What was the original reason for the Second Vatican Counsel?

Question

It was NOT to reform the Mass, but I can't remember right off the reason it was called originally.

Answer 1

Throughout the 1950s, Roman Catholic theological and biblical studies had begun to sway away from the neo-scholasticism and biblical literalism that the reaction to the Modernist heresy had enforced from after the First Vatican Council well into the 20th century. This liberalism sprang from theologians such as Yves Congar, Karl Rahner, and John Courtney Murray who looked to integrate modern human experience with Christian dogma, as well as others such as Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) and Henri de Lubac who looked to what they saw as a more accurate understanding of scripture and the early Church Fathers as a source of renewal.

Pope John XXIII, however, gave notice of his intention to convene the Council less than three months after his election in 1959. While he expressed his intentions in many messages over the next three years in formal detail, one of the best known images is of Pope John, when asked why the Council was needed, reportedly opening a window and saying, "I want to throw open the windows of the Church so that we can see out and the people can see in." He invited other Christian Churches to send observers to the Council. Acceptances came from both Protestant and Orthodox Churches. The Russian Orthodox Church, in fear of the Communist Soviet Government, accepted only when assured that the Council would be apolitical in nature.

Vatican II also produced the following documents to help in understanding the Church's role:

SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
The 16 Documents
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


1. Sacrosanctum concilium, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 1963.
English Latin

2. Inter Mirifica, Decree On the Means of Social Communication, 1963.
English Latin

3. Lumen Gentium, Dogmatic Constitution On the Church, 1964.
English Latin

4. Orientalium Ecclesiarum, Decree On the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite,1964.
English Latin

5. Unitatis Redintegratio, Decree on Ecumenism, 1964.
English Latin

6. Christus Dominus, Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops In the Church,
1965. English Latin

7. Perfectae Caritatis, Decree On Renewal of Religious Life, 1965.
English Latin

8. Optatam Totius, Decree On Priestly Training, 1965.
English Latin

9. Gravissimum Educationis, Declaration On Christian Education, 1965.
English Latin

10. Nostra Aetate, Declaration On the Relation Of the Church to Non-Christian
Religions, 1965. English Latin

11. Dei Verbum, Dogmatic Constitution On Divine Revelation, 1965.
English Latin

12. Apostolicam Actuositatem, Decree On the Apostolate of the Laity, 1965.
English Latin

13. Dignitatis Humanae, Declaration On Religious Freedom, 1965.
English Latin

14. Ad Gentes, Decree On the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965.
English Latin

15. Presbyterorum Ordinis, Decree On the Ministry and Life of Priests, 1965.
English Latin

16. Gaudium et Spes, Pastoral Constitution On the Church In the Modern World,1965.
English Latin

Answer 2

To bring the Church up to date, aggiornamento.
I think this was a mistake of the pope, saintly none the less.
It has to be the other way around the world should be updated on the Gospel.

To open the "windows of the Church" .
Well, one wonders where the smoke of Satan entered the Church as Paul VI said.
There's nothing wrong with the texts of the council themselves but some are quite vague, the result I don't have to state since you have probably seen the catastrophe yourself.
I pray God will rise up saints to lead us out of this mess.

Answer 3

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

It wasn't.

Just to prove that God has a sense of humor, our present Pope Benedict XVI, who, as Bishop Ratzinger, led and supported many of the various movements for radical change, now has to personally deal with all the consequences.

Good one, Lord! Hee-Haw!

Answer 4

TO FIGURE HOW MUCH MORE THEY COULD DECEIVE PEOPLE