Pope John's Opening Speech to the Council
THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH
THE ORIGIN AND REASON FOR THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL
PRINCIPLE DUTY OF THE COUNCIL: THE DEFENSE AND ADVANCEMENT OF TRUTH
THE UNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN AND HUMAN FAMILY MUST BE PROMOTED
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH - Lumen gentium
CHAPTER I THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER lII THE CHURCH IS HIERARCHICAL
CHAPTER V: THE CALL TO HOLINESS
CHAPTER VII THE PILGRIM CHURCH
II. THE FUNCTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION
III. THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND THE CHURCH
IV. THE CULT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE CHURCH
V. MARY, SIGN OF TRUE HOPE AND COMFORT FOR THE PILGRIM PEOPLE OF GOD
PASTORAL CONSTITUTION: ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD - Gaudium et spes
INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT THE SITUATION OF MEN IN THE MODERN WORLD
PART I THE CHURCH AND MAN'S CALLING
CHAPTER I THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON
CHAPTER II THE COMMUNITY OF MANKIND
CHAPTER III MAN'S ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
CHAPTER IV THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD
PART II SOME PROBLEMS OF SPECIAL URGENCY
CHAPTER I FOSTERING THE NOBILITY OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY
CHAPTER II THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE
SECTION 1 The Circumstances of Culture in the World Today
SECTION 2 Some Principles for the Proper Development of Culture
SECTION 3 Some More Urgent Duties of Christians in Regard to Culture
CHAPTER III ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE
SECTION 1 Economic Development
SECTION 2 Certain Principles Governing Socio-Economic Life as a Whole
CHAPTER IV THE LIFE OF THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY
CHAPTER V THE FOSTERING OF PEACE AND THE PROMOTION OF A COMMUNITY OF NATIONS
SECTION 1 The Avoidance of War
SECTlON II Setting Up An International Community
DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION - Dei verbum
CHAPTER II - HANDING ON DIVINE REVELATION
CHAPTER III - SACRED SCRIPTURE, ITS INSPIRATION AND DIVINE INTERPRETATION
CHAPTER IV - THE OLD TESTAMENT
CHAPTER VI - SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF LAY PEOPLE - Apostolicam Actuositatem
CHAPTER I THE VOCATION OF LAY PEOPLE TO THE APOSTOLATE
FOUNDATIONS OF THE LAY APOSTOLATE
THE SPIRITUALITY OF LAY PEOPLE
THE APOSTOLATE OF EVANGELIZATION AND SANCTIFICATION
THE RENEWAL OF THE TEMPORAL ORDER
CHARITABLE WORKS AND SOCIAL AID
THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF THE APOSTOLATE
APOSTOLATE OF LIKE TOWARDS LIKE
THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS
THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE APOSTOLATE
INDIVIDUAL APOSTOLATE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP APOSTOLATE
RELATIONS WITH THE CLERGY AND WITH RELIGIOUS
COOPERATION WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS
THOSE WHO TRAIN OTHERS FOR THE APOSTOLATE
FIELDS CALLING FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY - Sacrosanctum Concilium
