History The death of John Paul II and the election of Benedict XVI constituted two important elements in the landscape of Catholicism, nourishing the journalistic and political dispute about the history and legacy of Vatican II. This book offers an attempt to go beyond "the clash of interpretations"-Vatican II as a rupture in the history of Catholicism on one side, and the need to read Vatican II in continuity with the tradition on the other-necessary indeed because the ongoing debate about Vatican II is largely misrepresented by the use of "clashing interpretations" as a tool for understanding the role of the council in present-day Catholicism. Book jacket.

Quarant'anni fa, con il Concilio Vaticano la Chiesa Cattolica ha realizzato una svolta di straordinaria importanza, assumendo consapevolezza della storia in cui vive e dandosi con entusiasmo orientamenti che le schiudevano nuove strade per proseguire il suo cammino. Fu un periodo di fioritura eccezionale, di promesse e di sogni, che Giovanni XXIII descrisse con le immagini di "primavera" e "nuova Pentecoste". Tuttavia, nelle mutate condizioni storico-culturali dei decenni successivi al Concilio, la scelta di rinnovamento non sembrò produrre gli effetti sperati: l'entusiasmo iniziale si trasformò in perplessità e l'opposizione al Concilio, fino ad allora marginale, riuscì ad organizzarsi e farsi sentire. Gilles Routhier ha raccolto in questo volume le sue riflessioni sul Vaticano Il, tenendo presenti l'interesse attuale verso il Concilio, la proposta di Giovanni Paolo Il di farne la bussola per orientare la Chiesa nel prossimo secolo e quella di Benedetto XVI, che invita a un'interpretazione della riforma e del rinnovamento proposti dai testi conciliari.

The Oxford Handbook of Vatican II is a rich source of information and reflections on many aspects of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), one of the most significant religious events of the twentieth century. The chapters introduce readers to the historical context and outstanding features of the conciliar event, and its principal teachings on Scripture and Tradition, the church, liturgy, religious liberty, ecumenism, interreligious dialogue, church-world relations, and mission. Consideration is given to some neglected aspects of the council, including: the forgotten papal speeches that lay out its fundamental orientation and ought to guide its interpretation; the presence and contributions of women; and the non-reception of the council among Catholic traditionalists. Ecumenical scholars reflect on the significance of Vatican II for the life of other Christian churches and the search for Christian unity; others examine Catholic dialogue with other religious traditions. Surveying the diverse receptions of the council in the perspective of a world church, chapters focusing on Asia, Africa, Latin America, North America, Oceania, and Europe reflect on the interpretation and influence of the council and its teaching on the life of the church in diverse cultural contexts. This Handbook will serve as a valuable guide to one of the most important events and bodies of Catholic teaching since the Protestant Reformation and the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, to the interpretation of the council's teaching, and to its continuing role in guiding the life of the church in the twenty-first century. .

Une étude savante complète de l'histoire, de la réception et de l'impact de Vatican II au Canada. A thorough scholarly examination of the history, reception and impact of Vatican II in Canada.

During four years in session, Vatican Council II held television audiences rapt with its elegant, magnificently choreographed public ceremonies, while its debates generated front-page news on a near-weekly basis. By virtually any assessment, it was the most important religious event of the twentieth century, with repercussions that reached far beyond the Catholic church. Remarkably enough, this is the first book, solidly based on official documentation, to give a brief, readable account of the council from the moment Pope John XXIII announced it on January 25, 1959, until its conclusion on December 8, 1965; and to locate the issues that emerge in this narrative in their contexts, large and small, historical and theological, thereby providing keys for grasping what the council hoped to accomplish. What Happened at Vatican II captures the drama of the council, depicting the colorful characters involved and their clashes with one another. The book also offers a new set of interpretive categories for understanding the council’s dynamics—categories that move beyond the tired “progressive” and “conservative” labels. As we approach the fiftieth anniversary of the calling of the council, this work reveals in a new way the spirit of Vatican II. A reliable, even-handed introduction to the council, the book is a critical resource for understanding the Catholic church today, including the pontificate of Benedict XVI.