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The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection: Constitutions
The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), a gathering of Catholic bishops from around the world, was one of the most significant cultural and ecclesiastical events of the twentieth century. Though practically everyone acknowledges its importance, Catholics have been debating its precise meaning and application for the past sixty years. On the one hand are “radical traditionalists” who claim that Vatican II has betrayed authentic Catholicism and produced disastrous consequences in the life of the Church; on the other, “progressives” who saw the council documents as a first step in the direction of a more radical reform of the Church, perpetuating the “spirit” of Vatican II.
But even as many voices have argued about the council since the documents appeared in the mid-1960s, the documents of Vatican II are still widely unread, and if they are read, often misunderstood. This groundbreaking new book from Word on Fire is designed to address that problem.
The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection features the four central documents that most fully articulate the vision of the council—Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, Sacrosanctum Concilium, and Gaudium et Spes—with illuminating commentary from the postconciliar popes and Bishop Robert Barron interspersed throughout, along with beautifully carved linocut art. The collection also includes the opening address of Pope St. John XXIII, the closing address of Pope St. Paul VI, a foreword from Bishop Barron, an afterword from theologian Matthew Levering, and helpful appendices listing key terms and figures and answering frequently asked questions. The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection is a robust but readable journey into the true history and purpose of the Second Vatican Council, and a compelling call for an enthusiastic return to its texts today.
But even as many voices have argued about the council since the documents appeared in the mid-1960s, the documents of Vatican II are still widely unread, and if they are read, often misunderstood. This groundbreaking new book from Word on Fire is designed to address that problem.
The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection features the four central documents that most fully articulate the vision of the council—Dei Verbum, Lumen Gentium, Sacrosanctum Concilium, and Gaudium et Spes—with illuminating commentary from the postconciliar popes and Bishop Robert Barron interspersed throughout, along with beautifully carved linocut art. The collection also includes the opening address of Pope St. John XXIII, the closing address of Pope St. Paul VI, a foreword from Bishop Barron, an afterword from theologian Matthew Levering, and helpful appendices listing key terms and figures and answering frequently asked questions. The Word on Fire Vatican II Collection is a robust but readable journey into the true history and purpose of the Second Vatican Council, and a compelling call for an enthusiastic return to its texts today.
392 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2021
45 people are currently reading
138 people want to read
About the author
Pope Paul VI
264 books32 followersPope Paul VI (Latin: Paulus VI; Italian: Paolo VI), born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini (26 September 1897 – 6 August 1978), reigned as Pope from 21 June 1963 to his death in 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, he continued the Second Vatican Council which he closed in 1965, implementing its numerous reforms, and fostered improved ecumenical relations with Eastern Orthodox and Protestants, which resulted in many historic meetings and agreements. Montini served in the Vatican's Secretariat of State from 1922 to 1954. While in the Secretariat of State, Montini and Domenico Tardini were considered as the closest and most influential colleagues of Pope Pius XII, who in 1954 named him Archbishop of Milan, the largest Italian diocese. Montini automatically became the Secretary of the Italian Bishops Conference. John XXIII elevated him to the College of Cardinals in 1958, and after the death of John XXIII, Montini was considered one of his most likely successors.
Upon his election to the papacy, Montini took the pontifical name Paul VI (the first to take the name "Paul" since 1605) to indicate a renewed worldwide mission to spread the message of Christ, following the example of Apostle St. Paul.[citation needed] He re-convened the Second Vatican Council, which was automatically closed with the death of John XXIII, and gave it priority and direction. After the council had concluded its work, Paul VI took charge of the interpretation and implementation of its mandates, often walking a thin line between the conflicting expectations of various groups within Catholicism. The magnitude and depth of the reforms affecting all fields of Church life during his pontificate exceeded similar reform policies of his predecessors and successors. Paul VI was a Marian devotee, speaking repeatedly to Marian congresses and mariological meetings, visiting Marian shrines and issuing three Marian encyclicals. Following his famous predecessor Saint Ambrose of Milan, he named Mary as the Mother of the Church during the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI sought dialogue with the world, with other Christians, other religions, and atheists, excluding nobody. He saw himself as a humble servant for a suffering humanity and demanded significant changes of the rich in North America and Europe in favour of the poor in the Third World. His positions on birth control, promulgated most famously in the 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae, and other political issues, were often controversial, especially in Western Europe and North America.