I. THE NATURE OF THE SACRED LITURGY AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH
II. THE PROMOTION OF LITURGICAL INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
III THE REFORM OF THE SACRED LITURGY
B. Norms Drawn from the Hierarchic and Communal Nature of the Liturgy
C. Norms Based on the Educative and Pastoral Nature of the Liturgy.
D. NORMS FOR ADAPTING THE LITURGY TO THE TEMPERAMENT AND TRADITIONS OF PEOPLES
E. PROMOTION OF THE LITURGICAL LIFE IN DIOCESE AND PARISH
F. PROMOTION OF PASTORAL LITURGICAL ACTION
THE MOST SACRED MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST
THE OTHER SACRAMENTS AND THE SACRAMENTALS
SACRED ART AND SACRED FURNISHINGS
APPENDIX A DECLARATION OF THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL ON REVISION OF THE CALENDAR
GUIDELINES ON RELIGIOUS RELATIONS WITH THE JEWS (N.4)
DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - Dignitatis humanae
DECREE ON THE PASTORAL OFFICE OF BISHOPS IN THE CHURCH - Christus Dominus
THE BISHOPS IN THEIR RELATION TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
I. THE ROLE OF THE BISHOPS IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH
II. BISHOPS AND THE APOSTOLIC SEE
BISHOPS IN RELATION TO THEIR OWN CHURCHES OR DIOCESES
III. THOSE WHO COOPERATE WITH THE DIOCESAN BISHOP IN HIS PASTORAL TASK
A. Coadjutor and auxiliary bishops
B. The diocesan curia and councils
CONCERNING THE COOPERATION OF BISHOPS FOR THE COMMON GOD OF MANY CHURCHES
I. SYNODS, COUNCILS AND ESPECIALLY EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES
II. THE BOUNDARIES OF ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCES AND THE ERECTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL REGIONS
III. BISHOPS DISCHARGING AND INTER-DIOCESAN FUNCTION
DECREE ON THE MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION - Inter mirifica
DECREE ON ECUMENISM - Unitatis Redintegratio
CHAPTER I CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES ON ECUMENISM
CHAPTER II THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM
CHAPTER III CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES SEPARATED FROM THE ROMAN APOSTOLIC SEE
I. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches
II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial Communities in the West
DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE - Orientalium Ecclesiarum
THE INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES OR RITES
PRESERVATION OF THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES
THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS
RELATIONS WITH THE BRETHREN OF THE SEPARATED CHURCHES
DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Gravissimum Educationis
1. The Meaning of the Universal Right to an Education
4. Various Aids to Christian Education
6. The Duties and Rights of Parents
7. Moral and Religious Education in all Schools
9. Different Types of Catholic Schools
10. Catholic Colleges and Universities
11. Faculties of Sacred Sciences
12. Coordination to be Fostered in Scholastic Matters
DECREE ON THE MISSION ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH - Ad Gentes
CHAPTER I - PRINCIPLES OF DOCTRINE
CHAPTER II MISSION WORK ITSELF
ARTICLE 2: Preaching the Gospel and Gathering together the People of God
ARTICLE 3: Forming the Christian Community
CHAPTER III - PARTICULAR CHURCHES
CHAPTER V PLANNING MISSIONARY ACTIVITY
DECREE ON THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS -- Presbyterorum ordinis
CHAPTER I - THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
CHAPTER II - The Ministry of Priests
SECTION I - Priests' Functions
SECTION 2 - Priests' Relationships with Others
SECTION 3 - The Distribution of Priests, and Vocations to the Priesthood
CHAPTER III - The Life of Priests
SECTION 1 - The Vocation of Priests to the Life of Perfection
SECTION 2 - Special Spiritual Requirements in the Life of a Priest
SECTION THREE - Aids to the Life of Priests
DECREE ON PRIESTLY TRAINING - Optatam Totius
I THE PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY TRAINING TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY EACH COUNTRY
II THE URGENT FOSTERING OF PRIESTLY VOCATIONS
III. THE SETTING UP OF MAJOR SEMINARIES
IV. THE CAREFUL DEVELOPMENT 0F THE SPIRITUAL TRAINING
V THE REVISION OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES
VI. THE PROMOTION OF STRICTLY PASTORAL TRAINING
VII. TRAINING TO BE ACHIEVED AFTER THE COURSE OF STUDIES
Second Vatican Council II Closing Speeches and Messages
COUNCIL CLOSING SPEECH DECEMBER 8, 1965
COUNCIL CLOSING MESSAGES DECEMBER 8, 1965
BY POPE PAUL TO COUNCIL FATHERS
TO THE POOR, THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING
APOSTOLIC BRIEF IN SPIRITU SANCTO' FOR THE CLOSING OF THE COUNCIL - DECEMBER 8, 1965
ADAPTATION AND RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS LIFE - Perfectae caritatis
DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS - Nostra aetate
13. Wherever God opens a door of speech for proclaiming the mystery of Christ (cf. Col. 4:3), there is announced to all men (cf. Mark 16:15; 1 Cor. 9:15; Rom. 10:14) with confidence and constancy (cf. Acts 4:13, 29, 31; 9:27, 28; 13:46; 14:3; 19:8; 26:26; 28:31; 1 Thess. 2:2; 2 Cor. 3:12; 7:4; Phil. 1:20; Eph. 3:12; 6:19, 20) the living God, and He Whom He has sent for the salvation of all, Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Thess. 1:9-10; 1 Cor. 1:18-21; Gal. 1:31; Acts 14:15-17; 17:22-31), in order that non- Christians, when the Holy Spirit opens their heart (cf. Acts 16:14), may believe and be freely converted to the Lord, that they may cleave sincerely to Him Who, being the "way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6), fulfils all their spiritual expectations, and even infinitely surpasses them.
