The Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council
The Second Vatican Council
Vatican II Council was an Ecumenical meeting of all the Catholics Bishops around
the world and Prelates held in the Vatican City. A combined total of 2865 Bishops
and prelates attended the council. The council was first announced by St. John
XXIII, Pope on 25th January 1959 on the Feast of Conversion of St. Paul. With a
message of “Opening the window so that the fresh air may enter”. And on 11th
October 1962 the Council was opened by Pope John XXIII, Saint in the Basilica of
St.Peter, Vatican and closed the first session on 8 th December 1962. St. John
XXIII, Pope, was thus the leader of this Ecumenical meeting and after his death St.
Paul VI, Pope, reconvened the Council which had three more sessions in the fall of
November 1964.
1
4) DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC EASTERN CHURCHES. Orientalium
2
15) DECREE ON THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIEST, Presbyterorum
vine sacrifice of the Eucharist and it is through the liturgy that the faithful are
enabled to express in their lives and manifest to others the mystery of Christ and
the real nature of the true Church. So by seeing this council set out to impart an
ever increasing vigor to the Christians life and also to adapt more closely to the
need of our age those institutions which are subject to change: to foster whatever
can promote union among the all who believe in Christ; to strengthen whatever can
help to call all mankind into the Church’s fold. Accordingly it sees particular
cogent reasons for undertaking the reform and promotion of the Liturgy.
The Council Fathers gave out general principles for the restoration and promotion
The nature of the sacred liturgy and its importance in the life of the church
3
The reform of the sacred liturgy.
They also discussed on the most sacred mystery of the Eucharist, other
sacraments and sacramental, the divine office, the liturgical year, sacred
In this decree, the council fathers dealt with the means of social communication. It
feels obliged therefore to preach the gospel and in the same way it believes that its
gospel news to the people. Therefore the council fathers decided to implore the
newspaper in order to foster the evangelization to the people also the council
fathers insisted that the proper moral on the youth while allowing them to have
4
Christ is the light of humanity. In this document the Mystery of the Church is
The eternal Father created the whole universe, and chose to rise up men to share in
his own divine life; and when they had fallen into sin, he did not abandon them but
all times held out to them the means of salvation. The father sent the son, Jesus
Christ who carries out the will of the Father, Christ revealed to us his mystery; by
This document also clarified the Church’s mission as the universal sacrament of
salvation.
In this document the Church expresses how it is values the Institutions of the
Eastern Churches, their liturgical rites, ecclesiastical traditions and their ordering
of Christian life. The church affirm the Eastern churches have venerable antiquity,
and there are clearly evidence that this traditions pass from the Apostles to the
Fathers and which is the part of divine revealed, undivided heritage of the
Universal Church. And this Ecumenical Council gives a special care for the
Eastern Churches.
5. DECREE ON ECUMENISM.
5
The church throughout history seeks to bring back together all the religious
dominations which fall under the name of Christ. Therefore the council fathers
made a careful distinction between spiritual ecumenism, mainly prayer and the
practice of virtue and the practical ecumenism which actively fosters Christian
reunion.
CHURCH.
The document urge the bishops to cooperate with one another and the bishop of
Rome and to decide on effective means for using the modern means of
In this decree, the church set down norms for spiritual renewal and prudent
sharing, distinctive religious habit and continued spiritual and doctrinal education.
This document dealt with training of priest. It centered on fostering the vocations,
giving more attention to spiritual formation and preparing for pastoral work.
6
Also developing priests with filial attachment to the Vicar of Christ and loyal
In this document the church told all Christians that they have right to Christian
education. It also reminded the parents that they have the primary right and duty to
teach their children and warned believers on the dangers of state monopoly in
education.
CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS.
The church gave out the declaration on the relation it has with non-Christian
religions. In this the church shows it respect to the non-Christian religions which
are Islamic religion and Judaism. It also urged all Catholics to enter with prudence
and charity into discussion and collaboration with members of other religions.
Scriptures from Sacred Tradition. It declared that the Bible must be interpreted
under the church’s guidance and explained how development of doctrine is the
7
church’s ever-deeper understanding of what God has once and for all revealed to
In this document the church explains it mission practical. In this mission the laity is
It recognizes that the laity has the right establish and direct their own associations,
on the condition that they preserve the necessary link with the ecclesiastical
authority.
The fathers gave out declaration on the religious liberty. In this it affirms each
person’s liberty to believe in God and worship Him according to one’s conscience
and reaffirms the Catholic Church’s revealed freedom for herself and before every
public authority.
The church defines evangelization as the implanting of the church among peoples
in which she has not yet taken root. It urges even the young churches to engage in
8
15. DECREE ON THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS.
In this document the church defines priest as men who are ordained to offer the
Eucharistic sacrifice, forgive sins in Christ’s name, and exercise the priestly office
WORLD.
This document dealt with church on the modern times. It identifies atheism as one
of the most serious problem of our times, gives the most extensive treatment of
marriage and the family in conciliar history and declares the church’s strong