Photo by Voicu Horațiu on Unsplash FULLY REVISED A FRIENDLY GUIDE TO VATICAN II This updated Friendly Guide to Vatican II explores Vatican EDITION Council II (1962-65) and the ’s willingness to respond with creativity and renewed pastoral focus during a period of extraordinary historical, cultural and social change. Its richness and legacy continue to give hope and inspiration to many as the Church faces the new challenges of this present era.

Max Vodola explains to the key role of The Second Vatican Rev Dr Max Vodola is a MAX VODOLA in clear and easy the lay observers, Council was a priest of the Catholic Archdiocese of terms the enormous especially the 23 watershed moment Melbourne and lecturer undertaking that female auditors that in modern and in Church History at was the Second included Australian contemporary Catholic Theological Vatican Council which Rosemary Goldie, an Catholic life and College, East Melbourne (University commenced in Rome international expert history. Max of Divinity). He in 1962. A Friendly on the laity. In 1967 Vodola has written specialises in research Guide to Vatican II Goldie would become an outstanding on the Catholic Church provides the historic the first woman presentation of the in , the history of the papacy, and background to the appointed to a Council, inspired the significance of council and the senior position in the by the charismatic ecumenical councils, key role played by . Using Pope John XXIII, with a special focus Pope St John XXIII, a contemporary implemented by Pope on the . In 2010 Max including the pope’s perspective, Vodola Paul VI. The universal Vodola completed life-long historical offers the reader a and local promises, his doctoral thesis at study of St Charles deeper look into the hopes, achievements, Monash University Borromeo and the ongoing debates and potential future where he examined in some detail the pastoral emphasis about the council, challenge and impact historical background of the Council of the significance of of that crucial of Angelo Roncalli Trent (1545-63). This Pope Francis living Catholic moment are (Pope John XXIII) pastoral emphasis the spirit and grace succinctly portrayed and the late pope’s A fascination with the was decisive in of Vatican II and in this most attractive pastoral renewal of the shaping the agenda the Pope’s call for volume. Church in the wake of FRIENDLY of Vatican II and synodality in the the Council of Trent. John XXIII’s call to Church today. Francis J Moloney, SDB, GUIDE TO AM, FAHA update the Church A Friendly Guide Professorial Fellow (aggiornamento). to Vatican II will Catholic Theological College, The Friendly Guide be welcomed by University of Divinity Melbourne, Victoria further explores teachers, religious, the Australian lay leaders involved contribution to in parish ministry and Vatican II – from those responsible for the involvement of faith formation. VATICAN II Australian bishops

MAX www.garrattpublishing.com.au VODOLA

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MAX VODOLA

FG VATII_FINAL_TXT.indd 1 13/3/21 10:18 am Contents

CHAPTER 1 Historical Background 3 Councils in the Church 4 Pope John XXIII 5 Early Years 5 As Priest 7 As Bishop 9 As Nuncio 11 As Pope 13 Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli 14

CHAPTER 2 Calling the Council (Vatican II) 15 The first 100 days 16 The first session ofVatican II 20 Death of the Pope 22 Vatican II – the Australian contribution 24 Rosemary Goldie 25 Women in the Church 26 The Second Vatican Council: a time line 28

CHAPTER 3 Implementing Vatican II 31 How a Council ‘speaks’ 34 Documents of Vatican II 35 sampleUnderstanding the Council that changed our lives 45 The nature of change 47

CHAPTER 4 Pope Francis: Living the Spirit and Grace of the Council 49 Title page: Celebrations in Rome at the Pope Francis and Vatican II 52 canonisation of Pope John XXIII Australian Plenary Council 53 Opposite page: Pope John XXIII Bibliography 55 when he was Monsignor Roncalli, Bulgaria in 1925

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Historical Background

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FG VATII_FINAL_TXT.indd 3 13/3/21 10:18 am Councils in the Church council is an occasional varied greatly over the centuries, recited at Mass on Sundays was gathering of church often in relation to disputed formulated and refined in the Arepresentatives, mainly theological issues that give rise to course of these early councils. A bishops, for the purpose of the councils within the historical close study of councils also reveals consultation and decision-making context of the time. often fiery and lengthy debate on important matters in the life Vatican II or the Second over controversial and contentious of the Church. The Catholic Vatican Council (1962-65) is issues. History also teaches us Church teaches that such designated the Twenty-First that councils often arouse great councils are convoked under the Ecumenical Council, the first interest and expectations. inspiration of the Holy Spirit in being Nicaea in 325. The early order to determine issues relating councils concentrated largely on to doctrine, discipline and the 'Christological' controversies, theological practice binding on all clarifying in a theological way believers. The form, style, length the unity of Christ's human and Below: Statue of Pope Pius IX in and structure of councils have divine natures. The Creed that is Basilica Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome

Did you know?