This conversion must be taken as an initial one, yet sufficient to make a man realize that he has been snatched away from sin and led into the mystery of God's love, who called him to enter into a personal relationship with Him in Christ. For, by the workings of divine grace, the new convert sets out on a spiritual journey, by means of which, already sharing through faith in the mystery of Christ's Death and Resurrection, he passes from the old man to the new one, perfected in Christ (cf. Col. 3:5-10; Eph. 4:20-24). This bringing with it a progressive change of outlook and morals, must become evident with its social consequences, and must be gradually developed during the time of the catechumenate. Since the Lord he believes in is a sign of contradiction (cf. Luke 2:34; Matt. 10:34-39), the convert often experiences an abrupt breaking off of human ties, but he also tastes the joy which God gives without measure (cf. 1 Thess. 1:6).
The Church strictly forbids forcing anyone to embrace the Faith, or alluring or enticing people by worrisome wiles. By the same token, she also strongly insists on this right, that no one be frightened away from the Faith by unjust vexations on the part of others.[2]
In accord with the Church's ancient custom, the convert's motives should be looked into, and if necessary, purified.
14. Those who, through the Church, have accepted from God a belief in Christ[3] are admitted to the catechumenate by liturgical rites. The catechumenate is not a mere expounding of doctrines and precepts, but a training period in the whole Christian life, and an apprenticeship duty drawn out, during which disciples are joined to Christ their Teacher. Therefore, catechumens should be properly instructed in the mystery of salvation and in the practice of Gospel morality, and by sacred rites which are to be held at successive intervals,[4] they should be introduced into the life of faith, liturgy, and of love, which is led by the People of God.
Then, when the sacraments of Christian initiation have freed them from the power of darkness (cf. Col. 1:13),[5] having died with Christ, been buried with Him and risen together with Him (cf. Rom. 6:4-11; Col. 2:12- 13; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Mark 16:16), they receive the Spirit (cf. 1 Thess. 3:5-7; Acts 8:14-17) of adoption of sons and celebrate the remembrance of the Lord's death and resurrection together with the whole People of God.
It is to be desired that the liturgy of the Lenten and Paschal seasons should be restored in such a way as to dispose the hearts of the catechumens to celebrate the Easter mystery at whose solemn ceremonies they are reborn to Christ through baptism.
But this Christian initiation in the catechumenate should be taken care of not only by catechists or priests, but by the entire community of the faithful, so that right from the outset the catechumens may feel that they belong to the people of God. And since the life of the Church is an apostolic one, the catechumens also should learn to cooperate wholeheartedly, by the witness of their lives and by the profession of their faith, in the spread of the Gospel and in the building up of the Church.
Finally, the juridic status of catechumens should be clearly defined in the new code of canon law. For since they are joined to the Church,[6] they are already of the household of Christ,[7] and not seldom they are already leading a life of faith, hope, and charity.