Day by Day

Bearing the logo of the Catholic News Service is a blog entitled, “Vatican II: 50 years ago today.” It describes itself as a “step back in time to the daily activities of the Second Vatican Council.” Anyone interested in learning—or recalling—how the Council proceeded may do so there.

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Wiki-image of original artwork by Franklin McMahon used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Looking Forward from 1966

Jesuit Karl Rahner, a key theologian of the 20^th Century, was at the Second Vatican Council. After it concluded he offered thoughts on its implementation. U.S. Catholic reposted his thoughts as part of its anniversary coverage of the Council.

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Image of view from Big Bend in Warren County, PA, by Paul Panaretos, S.J.

Document on Revelation Turns 50

Dei verbum [Word of God] are the first words of the Second Vatican Council’s document on revelation. Jesuit James Corkery notes:

But for the personal intervention of Pope John XXIII, our understanding of revelation might still be that promulgated by the First Vatican Council (1869-1870). So how did Vatican II change the way we think about revelation?

Read his answer and more on the “character of revelation” and how it “flavoured the entire Council.”

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Wiki-image by Distant Shores Media/Sweet Publishing of illustration for Genesis 1 used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

From a Distance

Jesuit Oliver Rafferty wonders about the effects of the Second Vatican Council. Fr. Rafferty asked:

“What were the implications for the council of contemporary global events, and where are we now in relation to Vatican II?”

His contribution to the Council’s anniversary is at ThinkingFaith.

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Wiki-image by Ned Trifle of Church of St Joseph used by CC BY-SA 2.0.

“Profoundly Edifying”

In declaring how the Catholic Church was related to other religions, Nostrae Aetate of the Second Vatican Council noted “other religions found everywhere try to counter the restlessness of the human heart, each in its own manner, by proposing ‘ways,’ comprising teachings, rules of life, and sacred rites” [article 2]. The declaration had just mentioned by name Hinduism and Buddhism. Christians in Asia live in close contact with both religions.

Early in its history of the Society of Jesus met people of other religions. In our time Pope John Paul II more than once re-invited the Jesuits to the “deeper study of the relations with non-Christian religions, and the dialogue of the Church with cultures.” Recently,  in Japan Jesuits considered links between their founder, St. Ignatius of Loyola, and the Buddha. This inter-religious event was “profoundly edifying.”

A summary of it at the Province Express includes the beginning of one Jesuit’s reflection of a Buddhist retreat in Thailand and links to the rest of his reflection.

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Wiki-image of Buddhist flag used by CC 0 1.0.

Venerable John XXIII

October 11 is also the Memorial of the pope who convoked the Second Vatican Council 50 years ago on this date. From 1931 the date celebrated the Maternity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After the Council it continues to be remembered on January 1, the Solemnity Mary Mother, of God. Reading Pope John’s address at the opening of the council is a good way to mark the anniversary.

“A Splendid Day”

Pope Benedict used that phrase in the opening sentence of his preface to a collection of his earlier writings. The day was 50 years ago today, when the Second Vatican Council opened in Rome. Read his preface at the Vatican Radio site.

Jesuit Damian Howard wrote for ThinkingFaith about the Year of Faith. It commences on this golden anniversary of the Council. He recalls that the year is “dedicated to a renewal of the Church’s joy and enthusiasm for the encounter with her Lord.”

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Wiki-image of the Council opening is in the public domain.

Looking Back To Move Forward

Many bishops and their experts at the Second Vatican Council fifty years ago kept journals during it. Of the bishops who participated in the Council sixty-nine are alive. A dozen of them will participate in the upcoming Synod of Bishops. At a three-day conference Jesuit Gerald Fogarty will review journals and other archival material. Listen to part one of an interview with Fr. Fogarty.

Related to the Council: Reuters reports that the Council is a non-negotiable for both the Vatican and the break-away Society of Saint Pius X [SSPX].

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Wiki-image by Lothar Wolleh of scene from the Council used by CC BY-SA 3.0.

Former Papal Secretary

Some see youth and are blinded to its future. A combination of youth and “sickly” appearance caused one advisor to express skepticism to Cardinal Angelo G. Roncalli: the job of secretary to the patriarch of Venice would be to much for the 37-year-old priest.

“Then he'll die as my secretary,” replied the future pope, now known as Blessed John XXIII.

Archbishop Capovilla is 96 now and a storehouse of numerous stories of the blessed pope and more. “The archbishop was privy to some of the pope’s first remarks, only a few days after his election in 1958, about what would become the Second Vatican Council.” 

Read this week’s CNS “Vatican Letter.”

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Wiki-image by Robert Prummel of Capovilla Coat of Arms used by CC BY-SA 2.5.