… and discovering a question from a seminarian:
In regards to Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, Gaudium et Spes, and Sacrosanctum Concilium, What is/are the most important common ideas? Why are they important? How do we know that they are important?
In a private reply, I mentioned their common sense of optimism, which seems a bit of a surprise, considering the backdrop of the early 60′s, and the shadow of nuclear armageddon.
Anybody have a better answer? I’m sure there must be other opinions on this.
4 March 2009 at 2:02 pm
I just found this post. I attended Vatican II’s first session as an assistant. The main theme of the Documents may be summed up as follows:
1. To all Catholics: “Grow Up” and become spiritual adults
2. The Church is a People and its authoritative culture needs to change so that the bishops and pope can recognize the faith of all the people (including their own)and lead the people to help make the world, e.g., its politics, econcomics, cultures, etc., more luminously human in the Spirit of Christ, in a now 21st century way.