Catholic Corner
October 25, 2020

The Council was announced by John XXIII in January 1959 but unlike previous ecumenical Councils this was not being called as a result of a crisis in the Church.  John XXIII stated his desires for calling the Council as a positive hope for the future rather than as a corrective for the past. He stated his vision thus: first he hoped it would promote “the enlightenment, edification, and joy of the entire Christian people” and second that it would” extend a renewed cordial invitation to the faithful of the separated communities to participate with us in this quest for unity and grace, for which so many souls long in all parts of the world.”  This vision was reflected in the Council itself, that took a positive, pastoral approach! For John XXIII this was expressed in his use of the term aggiornamento or “updating”.

And so the preparations began! By the time the Council opened certain “alignments” among the bishops were clear.  A small but significant collection of Cardinals, bishops and theologians were led by Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani (who’s motto was Semper Idem, “always the same”).[1] This conservative group held that the Council should be doctrinal in action, follow in the footsteps of what had come before and reaffirm the doctrine of the Church.  They tended to  view the most important aspects of John XXIII’s pastoral approach with great suspicion.  In the majority though were the moderates who viewed their position in keeping with the tradition of the Church and who supported John XXIII’s desire to “open the windows and let in the fresh air.”  Conciliatory and approachable, the leaders of this group drew on some of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century including Karl Rahner and Yves Congar.[2]

The first major document to be discussed was the document on the Liturgy.  The document was brought to the Council on October 22nd 1962. The theme of aggiornamento was clear! This was visible in the universal call to holiness and the call for full, conscious and active participation in the liturgy by all the baptized. The latter was seen as a right and duty of all the baptized not just the clergy. After much discussion, which included use of the vernacular,  the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy was the first document to pass the Council by a vote of 2,147 to 4!!

[1] John W O’Malley, What Happened at Vatican II (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2008)  108.

[2] Ibid., 116-118.