What Happened at Vatican II
by John W. O'Malley
Our Price: $40.80
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $8.95 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions
Book Summary Information
Author: John W. O'MalleyEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-09-30
ISBN: 0674031695
Number of pages: 400
Publisher: Belknap Press of Harvard University Press
Book Reviews of What Happened at Vatican II
Book Review: What Happened at Vatican II.
Summary: 5 Stars
_What Happened at Vatican II_ (2008, Harvard) by John W. O'Malley is an interesting account of the developments that took place within the Catholic Church and Christianity as they occurred at the Second Vatican Council. The book considers the events of this council and the debates that followed showing contrasts between traditionalists, conservatives, and modernists, as well as the perspectives of the Eastern churches. The book explains many of the sweeping changes that were made as a result of this council and situates the council within its historical context. The book also explains the larger consequences of this council, including those for the Catholic church, but also those for all of Christianity and the relationship between the church and other religions as well as the modern world. The book relates this council through the pontificates of John XXIII and Paul VI as well as the repercussions of the council into the pontificate of John Paul II and our present-day under Benedict XVI. The Second Vatican Council considered many important issues for the church and many have come to see it as an attempt by the church to meet the modern world. Others have remained more skeptical of the large changes they maintain evolved out of it and came to embrace traditionalism. Still others on the extreme left have maintained that the council did not go far enough. As such, the issue of Vatican II remains an important one for all Catholics today and this book provides a useful understanding of the events of that council.
The book includes the following chapters -
Introduction - lays out the rationale for the council as it was convened by John XXIII on January 25, 1959. Explains the role of the council and some of the issues for the church taken up for the council. Explains some of the documents and encyclicals which resulted from the council such as those concerning the Eastern churches and the problematic issue of "religious liberty". Explains the role of modernity stretching back to the French Revolution and the conflict between the church and modernity.
Big Perspectives on a Big Meeting - starts from the election of Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as pope as explains how he came to convene the council. Situates the council within its historical context and explains the role of councils within the church as they relate to the role of the pope. Explains the issues of Aggiornamento, Ressourcement, and the development of doctrine. Relates the issues of "la nouvelle theologie" to Scholasticism.
The Long Nineteenth Century - explains the development of the church in the Nineteenth Century and the conflict with modernity and liberalism as it arose following the French Revolution. Considers the papacies of Gregory XVI and Pius IX and explains their conflicts with modernity and with such notions as "freedom of conscience". Explains the role of the theories of such individuals as Joseph de Maistre concerning the role of the papacy. Considers further the papacies of Leo XIII, Pius X, Pius XI, and Pius XII. Explains issues such as the relationship between the church and other religions, as well as the issue of Feeneyism. Notes the conflict over the works of Jacques Maritaine and the conflict that arose between Thomistic/Scholastic theology and Aristotelian philosophy and "novel theologies" that may embrace existentialism and historicism.
The Council Opens - considers the opening of the council, some of the issues initially taken up by the council, and the role of important personalities such as Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani, Cardinal Augustin Bea, Cardinal Ratzinger, and theologians such as Karl Rahner, Yves Congar, Edward Schillbeeckx, and Hans Kung. Considers the issues raised by evolutionism (Theilhard de Chardin) and the role of Eastern, Uniate, African, and Latin American churches. In particular, notes the important role that such figures as Maximos IV were to play in representing the Eastern churches.
The First Period (1962) : The Lines Are Drawn - considers issues taken up by the church including a discussion of the liturgy and the role of Latin (noting the conflict with the Eastern churches and the role of Maximos IV), the sources of revelation, and other issues.
The Second Period (1963) : A Majority Prevailing - explains the commission headed by Ottaviani and Bea, the death of John XXIII and the election of Paul VI, the continuation of the council, issues raised from ecumenism, the role of the Jews, and other issues.
The Third Period (1964) : Triumphs and Tribulations - the continuing role of the council, the role of such documents as Gaudium et Spes, the role of the church and the bishops, the issues of counciliarism, the role of the Jews and religious liberty (noting conflicts with traditionalists such as Marcel Lefebvre who was later to denounce the council), and the role of progress.
The Fourth Period (1965) : Bringing the Ship Into Port - explains such issues taken up by the council as the role of the church in the modern world; war, peace and the United Nations; missions, education, and non-Christian religious, and the final weeks of the council.
Conclusion - sums up the far-reaching results of the council and its importance as one of the major religious events of the Twentieth Century.
