DOCUMENTS OF VATICAN II |
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MAJOR
DOCUMENTS
1.
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church 2.
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the
Modern World 3.
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy 4.
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation 5.
Declaration on Religious Freedom 6.
Decree on Ecumenism 7.
Declaration on the Relationship of the
Church to Non-Christians Religions THE
OTHER DOCUMENTS
1.
Decree on the Church’s Missionary
Activity 2.
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity 3.
Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches 4.
Decree on the Bishops’ Pastoral Office
in the Church 5.
Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests 6.
Decree on Priestly Formation 7.
Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of the
Religious Life 8.
Declaration on Christian Education 9.
Decree on the Instruments of Social
Communication SUMMARY
OF MAJOR DOCUMENTS
1.
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church:
The Church is a mystery, or sacrament, the whole People of God, in whose
service the hierarchy is placed. The authority of pope and bishops is to
be exercised as a service and in a collegial mode. Bishops are not simply
the vicars of the pope, and the laity participate fully and directly in
the Church’s mission. 2.
Pastoral Constitution on the Church
in the Modern World: The Church must read the signs of the
times and interpret them in the light of the Gospel. The Church does not
exist alongside or apart from the world; the Church is part of the world.
And its mission is to serve the whole human family. 3.
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy:
The Church proclaims the Gospel not only in word but also in sacrament, or
by sacred signs. Since the whole People of God is involved in this
worship, the signs must be intelligible. 4.
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine
Revelation:
The Word of God is communicated through Sacred Scripture, sacred
tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church, all linked together
and guided by the Holy Spirit. The sacred realities are always open in
principle to a growth in understanding. 5.
Declaration on Religious Freedom:
No one is to be forced in any way to embrace the Christian or the Catholic
faith. This principle is rooted in human dignity and the freedom of the
act of faith. 6.
Decree on Ecumenism:
Christian unity is a matter of restoration, not of a return to Rome; other
Christian communities are churches within the Body of Christ; and both
sides were to blame for the divisions of the Church. 7.
Declaration on the Relationship of
the Church to Non-Christian Religions: God speaks
also through other religions, so we should engage in dialogue and other
collaborative efforts with them. The Jews have a special relationship to
the Church. They cannot be blamed as a people for the death of Jesus. SUMMARY
OF OTHER DOCUMENTS
1. Decree on the Church’s Missionary
Activity:
The Gospel is to be preached also and always to non-Christians, but not as
a culturally alien reality. Evangelization is an obligation for every
member of the Church. 2. Decree on the Apostolate of the
Laity:
The laity participates in the whole mission of the Church, but especially
in the temporal order. 3. Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches:
The Eastern Catholic churches can be a bridge to the Orthodox East. The
integrity of Eastern traditions of liturgy, spirituality, and discipline
is to be restored and respected. 4. Decree of the Bishops’ Pastoral
Office in the Church: Bishops are the pastors of their own
local churches, collaborate with other bishops through episcopal
conferences, and with the pope and all other bishops through the episcopal
college. Authority is always for service. 5. Decree on the Ministry and Life of
Priests:
Priests are members of a presbyterium in union with a bishop, and with him
serve the building of Christ’s body. 6. Decree of Priestly Formation:
There must be a closer connection between seminary training and the
pastoral situation. 7.
Decree on the Appropriate Renewal
of the Religious Life: The renewal of religious life must be
based on the Gospel, the original purposes of the community, and the
changed conditions of the times. 8. Declaration on Christian Education:
Education must be broadly humane and up-to-date, with a concern for
personal maturity and social responsibility. 9. Decree on the Instruments of Social
Communication: The Church must be vigilant toward the
media because of the ever-present danger of their abuse, but must also use
the media where opportune. DISTINCTIVE
ECCLESIOLOGY OF VATICAN II
1.
The Church is a mystery, or sacrament, and not primarily an
institution or organization. 2.
The Church is the whole People of God, not just the hierarchy. 3.
The whole People of God participates in the mission of Christ, and
not just in the mission of the hierarchy. 4.
The mission of the Church includes service to those in need, and
not just the preaching of the Gospel or the 5.
The Church is a communion of churches. It is truly present at the
local level as well as at the universal level. A 6.
The Church includes Orthodox,
Anglicans, Protestants, and Oriental Christians as well as
Catholics. The Catholic 7.
The mission of the Church includes the proclamation of the Word,
the celebration of the sacraments, the witnessing 8.
All authority is for service, not domination. 9.
Religious truth is to be found outside the Church as well. No one
is to be coerced to embrace the Christian or the 10.
The Church is always for the sake of the Kingdom of God and is not
itself the Kingdom. |
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