Throughout his pontificate, Pope John Paul II steadfastly
kept his commitment to implement the Second Vatican Council by developing an
apologetics of meaning. His two great meditations on the encounter between
Jesus and the rich young man, Dilecti
amici and the first part of Veritatis
splendor, set forth the essentials of the dynamic dialogue between man and
God occasioned by man’s search for meaning.[1] Pope John Paul II called for
the authentic spirit of the Council to be respected and lived
accordingly. Cardinal Joseph
Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) also distinguished
the true spirit of the Council from false interpretations, explaining that the
disappointed hopes for renewal come from the interpretations that "have
gone far beyond both the letter and the spirit of Vatican II” and which must “return
to the authentic texts of the original Vatican II.”[2] After the Second Vatican
Council many different misinterpretations and misunderstandings came forth, as
well as many justifications and changes that were said to follow the spirit of
the Second Vatican Council but in reality they weren’t aligned with the truth
about the different Council teachings. A careful reading of the conciliar
documents clearly shows that the Council’s purpose was to bring fresh life to
the teachings of the Church while preserving them in their full integrity. Yet
this position met with strong opposition especially in the interpretation of
conciliar teachings which has only recently showed signs of declining.[3]
For example, many times when someone
refers to something being "in the spirit of Vatican II," they are looking
for changes which are certainly not in the authentic spirit of Vatican II and
are opposed to basic Catholic doctrine.
Some things that have
been exaggerated or erroneously interpreted after the Second Vatican Council are
for example: Catholics were told that the Council had forbidden the use of
Latin in the liturgy, and in the constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium it
explains how particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language
is to be preserved in the Latin rites.[4] Nevertheless steps should be taken so that
the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts
of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them. [5]
Catholics were told that the Council had mandated that the altar be turned
around so that the priest would face the people when he celebrated Mass. The
documents never said this. Catholics were told that the Council had mandated
the suppression of popular devotions, when in reality the documents explain
that devotions should be so drawn up that they harmonize with the liturgical
seasons, accord with the sacred liturgy, are in some fashion derived from it,
and lead the people to it, since, in fact, the liturgy by its very nature far
surpasses any of them.[6]
They were told that the Council had in effect mandated what we sometimes call
the “guitar Mass” and had outlawed Gregorian chant, when the council actually teaches
us that the Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as especially suited to the
Roman liturgy. All other things being equal, it should be given pride of place
in liturgical services.[7]
Different
religious communities misunderstood that the Council had prohibited them to
wear their religious habits and had said that they should dress in secular
clothes, when it is clearly explained that the religious habit, a visible sign
of consecration to God, should be simple and modest, poor and at the same
becoming. In addition it must meet the requirements of health and be suited to
the circumstances of time and place and to the needs of the ministry involved.
The habits of both men and women religious which do not conform to these norms should
be changed. People were sometimes even told that the Council had changed the
moral teachings of the Church.[8]
Besides the many
misunderstandings of the true “spirit of the Vatican Council II,” there were
other actions that were truly in line with its authentic Spirit. For example, not much attention was paid to the laity
in previous Councils, but one of the more interesting things that has happened
since the Council is the way in which lay people have often taken the lead in
trying to live an authentic interpretation of the Council. Laity have often been
the ones who have organized and started authentic renewal movements within the
Church. This, I think, can be seen as an enormous flowering of the true spirit
of the Second Vatican Council.[9]
An example of this would be the increase in the participation of the laity in
the Church and the ardent zeal of evangelizing by transmitting the gospel of
Christ in many different areas of society by using the different media and
technology. The Council teachings explain how the Catholic Church, since it was
founded by Christ our Lord to bear salvation to all men and thus is obliged to
preach the Gospel, considers one of its primary duties to proclaim the Good
News of salvation. In our time, this can also be done effectively with the help
of the social means of communication. It is also important for the Church in
its members to instruct men in the proper use of these new forms of
communication.
I highly recommend
the article, “Understanding the True Spirit of Vatican II,” because although the
Second Vatican Council was in many ways misunderstood and was interpreted
according to a false “spirit” of the Council, it was a providential event for the life of the Church. This is
precisely what the articles expresses. Pope
John Paul II beautifully explained how the Council was truly focused on the mystery of Christ and his
Church and at the same time it opened the world anew to the fountain of
salvation.[10]
The world is indeed steeped in sin, a place of wars, genocides,
oppression, and exploitation, where the powerful many times triumph over the
weak, yet people continue to be addressed by God, enabling them to trust, hope,
and love and to become servants of God’s kingdom. The image of God that emerged
at the Council has greatly transformed our perception of the world in faith.[11]
[1]
"The
True Spirit of Vatican II." Catholic
World Report. Douglas Bushman, 2 Dec. 2012. Web. 15 Aug. 2017. <http://www.catholicworldreport.com/2012/12/02/the-true-spirit-of-vatican-ii/>.
[3]
"Understanding
the True Spirit of Vatican II." Aleteia.org – Worldwide Catholic Network
Sharing Faith Resources for Those Seeking Truth – Aleteia.org. Anna Krestyn, 25
Feb. 2013. Web. 15 Aug. 2017.
<https://aleteia.org/2013/02/25/understanding-the-true-spirit-of-vatican-ii/>
[4] Sacrosanctum
Concilium. 36.1 Web. 18 Aug. 2017.
<http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19631204_sacrosanctum-concilium_en.html>
[7] Ibid. 116
[9] Lesson 6: Dr. James Hitchcock; the effects
of the council video p.2
[10] Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio
Adveniente Of His Holiness Pope John Paul II: For The Jubilee Of The Year 2000
[11]
Baum,
Gregory. "Grateful Remembrance of
Vatican Council II." Journal of Ecumenical Studies, vol. 49, no. 1,
2014, pp. 21-24. EBSCOhost,
search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=rfh&AN=ATLA0001981944&authtype=cookie,cpid&custid=s9245834&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Article:
https://aleteia.org/2013/02/25/understanding-the-true-spirit-of-vatican-ii/
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