There have been twenty-one Ecumenical Councils in the history of the Church 1. Nicaea I 325 2. Constantinople I 381 3. Ephesus 431 4. Chalcedon 451 5. Constantinople II 553 6. Constantinople III 680 7. Nicaea II 787 8. Constantinople IV 869 9. Lateran I 1123 10. Lateran II 1139 11. Lateran III 1179 12. Lateran IV 1215 13. Lyons I sample 1245 14. Lyons II 1274 15. Vienne 1311 16. Constance 1414–18 17. Florence 1431–45 (also known as Basel-Ferrara-Florence- Rome) 18. Lateran V 1512–17 19. Trent 1545–63 20. Vatican I 1869–70 21. Vatican II 1962–65

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FG VATII_FINAL_TXT.indd 4 13/3/21 10:18 am Pope John XXIII—Early Years ngelo Giuseppe and he remained faithful on his experience in the light of Roncalli was born on in maintaining this journal Christian history and his ability to A25 November 1881 in throughout his life, including situate himself within the context the small village of Sotto il Monte during his relatively short papacy. of some of the burning theological in Bergamo, northern Italy. He Much in the journal is consistent questions of the day. was the fourth of eleven children with the images of him as pope Roncalli arrived in Rome early and the first son to his parents, – kind, benign, humble, open- in 1901 to complete his studies local tenant farmers. By all hearted and eager to do the will of for the priesthood. There was accounts, the young Angelo had an God by following the example of great intellectual and theological unremarkable upbringing. Later, the saints. On the surface, Journal ferment in Rome regarding the as pope, Roncalli would recall with of a Soul reflects the spirituality of use of the ‘historical-critical’ affection the relative poverty and the time through a young aspirant method of biblical studies which simplicity of his early years. His to the priesthood. Delving deeper, was used widely in Protestant primary education was in the local it details Roncalli’s resolutions circles but frowned upon by village school. Later, expressing a regarding prayer and fasting, Catholic authorities. Roncalli desire for the priesthood, Angelo going to confession, praying was surrounded by professors was sent to the minor seminary in the rosary, visits to the Blessed and fellow students who wanted Bergamo followed by studies in Sacrament, and examination of the Catholic Church to embrace Rome. conscience. However, the journal with vigour this critical study As a teenage seminarian, also reflects the intersection of theology and the bible. The Roncalli commenced what in Roncalli between spiritual Below: Birthplace of would become his great spiritual development and intellectual Pope John XXIII, Sotto il Monte, testament, Journal of a Soul, formation, his capacity to reflect Bergamo, Italy

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5 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

FG VATII_FINAL_TXT.indd 5 13/3/21 10:18 am ‘would-be’ historian expressed some cautious openness to these ideas and entries in Journal of a Soul reveal moments of deep spiritual and intellectual struggle: It will always be my principle, in all spheres of religious knowledge and in all theological and biblical questions, to find out first of all the traditional teaching of the Church, and on this basis to judge the findings of contemporary scholarship. I do not despise criticism and I shall be most careful not to think ill of critics or to treat them with disrespect. On the contrary, I love it. I shall be glad to keep up with the most recent findings, I shall study the new systems of thought and their continual evolution and their trends; criticism for me is light, is truth, and there is only one truth, which is sacred (A.G. Roncalli, Journal of a Soul, Geoffrey Chapman, London, 1964, p. 144.)

Here we see evidence of how Roncalli in his journey to the priesthood was shaped by some of the wider historical, theological and cultural shifts in Catholicism. Roncalli’s diary entry demonstrates his desire to remain faithful to the teaching of the Church while also responding to new historical circumstances. sampleAs the young seminarian was facing these critical theological issues, he probably did not realise that he was becoming a true historian; for Roncalli was interpreting change.

Top Left: Pope John XXIII (middle) as a young student at the Pontifical Roman Seminary with two friends of the same home-town of Bergamo, 1901 Left: Pope John XXIII when he was Monsignor Roncalli, Bulgaria in 1927

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FG VATII_FINAL_TXT.indd 6 13/3/21 10:18 am Published in Australia by Garratt Publishing 32 Glenvale Crescent Mulgrave, Vic. 3170

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