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May 2008 Issue
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Articles
From Vatican II emerged a powerful
lesson - the love of Christ
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the early 1960’s the Catholic Church began a massive
self-renewal effort in the Second Vatican Council. More
than 2,500 bishops from around the world gathered in
Rome with the pope and entered into intensive prayer,
debate and consultation regarding the state of the church.
Also attending as observers were many representatives
from the major religious faiths around the world. These
Church leaders re-expressed what it means to be the
Catholic community of Christ, sent to bring the teaching
and spirit of Jesus to the world. They conducted a thorough
review of the church’s roots in the Bible, in tradition
and in past teachings of the church. |
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They examined who we are as the people of
God and how we are related in the call of faith to Jews, to
fellow Christians, and to people of other faiths. The results
of such intensive probing came as a surprise and even a shock
to many. The church, as most people experienced it, never
changed, so expectations had not been high for anything dramatic.
From the council, however, came encouragement to Catholics
to know and read the Bible. Just as the sacred Scriptures
would be made available in fresh translations, so would all
living human languages now be invited into the church’s public
prayer. The very space for the worship of God began to change
in its arrangement. The assembly of God’s people was to be
gathered to hear the Word of God and be nourished at the Lord’s
table of sacrifi ce in ways that would foster active participation.
In fact, ordinary members would soon fi nd themselves welcomed
and trained for special ministries. The council outlined the
ideals of life in Christ and how living in Christ affects
relationships to one another within the church as well as
to people of other faiths. A special teaching on the troubled
relationship that Catholics had toward Jews over the centuries
was written in a spirit of respect and reconciliation. Catholics
were also reminded that mission is the heart and soul of discipleship.
To be in the world in any and every capacity was to bring
Christ and his kingdom there as well. Now, nearly a half a
century later, the council that has been called a new Pentecost
for our times is still challenging the church. Sometimes we
make inspiring progress in applying its teachings. Often we
slip away from the hard work of renewal. The love of Christ,
as powerfully expressed in Vatican II, urges us on.
Msgr. Gaspar F. Ancona is recently retired.
He is the author of Where the Star Came to Rest, a history
of the Diocese of Grand Rapids.
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