The Second Vatican Council It is not an overstatement to say that the Catholic Church has changed more in the twenty-five years since the Second Vatican Council than it had in the previous two hundred (Komonchak). Pope John XXIII announced the creation of this council, also referred to as Vatican II, in January 1959, much to the surprise of the awaiting world. There had not been an ecumenical council — an assembly of Roman Catholic religious leaders meant to settle doctrinal issues — in nearly 100 years (Teicher). The Second Vatican Council opened the doors of the Roman Catholic Church to serious changes that have had a powerful legacy.
The world had become a different place.Vatican II was the first completed eccumenical council since the …show more content…
The John XXIII called this overhaul an Aggiornamento, or a freshening of thinking and practices that would better enable the Church to do God 's work and serve the whole people of God on earth (Voice of the Church). The Church was growing rapidly around the world, and needed to be adjusted accordingly. There needed to be a recognizable sense of community, in which praise was not other-worldly, but something real and palpable. Thinking of how he was to accomplish this, the Pope finally came to the conclusion of holding a council.
Thus, the Second Vatican Council was announced on January 25th, 1959, though received with much opposition. A group of eighteen cardinals was present for the proposal, and nearly all of them responded in shock and enmity. Their main concern was time, as they knew organizing a council could take up to ten years at the least. The Pope was determined though, and set straight to work, summoning more than eight hundred theologians and other expert to Rome to prepare for the council and plan what would be discussed …show more content…
To this point, the Catholic Mass had been a performed in Latin by a priest, with the congregation simply watching and not participating much at all. The progressive delegates wanted the congregation to be more heavily involved through prayers, and for Mass to be celebrated in the languages actually spoken by the people, not in Latin which many in attendance did not understand. On November 14, 1962, the council approved these reforms and other related ones, which have had a massive effect on the way masses are carried out today. Masses are much less devout and are treated more as a communal discussion in which the priest can speak one on one with the congregation, and even casually joke with them. There were other subtle, yet notable changes as well such as the introduction of altar girls and more modern hymns
The world had become a different place.Vatican II was the first completed eccumenical council since the …show more content…
The John XXIII called this overhaul an Aggiornamento, or a freshening of thinking and practices that would better enable the Church to do God 's work and serve the whole people of God on earth (Voice of the Church). The Church was growing rapidly around the world, and needed to be adjusted accordingly. There needed to be a recognizable sense of community, in which praise was not other-worldly, but something real and palpable. Thinking of how he was to accomplish this, the Pope finally came to the conclusion of holding a council.
Thus, the Second Vatican Council was announced on January 25th, 1959, though received with much opposition. A group of eighteen cardinals was present for the proposal, and nearly all of them responded in shock and enmity. Their main concern was time, as they knew organizing a council could take up to ten years at the least. The Pope was determined though, and set straight to work, summoning more than eight hundred theologians and other expert to Rome to prepare for the council and plan what would be discussed …show more content…
To this point, the Catholic Mass had been a performed in Latin by a priest, with the congregation simply watching and not participating much at all. The progressive delegates wanted the congregation to be more heavily involved through prayers, and for Mass to be celebrated in the languages actually spoken by the people, not in Latin which many in attendance did not understand. On November 14, 1962, the council approved these reforms and other related ones, which have had a massive effect on the way masses are carried out today. Masses are much less devout and are treated more as a communal discussion in which the priest can speak one on one with the congregation, and even casually joke with them. There were other subtle, yet notable changes as well such as the introduction of altar girls and more modern hymns