40 years since Vatican II

On December 8, 1965, the Second Vatican Council held its closing ceremonies in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. That assembly of more than 2,000 bishops from all over the world had been convoked by Pope John XXIII who died after the first Session. His successor, Pope Paul VI, promptly reconvoked it and it met for three more Sessions in as many years. During those four years from 1962 to 1965, it was the focus of attention of the entire world. The daily bulletins were avidly read and discussed. Vatican II was undoubtedly the greatest religious event of the 20th century, and it was one of the most significant events of all times.

It was also different from all previous Councils.  Vatican II did not make a new definition of doctrine.  It made no condemnations, no anathemas. What it did was more radical, more revolutionary. Convoked to bring about an "aggiornamento" in the Church (a bringing-up-to-date), and (as John XXIII put it) "to open the windows of the Church", Vatican II did exactly that. It gave to the Church and to Christians a new orientation and a new self-knowledge. It not only opened windows. It opened our eyes.

The achievement of Vatican II may be reduced to three major points, each of which was revolutionary.

First, Vatican II made it possible for all the people to participate fully in the liturgy.  Previous to 1962 the Mass and the Sacraments were in Latin. Latin of course is a beautiful language, but the majority of today’s Christians could no longer understand it. The liturgy is now in the vernacular. People now participate in the liturgy more fully. And some of the functions previously reserved for priests may now be done by lay persons.

Second, Vatican II gave to Catholics a new appreciation of the Bible as the word of God. Catholics of course knew that before. What is new is a fuller appreciation of Holy Scripture. It has become part of our daily life.

One result of this is that it has revolutionized theology. Theologians now realize more fully than before that Holy Scripture is the soul of theology. While theological speculation is legitimate and indeed desirable, it must be rooted in an understanding of divine revelation as recorded in Scripture.

The third principal achievement of Vatican II is really the most radical, the most revolutionary. Vatican II gave to the Church a new self-understanding.

The Church now recognizes itself for what it has always been, the People of God.

In the Old Testament the People of God were the Israelites. They were the Chosen People, bound to God by the Old Covenant sealed by the blood of bulls at Mount Sinai. Jesus Christ established a New Covenant sealed with his own blood.  His followers and believers are the people of the New Covenant — the new People of God.  That is what the Church is — the assembly of believers, the baptized, the People of God.

That thought seems very simple. But it is so profound that it really changes our way of looking at everything. If we examine closely all the other decrees of Vatican II, we will find that they are really rooted in that one idea, the Church is the People of God.

Forty years have passed since Vatican II ended. Its effects are not yet fully felt, not yet fully implemented.  In the past quarter of a century there have been determined efforts to erase, to counteract what the Council did much of it disguised by lip service to Vatican II. But if Vatican II was guided by the Holy Spirit (as all Councils are) then the Holy Spirit will see to it that eventually its effects will permeate the Church.

This may take time. Maybe another 40 years.  Maybe four hundred years. God is not in a hurry. Years, centuries, millennia — those are nothing to Him who lives in eternity. As the Hebrew psalmist put it long ago:

In your eyes a thousand years are as yesterday

that is past; or as a watch in the night. — Ps. 90.