Some of the issues raised by the council include the issues of religious liberty, the role of the Eastern churches (particularly as they were articulated by Maximos IV), the role of modernism, the changing of the mass and the liturgy as well as changes made to other sacraments, the role of conciliarism, the primacy of the papacy, issues raised by other Christian denominations and other religions, and many further issues. Increasingly, individuals within the church came to embrace "the Spirit of Vatican II" and this was used to justify a liberalization of the church. These issues remain important ones for Catholics as we enter the Twenty-first Century.
--In light of the recent massive scandals coming out about the church and a press that is out for blood, it appears that some re-thinking of the schemes of Vatican II is necessary by the church in order to restore holiness and order.
Summary of What Happened at Vatican II
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.
(20080714)Catholicism Books
Book Subjects
- Arts & Photography
- Biographies & Memoirs
- Business & Investing
- Children's Books
- Comics & Graphic Novels
- Computers & Internet
- Cooking, Food & Wine
- Entertainment
- Gay & Lesbian
- Health, Mind & Body
- History
- Home & Garden
- Horror
- Law
- Literature & Fiction
- Mystery & Thrillers
- Nonfiction
- Outdoors & Nature
- Parenting & Families
- Professional & Technical
- Reference
- Religion & Spirituality
- Romance
- Science
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Sports
- Teens
- Travel
Most talked about in Catholicism Books
Bernadette of Lourdes: A Life Based on Authenticated Documentsby René Laurentin
Winston Press; Published: 1979; Paperback; Book
El catolicismoby Bob O'Gorman Ph.D., Mary Faulkner M.A., Bob O'Gorman, Mary Faulkner
Alpha; Published: 2001-10-18; Paperback; Book
Best price: $8.00
Price in other shops:
Love, Joy, Peaceby Mother Teresa
Zondervan; Published: 1998-09-07; Paperback; Book
Seeking God: The Way of St.Benedictby Esther de Waal
Fount; Published: 1984; Paperback; Book
Freedom to Rejoice: Understanding St. John of the Crossby Norbert Cummins
Harpercollins; Published: 1992-02; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.24
Achievement of John Henry Newmanby Ian Ker
T&T Clark Int'l; Published: 2001-01-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $27.01
Price in other shops:
Novena of Our Ladys Rosary:William J Hirten Company; Published: 1994-10; Paperback; Book
When in Romeby Robert Hutchinson
HarperCollins Publishers Ltd; Published: 2000; Paperback; Book
Hitler's Popeby John Cornwell
Penguin MD; Published: 2000-10-26; Paperback; Book
Best price: $24.87
God's Choice: Pope Benedict XVI and the Future of the Catholic Churchby George Weigel
Harper Perennial; Published: 2006-11-07; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.75
Price in other shops:
Similar Books and other products
What Happened at Vatican IIby John W. O'Malley S. J.
Spring Arbor/Ingram; Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; Published: 2010-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.11
Price in other shops:
Vatican II: Did Anything Happen?by John W. O'Malley, Joseph A. Komonchak, Stephen Schloesser, Neil J. Ormerod
Continuum; Published: 2007-11-15; Paperback; Book
Best price: $13.41
Price in other shops:
Vatican Council II, Vol. 1: The Conciliar and Postconciliar Documentsby Austin Flannery
Costello Pub Co; Published: 1975-12-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $26.95
The Roman Empire: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)by Christopher Kelly
Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2006-09-14; Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.56
Price in other shops:
Divided by Faith: Religious Conflict and the Practice of Toleration in Early Modern Europeby Benjamin J. Kaplan
Belknap Press of Harvard University Press; Published: 2010-03-30; Paperback; Book
Best price: $15.37
Price in other shops:
The Protestant Reformationby Lewis William Spitz
Concordia Publishing House; Published: 1997-09-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $21.79
Price in other shops:
The Early Church (The Penguin History of the Church) (v. 1)by Henry Chadwick
Penguin; Published: 1993-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $9.05
Price in other shops:
Vatican Council II: Constitutions, Decrees, Declarations (Vatican Council II) (Vatican Council II)by Austin Flannery
Spring Arbor/Ingram; Costello Pub Co; Published: 1996-10-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $14.02
Price in other shops:
Theological Highlights of Vatican IIby Benedict, Pope Benedict XVI
Paulist Press; Published: 2009-03-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.39
Price in other shops:
The Catholic Church Through The Ages: A Historyby John Vidmar
Paulist Pr; Published: 2005-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.47
Price in other shops: