THED02 – MODULE 2A
THED02 – MODULE 2A
THED02 – MODULE 2A
MODULE 2A
THE CHURCH’S
SECOND VATICAN
COUNCIL
COUNCIL
(a) A legally convened meeting of
(b) members of the hierarchy, for
(c) the purpose of carrying out their judicial and doctrinal functions,
(d) by means of deliberation in common,
(e) resulting in regulations and decrees invested with the authority
of the whole assembly.
20 major councils
NICAEA I —AD 325 Nicene Creed; divinity of Christ, condemned Arianism; Easter observance set.
CONSTANTINOPLE I —AD 381 Defeated Arianism; condemned Manicheism that the denied the divinity of the Holy Spirit.
EPHESUS —AD 431 Defended Mary as the mother of God; condemned Nestorianism which held there were two distinct persons in the
Incarnate Christ.
CHALCEDON —AD 451 Condemned Monophysitism by defining two distinct natures of Christ: Jesus fully human and divine.
NICAEA II —AD 787 Regulated veneration of holy images; condemned Iconoclasts and defined that sacred images may be honored
without idolatry.
LATERAN I —AD 1123 First council after the Great Eastern Schism. Condemned practice of lay princes in investiture of bishops. Called
for recovery of the Holy Land.
LATERAN III —AD 1179 Established the Sacred Conclave as voting body to elect Pope by 2/3rds majority; condemned the Albigensian
and Waldensian heresies.
LATERAN IV —AD 1215 Defined ex cathedra: from the chair of Peter and "There is but one Universal church, outside of which there is
no salvation." Set in stone the term Transubstantiation for the mystery of the Eucharist. Ordered annual confession and Easter
Communion.
LYONS II —AD 1274 Attempted reconciliation with Eastern Catholics. Decreed that papal elections should begin 10 days after death of
the Pope.
TRENT —AD 1545-1563 Condemned Lutheranism and other errors in teaching that resulted from Protestant movement; proclaimed
Bible and Tradition as rule of faith; defined doctrine on the Mass, the sacraments, justification, purgatory, indulgences, invocation of
saints, veneration of sacred images, issued decrees on marriage and clerical reform.
VATICAN I —AD 1869-1870 Defined the nature of revelation and faith, the relation of faith and reason; and infallibility of the Pope
when speaking ex cathedra in matters of faith and morals. Condemned pantheism, materialism, deism, naturalism, and fideism.
CONSTITUTIONS
2. Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite (Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Nov. 21, 1964)
- Recognizes the autonomy and liturgical practices of the Eastern Catholic Churches.
- It stated that variety within the church does not harm its unity and that Eastern Catholic churches should retain their own traditions.
3. Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio, Nov. 21, 1964) - Calls Catholics to appreciate
Christian values found in other faiths as well as the Catholic Church.
- It said that ecumenism should be everyone’s concern and that genuine ecumenism involves a continual personal and institutional renewal.
THE NINE DECREES OF VATICAN II
4. Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church (Christus Dominus,
Oct. 28, 1965) - Describes a bishop’s role in the universal Church, in his local
churches, and in cooperation for the common good.
- It said each bishop has full ordinary power in his own diocese and is expected to present Christian doctrine in ways adapted to the times. It
urged conferences of bishops to exercise pastoral direction jointly.
5. Decree on the Up-to-Date Renewal of Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis, Oct. 28, 1965) -
Calls religious men and women to base their lives on the Gospel while adapting to
serve modern needs.
- It provided guidelines for the personal and institutional renewal of the lives of nuns, brothers and priests belonging to religious orders.
6. Decree on Priestly Training (Optatam Totius, Oct. 28, 1965) - Encourages priestly
vocations and suggests updated seminary structures and ongoing formation
programs for priests.
- It recommended that seminaries pay attention to the spiritual, intellectual and disciplinary formation necessary to prepare priesthood
students to become good pastors.
THE NINE DECREES OF VATICAN II
7. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem, Nov. 18, 1965) -
Encourages laypeople to renew the world as ambassadors of Christ.
- It said the laity should influence their surroundings with Christ’s teachings.
8. Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church (Ad Gentes, Dec. 7, 1965) -
Provides guidance to those engaged in missionary work throughout the world.
- It said missionary activity should help the social and economic welfare of people and not force anyone to accept the faith.
9. Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis, Dec. 7, 1965) -
Provides guidance for priests to adapt to modern challenges and
opportunities.
- It said the primary duty of priests is to proclaim the Gospel to all, approved and encouraged celibacy as a gift and
recommended fair salaries.
Declaration on the Relation of the Church
Declaration on Christian Education to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate,
(Gravissimum Educationis, Oct. 28,1965)
Oct. 28, 1965)
—Reaffirms the universal right to an —Expresses high regard for non-Christian
education and describes Catholic religions, with special attention to
schools for all ages. Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism.
It affirmed the right of parents to choose the type of education they want It said the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in non-
for their children, upheld the importance of Catholic schools and Christian religions, called for an end to anti-Semitism and said any
defended freedom of inquiry in Catholic colleges and universities. discrimination based on race, color, religion or condition of life is foreign
to the mind of Christ.
END