Pope Francis has described the Second Vatican Council as “a beautiful work of the Holy Spirit” and said “stubborn” Catholics should not resist the Spirit as it pushes the Church forward. “We want to put the Holy Spirit to sleep,” the Pontiff said. “We want to ‘tame’ the Holy Spirit. And that doesn’t work, because Read more
The documentation on Vatican Council II was enriched a few days ago with a new text never published before. And of noteworthy value. It is made up of certain portions of the diary of Cardinal Roberto Tucci (in the photo), at the time the director of “La Civilta Cattolica.” And it was precisely this magazine Read more
The future Blessed Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli’s vision stretched far, very far. Vatican II had to return to its evangelical roots and get rid of the shell that had built up around it over the centuries, driving it further and further away from its Master. “There will never be a Pius XIII”: to Read more
Fifty years ago, on October 11, 1962, Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council. There were number of fearful and vocal bishops at the first session of the Second Vatican Council says Christchurch priest, Father John O’Connor, “but they were were overwhelmed by voices of hope.” And, he says, “among those harbingers of hope Read more
As my recently deceased spiritual guide, Peter Steele, would never tire of saying: ‘There are only two conditions in the spiritual life — you’re either growing or you’re dying.’ What makes for spiritual growth? In my childhood and adolescence, it was all about going to Sunday Mass, confessing your sins once a month at least, going Read more
Pope Benedict XVI marked the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council on Thursday with a Mass and the re-enactment of the great procession into St. Peter’s Square that launched the council in 1962. A report by the Associated Press said the anniversary comes as the church is fighting what it sees as a wave Read more
Catholics have been arguing about the Second Vatican Council—about what it did and didn’t do, about what it meant and still means or what it never meant and could never mean—for half a century. Many reform-minded Catholics today are disappointed by what they see as a retreat, under the papacies of John Paul II and Read more
The Vatican II council, which began 50 years ago next month, was the most momentous religious event in 450 years. On January 25, 1959, the newly elected Pope John XXIII invited 18 cardinals from the Vatican bureaucracy to attend a service at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome. He told them Read more
The teachings of the Second Vatican Council have emerged as the main obstacle to reconciliation between the Society of St Pius X and the Holy See. Three conditions for SSPX reconciliation with Rome have been revealed in a letter from its secretary-general, Father Christian Thouvenot, to regional superiors. Part of the first condition is “The Read more
In this fiftieth anniversary year of the opening of Vatican II, a number of interviews on Eureka Street TV have featured critical reflections from prominent Catholic thinkers and activists on various aspects of the Council. This interview is with journalist, author and broadcaster, Clifford Longley, who is one of the UK’s leading lay Catholics. He was invited Read more