The Second General Council of the Vatican
Reformation of Mass and the Liturgy, 1963-65 A.D.
It was the beloved Pope John XXIII who opened the Second General Council of the Vatican in 1963, but it would be Pope Paul VI who would finish the work after Pope John XXIII’s death.
Pope John Paul I, Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI’s Involvement in the Second General Council of the Vatican
Three future popes were involved in the Second General Council of the Vatican. Bishop Albino Luciano became Pope John Paul I, Bishop Karol Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II and Father Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI. All attended this General Council of the Bishops, although Ratzinger was not yet a bishop.
The Form of the Mass Altered to Utilise Native Languages
Perhaps the most noticeable change after Vatican II was the fact that the Mass, which had previously been celebrated only in Latin, could now be celebrated in the Mother Tongues of individual nations. This gave the people of the church more of an understanding for what was going on in the individual parts of the Mass and encouraged more participation.
Similarly, the change involving the celebrant or priest changing the position of facing the altar to facing the people was done for similar reasons.
In Pre-Vatican II times, Latin was used to celebrate the Mass so that the Holy Rite would be universal around the world, but so few laypeople understood what was happening during the Mass that this became an issue in the church. In order to stimulate more involvement from the people, the Mass had to become understandable to the common man in every country.
This was accomplished by allowing the Mass to be said in all languages and changing the position of the priest to face the congregation. By also having the liturgy spoken in the Mother Tongues, it allowed for the faithful to hear the recitation of scripture at every Mass which they could understand.
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium
In the Dogmatic Constitution, the basic belief of the church is laid out in these words: “In the Creed we profess to be one, holy, catholic and apostolic, which our Saviour, after His Resurrection, commissioned Peter to shepherd, and him and the other apostles to extend and direct with authority, which He erected for all ages as ‘the pillar and mainstay of the truth.’” Lumen Gentium
The document goes on to say that this subsists in the Catholic Church, governed by the Pope and the bishops. But it makes sure to clarify that the Catholic Church acknowledges that salvation comes not only through the Catholic Church, but through the Mystery of Christ working through many faiths. Specifically referring to Protestant denominations, this statement was also meant to include Muslims and those of non-Christian religions. “Nevertheless, many elements of sanctification and of truth are found outside its visible confines.” Lumen Gentium
Volumes of documents emerged out of Vatican II explaining the teaching of the church, but the major changes to the Church as a whole can be summarized in this manner.
The First General Council of Nicaea, 325 A.D.
The First General Council of the Vatican, 1869-70 A.D.
Sources: The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 – 1870 – By Philip Hughes, The General Councils: A History of the Twenty-One Church Councils from Nicaea to Vatican II – By Christopher M. Bellito, The Documents of Vatican II – By Walter M. Abbott, S.J. and the Very Reverend Monsignor Joseph Gallagher, A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present – By Bernard Lohse, The Reform of the Liturgy – Annibale Bugnini, www.catholicdigitalstudio.com/councils.htm
Second General Council of the Vatican
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