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Rediscovering Vatican II
Liturgy: Sacrosanctum Concilium
Liturgy was the first and most significant subject taken up by the Second Vatican Council. The Council produced a document on the liturgy, The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, that would give shape to Catholic worship for years to come. By calling for the revision of all the rites according to the principles set forth in The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, the Council set in motion the most comprehensive liturgical reform in Catholic history. This new book explains and puts into context the background of the new translation of the Mass, only now approved by the American bishops. It presents a useful schema of the contents of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy by identifying seven essential themes of the document. No book in recent years has selected these themes or presented them with such clarity. It evaluates critically the "reform of the reform" movement, and other groups that currently propose a radical revision of the church's liturgy. It links the theoretical to the practical by asking concrete, pastoral questions about where the church stands today with respect to all of the key elements of the Constitution, making the book especially useful for pastoral practitioners. It offers a positive evaluation of the reform overall, while clearly focusing on the question of ongoing renewal. Finally, the unique annotated bibliography for further reading will appeal to a diverse readership by offering a stimulating variety of subjects, writing styles, and perspectives on the issues.
- GenresTheology
146 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 17, 2025
3.5 stars.
I learned quite a lot about the reform of the liturgy during Vatican II, and in impressive detail. It was also entertaining to read.
However, some of the author's rants or subtle implications against more traditional Catholics, even ones who simply don't wish to receive the Eucharist from a female layperson - "The absence of the Eucharistic prayer did not make much of an impression, as long as people got communion! There was a hue and cry about suppressing communion services, largely because laypeople... including women... were leading them, but at the same time an opportunity was missed" (105) - were sometimes annoying, sometimes downright objectionable, and sometimes a little catty.
With all that being said, this is still a good resource - particularly if you want to learn just how much the Mass changed after Vatican II!
I learned quite a lot about the reform of the liturgy during Vatican II, and in impressive detail. It was also entertaining to read.
However, some of the author's rants or subtle implications against more traditional Catholics, even ones who simply don't wish to receive the Eucharist from a female layperson - "The absence of the Eucharistic prayer did not make much of an impression, as long as people got communion! There was a hue and cry about suppressing communion services, largely because laypeople... including women... were leading them, but at the same time an opportunity was missed" (105) - were sometimes annoying, sometimes downright objectionable, and sometimes a little catty.
With all that being said, this is still a good resource - particularly if you want to learn just how much the Mass changed after Vatican II!
October 13, 2013
Good research on the background behind the liturgical reform of Vatican II.
December 15, 2020
Really good and clear book on how liturgy has changed over the years, especially since Vatican II.
April 2, 2015
*To Be Clear I am reviewing from the Vatican Webpage rendition of the Document*
It has been said that some documents from the Second Vatican Council are more vague and general than others. I agree, and sadly I can see that here in this document, there are times when I read this document I think it is something that directly argues for things that Traditionalists in the Church would support (i.e. Gregorian Chant, Organ, Polyphony), but then there are times I read this document and I can't help but think that the more Progressive types in the Church would support (i.e. Changing the Calendar, gutting things entirely), so as I read this while on the whole I think this document can be reconciled with Tradition, there are some parts that ought to be more definitive because such vagaries have yielded some bad fruits 50+ Years Later. I get the sense that there was compromises made in creating this document.
It has been said that some documents from the Second Vatican Council are more vague and general than others. I agree, and sadly I can see that here in this document, there are times when I read this document I think it is something that directly argues for things that Traditionalists in the Church would support (i.e. Gregorian Chant, Organ, Polyphony), but then there are times I read this document and I can't help but think that the more Progressive types in the Church would support (i.e. Changing the Calendar, gutting things entirely), so as I read this while on the whole I think this document can be reconciled with Tradition, there are some parts that ought to be more definitive because such vagaries have yielded some bad fruits 50+ Years Later. I get the sense that there was compromises made in creating this document.
November 8, 2012
this will help me to find what i need
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews