Vatican II 1959-1965

This brief timeline describes the procedure for the preparation proceedings leading up to and through phase for the Council the four working sessions of the 06 Jun 10 preparatory commissions are Council established, under the guidance of the Central Preparatory Commission (CPC) headed by the 1959 Pope himself

25 Jan Papal allocution by Pope John XXIII 09 Jul Quaestiones based on the “Final announcing his intention to Synthesis” are sent to preparatory conduct an Ecumenical Council commission chairmen to guide subsequent work 17 May Pre-preparatory phase begins with the formation of the 1961 Antepreparatory Commission (APC), headed by Vatican Secretary Jul CPC convenes for the first time to of State, Cardinal Tardini review the proposed documents, or schemata, submitted by the 30 Jun Cardinal Tardini, under instruction preparatory commissions by Pope John, issues a letter to the worldwide episcopate and 25 Dec Pope John formally summons the Catholic universities inviting Council in the Apostolic suggestions for the agenda of the Constitution Humanae salutis Council 1962 1960 02 Jan CPC sends 2856 invitations to Apr From September of the previous eligible participants of the Council: year responses, or vota, are 85 cardinals, 8 patriarchs, 533 submitted by the bishops and archbishops, 2131 bishops, 26 institutes of learning. Of 2812 abbots, and 68 religious superiors individuals and groups consulted, 1998 bishops and 51 universities 27 Jan CPC amendment sub-commission is reply set up to review the re-submitted schemata of the preparatory 12 Mar The vota at this time tallied to 9438 commissions proposals; covering more than 2000 thematic subjects. This is 02 Feb The opening date for the Council is summarized by the APC into an 18 announced. Until the Council opens page “Final Synthesis” in the fall, the CPC would have received 75 schemata and, through 05 Jun Pope John issues motu proprio their work, reduced the number to Superno Dei nutu outlining the 22

1 Vatican II 1959-1965

1 Jul Pope John calls the Church to 22 Oct Debate begins on liturgical reform. penance and spiritual preparation It is decided on 19 Nov to carry for the Council in his encyclical over the work into the next session Paenitentiam agere 14 Nov Debate begins on the sources of 13 Jul Pope John authorizes sending 7 revelation. Doctrinal differences schemata to the participating emerge. Pope John adjusts voting bishops for review: on the liturgy; procedure and creates a mixed on Christian unity; on social commission of the Doctrinal communication; on the sources of Commission & Secretariat for revelation; on preserving the Christian Unity to redraft the deposit of faith; on Christian moral schema order; and on chastity, virginity, marriage, and the family 23 Nov Debate begins on the schemata for 05 Sep Norms and procedures for the social communication and Christian Council are laid out by the unity. The eagerly anticipated Apostolic Constitution schema on the Church is distributed Appropinquante concilio 26 Nov After three days of deliberations, 11 Oct Arriving in Rome are bishops from the schema on social 116 countries representing the communication is approved, continents of Europe (1041), North pending re-editing & South America (956), Africa (379), Asia (256) & Oceania (70). 06 Dec Pope John creates a Coordinating More than 500 are unable to attend Commission to oversee the due to travel restrictions. Pope continuation of the work by the John solemnly opens the Second commissions during the recess. Vatican Council with his allocution Headed by Secretary of State Gaudet mater ecclesia. Cardinal Cicognani, this commission comprises Cardinals 13 Oct First session commences; Council Confalonieri, Döpfner, Liénart, Fathers call for more time to re- Spellman, Suenens, and Urbani elect members to conciliar commissions 08 Dec First session closes; the Council adjourns 16 Oct Election of the 10 conciliar commissions, or working groups 1963

20 Oct The Council issues the ‘Message to 03 Jun Pope John XXIII dies the World’ signaling its intent to demonstrate the Church’s 17 Jun Conclave opens to appoint Pope solidarity with humanity and its John’s successor attention on the major problems of the modern world

2 Vatican II 1959-1965

21 Jun Cardinal Montini is elected and, as 18 Sep The schema on the Bishops is Pope Paul VI, announces the debated and sent back to the continuation of the Council commission on 22 Sep

