full, conscious participation in the Liturgy.

Dignitatis Humanae (Declaration On Religious Freedom)

The Council reaffirmed the constant (though developing) teaching that all human beings have the right to pursue the truth about God without coercion from secular power. This document also explored the Church’s relationship to the modern secular state.

Ad Gentes (Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church)

The necessity of the missionary work of the Church in the modern world was gently emphasized by the Council. Many of the other documents reinforce the message of this document – the Church needs to bring the truth of the Gospel to the world.

Inter Mirifica (Decree On the Means of Social Communication)

Closely tied to the call to missionary activity is the need to use modern methods of communication to engage the world. The Council calls us to baptize modern communication methods and use them for the ultimate good.

Orientalium Ecclesiarum (Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite)

Eastern Churches are affirmed in their history, liturgy, practice and autonomy as well as their unity to the Holy Father.

Unitatis Redintegratio (Decree on Ecumenism)

Part of the Church’s efforts to relate to the modern world includes relating to Christians who are historically and theologically separated from the Church. The Council encourages Catholics to open dialogue with people of other faiths. However, the Council does not call us to whitewash theological differences or sacrifice theological truth for the sake of a shallow unity. True unity is only possible when the truth of Jesus is fully embraced by everyone within the Covenant that Christ actually established.

Nostra Aetate (Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian Religions)

All of humanity is united in the fact that they were created by God and for God. The Council acknowledges and affirms all attempts to seek out God with sincerity. The Council also affirms the elements of truth found in every religion. However, as with the decree on ecumenism, the Council does not claim that all religions or all truth claims are equally valid.

The next grouping of documents focuses on the various vocations and states of life that members of the Church are called to. Lumen Gentium pointed out a unifying theme for these documents – unity in diversity.

Christus Dominus (Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the Church)

The important role of the bishops is expanded on here where it was touched on in Lumen Gentium. This document also emphasized the communion of bishops working in unity as a “college” under the pope.

Presbyterorum Ordinis (Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests)

Priests are encouraged to live lives of faithfulness, self-sacrificing love and service. They are praised for their important role in bringing Catholics to the liturgy and to the sacraments. This document attempts to correct the overemphasis of priestly privilege known as clericalism, but it does not downplay the dignity or importance of the priesthood.

Optatam Totius (Decree On Priestly Training)

The necessity of consciously fostering vocations to the priesthood is obvious to us today, but it was not necessarily obvious before Vatican II. The Council foresaw the need and encouraged bishops to set up programs to encourage priestly vocations. The reform of training included the addition of pastoral training (rather than just philosophy and theology).

Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity)

The error of clericalism causes lay people to feel that they don’t have a role to play in the mission Christ gave the Church. In fact, it was often assumed that holiness could only be found in the ordained or religious life. The Council calls us back to Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition to remind us that every baptized and confirmed Catholic is given a vocation and a mission and a call to holiness. This document explores the unique and important role that the laity plays in speeding the Gospel to the world.

Perfectae Caritatis (Decree On Renewal of Religious Life)

Seeking to ensure that all states in life live more fully the mission that is rightfully theirs, the Council offers five pillars of reform to guide religious orders to remain true to their nature and their calling.

Gravissimum Educationis (Declaration On Christian Education)

Just as the document on the importance of the priesthood was followed by a document on priestly training, so the document on the importance of the laity is followed by a document on Catholic education. The Council affirms the importance of Catholic educational institutions but also affirms parents as the primary educators of their children. Catholic educational institutions are called up on to teach the best of what the world has to offer, but to also remain true to the teachings of the faith.