Teens’ Intro to Vatican II

Michael Pascual DMC 2012- Mater Dei HS Oct 13, 2012 Teens’ Intro to Vatican II

Introductions…

Introduce yourself… • Name • Parish/Ministry • Something corny about yourself… • And why this workshop?

Recommended Text • Rausch, Thomas. Catholicism in the Third Millennium. (Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003: ISBN 0-8146-5899-7) • Presentation is based on Chapter 1

Pre-Assessment • What comes to mind when you hear about Vatican II?

Outline • The “Pre-Vatican” Church • Setting up the Stage • The Council • Fruits of the Council…or Aftermath?

The Pre-Vatican Church • The Catholic Condition • “The Golden Age” (not really) • The Church talking to itself (isolationism) • Siege Mentality

The Golden Age? • In America…The Baltimore Catechism… • Church seen as an efficient Business machine • Ford Magazine 1950s • LATIN…everywhere… • Pay, pray and obey…

Isolationism • Neo-scholasticism… the name of the theology used at the time… • the abridged version of Thomas Aquinas • Another name: Manual theology • Using the “scientific method” of theology • Was not at all convincing • Us versus them mentality

The Siege Mentality • The Protestant Reformation • The Enlightenment • And the French Revolution • The Church Response… • Thomas Aquinas (not really) • Silencing of “progressive” theologians

Setting the Stage • Currents within the Church • The Bible Movement • The Liturgical Movement • The “new” theology • John 23

The Bible Movement • The Discovery of Dinosaurs!!!... No joke… • How to read the Bible now? • DivinoAfflanteSpiritu • 1943, encyclical by Pius XII

The Liturgical Movement • Benedictine Monasteries wanted to improve liturgy (in Europe)…started some good research… • Started in the US at Collegeville, Minnesota • Founded Liturgical Press • Better use of historical research…

The New Theology • Instead of using just medieval philosophy, biblical studies and historical research was now being applied… • The ultimate question here…how do we answer the modern questions with modern answers? • Or do we give them medieval answers?

John XXIII • Angelo Roncalli elected Pope on 1958 • Very chill guy…down to earth and real • On Jan 25, 1959…called the Vatican II Council… • Last council is Vatican I in 1869-70!!!

The Council • John 23’s Goals… • The Process of Study

Aggiornamento • John 23’s goal… • Aggiornamento = RENEWAL or bringing up to date • Council is not to be a discussion of condemnation or fundamental doctrine, rather “a step forward toward a doctrinal penetration and a formation of consciousness” faithful to the Church’s authentic doctrine. • One that should be studied and expounded through the methods of research and through the literary forms of modern thought.”

J 23 • “The Substance of the ancient doctrine of the deposit of faith is one thing, and the way in which it is presented is another.”

Process of Study • Ad Intra, Ad Extra • Aka from within and from without

Ad Intra • Within • Reflecting, researching and analyzing the Church in light of its 2000 years of history and Tradition

Ad Extra • With out • Reflecting on the role of the Church with the rest of the world

The Fruits… • The Church • Revelation • Liturgy • Ecumenism • Religious Freedom • Non-Christian Religions • Church in the Modern World

The Church • Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium) • A profound document that reflects on the Church • Church as sacrament • Church as people of God • The bishops and the pope • The laity • Mary

Revelation • No…not the book or the end of time • An understanding of how God reveals…get it “revel” • VCII emphasized God’s self communication in history… • Biblical Studies…study the context…

Liturgy • Encouraged greater participation in the liturgy on the part of the laity • Revision of the texts and rites in light of historical research • Set the stage for vernacular

Ecumenism • Official commitment to the ecumenical movement • Recognized that the Christians from different churches are already in an imperfect communion with one another through baptism (UR 3) • UR is unitatisredintegratio, the decree on ecumenism • “heirarchy of truths” (UR 11) • Not all doctrines are of equal importance since “they vary in their relationship to the foundation of Christian faith.

Religious Freedom • Human beings have a right to religious freedom, to worship freely according to the dictates of their consciences, rooted in their dignity as human persons (DH 2) • DH is DignitatesHumanae

Non-Christian Religions • Those who sincerely seek God and open themselves to God’s grace can be saved even if they have no knowledge of Christ (LG 16) • Lumen Gentium • The Catholic Church looks upon the great world religions with respect,recognizing that their teachings often reflect a ray of divine truth (NA2) • Nostra Aetate

The Church in the Modern World • The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these too are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ. Indeed, nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. (GS 1) • Gaudium et Spes 1 • New concern for poor, • Justice and equality • marriage

Discussion • What is something new… • Something you already knew • Or something that confused you?

Thanks for coming by!!!

Teens’ Intro to Vatican II