29 Sep Second session commences. Press 23 Sep Debate begins on the schema for secrecy is lifted on public sessions religious liberty

15 Oct After intense debate on the schema 25 Sep Debate begins on the schema on the on the Church, Cardinal Suenens Church’s relationship with the Jews proposes a vote on the main disputed doctrinal points, which is 30 Sep The Council reviews the reworked accepted by the Presidents on 23 schema on divine revelation. On 6 Oct, approved by Pope Paul, and Oct it is decided to defer the vote taken on 30 Oct. on it to the following year

08 Nov The Holy Office comes under 05 Oct Debate on the schema on criticism in the aula for appealing ecumenism begins. Despite wide to the Pope to overturn the 30 Oct agreement, it remains buried under vote. The gap between the Council’s numerous requests for amendment minority and majority widens and is sent back to the commission

04 Dec Issued: 06 Oct The schema for the Apostolate of (Constitution on the Liturgy the Laity is presented and found 2147/4); (Decree on unsatisfactory. It is returned to the the means of Social Communication commission 1960/164). Second session closes; the Council adjourns 14 Oct Both schemata on the life and ministry of priests and on the 1964 Eastern Churches is presented, found inadequate, and sent back to 04 Jan Pope Paul VI meets Patriarch the commission for revision Athenagoras in the Holy Land 20 Oct Schema XIII, on the Church in the 17 May Secretariat for Non-Christian world, is presented to the Council Religions is established 6 Nov The Council reviews the schema on 14 Sep Third session commences with missionary activity. It is found Paul VI concelebrating Mass with unsatisfactory and returned to the 24 Fathers. Representatives from commission after three days the Orthodox Churches are present among the observers 10 Nov The schema on the renewal of religious life is presented, judged 16 Sep A reworked schema on the Church unsatisfactory and returned to the is debated, attention focuses on the commission doctrine of episcopal collegiality

3 Vatican II 1959-1965

14 Nov The “Black Week”: a strong sense of concerning family life is reserved to the dampening of the Council’s the Pope progress is felt. The bishops of the DC issue the Nota praevia to the 28 Oct Issued: (Decree schema on the Church Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church 2319/1); 17 Nov The schema on Christian education (Decree on fails to gain the Council’s approval, Renewal of Religious Life 2325/1); and is returned after two days (Decree on Priestly Training 2318/3); Gravissimum 19 Nov Cardinal Tisserant announces a educationis (Declaration on deferment on the vote on the Christian Education 2290/35); schema on religious freedom (Declaration on the Relations of the Church to Non- 21 Nov Issued: (Dogmatic Christian Religions 2221/88) Constitution on the Church 2151/5); Orientalium ecclesiarium 18 Nov Issued: (Dogmatic (Decree on the Catholic Churches of Constitution on Divine Revelation the Eastern Rite 2110/39); Unitatis 2344/6); redintegratio (Decree on (Decree on the Apostolate of the Ecumenism 2137/11). Third Laity 2340/2) session closes; the Council adjourns 04 Dec Prayer service promoting Christian 1965 unity is held at St. Paul Outside the Walls 7 Mar The Secretariat for Nonbelievers is established, under the leadership of 07 Dec Issued: Cardinal König (Declaration on Religious Freedom 2308/70); divinitus 14 Sep Fourth session commences (Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church 2394/5); 15 Sep Pope Paul VI issues apostolic (Decree on constitution Apostolica sollicitudo, the Ministry and Life of Priests formulating norms for a new 2390/4); (Pastoral episcopal synod to be established Constitution on the Church in the to assist the pope in governing the Modern World 2290/35). The sees Catholic Church. The schema on of Rome and Istanbul nullify the religious freedom reappears for mutual excommunications on one discussion another declared in 1054

21 Sep Schema XIII, reworked by 7 08 Dec The is different groups, is debated until solemnly ended 06 Oct, reviewed again on 17 Nov and approved on 6 Dec. Elaborations on doctrine

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