Loyola Certificate

Re-exploring Vatican II

As part of our preparations for the Jubilee Year 2025, we were asked to re-visit Vatican II.

Formation
Sacraments
Vatican II
Year of prayer
Jubilee
Catholic Social Action
Care for Creation
Animate
The Irenaeus Project
Events

The second Vatican Council, or Vatican II was the most recent ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. It ran from 1962 to 1965, with the ambition of completing the unfinished task of Vatican I (1869-1870) and ecumenical outreach to the Modern World.

There were four constitutions – Sacronsanctum Concilium, Lumen Gentium, Dei Verbum and
Gaudiem et spes – and nine decrees: Inter mirifica, Orientalium Ecclesaiarum, Unitatis redintegratio,
Christus Dominus, Perfectae caritatis, Optatam totius, Apostpolicam actuositatem, Ad gentes and
Presbyterorum ordinis – and three declarations – Gravissimum Educationis, Nostra Aetate, Dignitatis
Humanae.

"The four Constitutions of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, together with the Magisterium of these recent decades, will continue to provide direction and guidance to God's holy people, so that it can press forward in it's mission of bringing the joyful proclamation of the Gospel to everyone." Pope Francis - 2024 Letter for Year of Prayer.

You can view these documents below.

Monsignor Peter Fleetwood, a priest of the Archdiocese of Liverpool currently based in Rome, has
authored a paper called The Year of Council: Sharing Faith in the Diocese of Westminster. We thank
the Diocese of Westminster for sharing this with us!

Pondering and Praying Vatican II

Archbishop John Wilson has released a book called Pondering and Praying Vatican II in February 2024.

The book acts as an introduction to Vatican II, explaining the basic concepts in an easy-to-understand way.

He launched the book in Liverpool, at Pauline Books and Media. You can buy the book below.

In 2023, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Liverpool, Liverpool Hope University organised a series of lectures and seminars, exploring the four Constitutions of Vatican II.

The dates and speakers were as follows:

  • Monday 25 October: Prof. Em. Reimund Bieringer (Dei Verbum)
  • Thursday 7 December: Paul McPartlan (Lumen Gentium)
  • Wednesday 17 January: Peter McGrail (Sacrosanctum Concilium)
  • Wednesday 28 February: Pat Jones (Gaudium et Spes)

You can view more about the lectures and speakers below.

The lectures and seminar details