Pope Benedict XVI declared that the late pontiff lived a life of heroic virtue and conferred the title of Venerable upon him. Pope Francis beatified him on 19 October 2014 after the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession. His liturgical feast is celebrated on the date of his birth on 26 September.
Upon his election to the papacy, Montini took the pontifical name Paul VI (the first to take the name "Paul" since 1605) to indicate a renewed worldwide mission to spread the message of Christ, following the example of Apostle St. Paul.[citation needed] He re-convened the Second Vatican Council, which was automatically closed with the death of John XXIII, and gave it priority and direction. After the council had concluded its work, Paul VI took charge of the interpretation and implementation of its mandates, often walking a thin line between the conflicting expectations of various groups within Catholicism. The magnitude and depth of the reforms affecting all fields of Church life during his pontificate exceeded similar reform policies of his predecessors and successors. Paul VI was a Marian devotee, speaking repeatedly to Marian congresses and mariological meetings, visiting Marian shrines and issuing three Marian encyclicals. Following his famous predecessor Saint Ambrose of Milan, he named Mary as the Mother of the Church during the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI sought dialogue with the world, with other Christians, other religions, and atheists, excluding nobody. He saw himself as a humble servant for a suffering humanity and demanded significant changes of the rich in North America and Europe in favour of the poor in the Third World. His positions on birth control, promulgated most famously in the 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae, and other political issues, were often controversial, especially in Western Europe and North America.
Pope Benedict XVI declared that the late pontiff lived a life of heroic virtue and conferred the title of Venerable upon him. Pope Francis beatified him on 19 October 2014 after the recognition of a miracle attributed to his intercession. His liturgical feast is celebrated on the date of his birth on 26 September.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 12, 2025
Essential reading!
July 3, 2021
This was helpful to read and very interesting. After reading these documents I am now more confused as to how things “went south” after Vatican 2 because the documents seems clear, reverent, and beautiful to me. Need to do more research to understand.
August 4, 2023
I really enjoyed delving into the actual documents of Vatican II. The writing is beautiful and shares some really profound truth. I think a lot of Catholics think they know what Vatican II was about, but I would encourage you to dig into the source documents. I also enjoyed the commentary by Bishop Barron and our last three popes. This helped a lot!
April 19, 2023
Every person on the planet who has heard the words “Vatican 2” needs to read this book.
March 13, 2024
If you're planning to read the Vatican II documents, this is the way to do it! With commentary from Bishop Barron and excerpts from other post-Vatican II encyclicals, it offers a comprehensive and understandable guide to several of the collected documents.
This collection includes four Vatican II documents, which I've summarized in detail elsewhere:
Dei Verbum
Lumen Gentium
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Gaudium et Spes
This collection includes four Vatican II documents, which I've summarized in detail elsewhere:
Dei Verbum
Lumen Gentium
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Gaudium et Spes
January 31, 2023
An initial primer read of the big 4 docs. DEI VERBUM . LUMEN GENTIUM . SACROSCANTUM CONCILIUM. GAUDIUM ET SPES... Afterword was short & felt a little disjointed but very interesting. Annnddd the FAQs at the back of the book we’re very good & should be read to anyone with a modicum of interest/confusion on V2…Fulton Sheen unexpectedly makes an excellent appearance. I’m left wanting to look further/fully into what Barron meant in his intro that GS is open to greater debate. And of course I will need to reread this book & the other minor docs that came out of V2. But overall another excellent job by WOF, Levering, Barron, & the Holy Spirit.
July 22, 2023
This book contains the four main constitutional documents from Vatican, along with nicely inserted quotes from popes John Paul II, Benedict and Francis, along with some commentary of Bishop Barron. At the end, there are cultural context points addressed, and frequently asked questions about things that have come out of Vatican II. I personally found the book to be very helpful and grounding. I hope to read and study more along this line and this book was a worthwhile read for me because I don’t feel like I understand well enough what was factually established in Vatican II versus what has been claimed to have been established.
August 4, 2023
A beautiful collection of the 4 primary documents of Vatican II. I love how this collection also includes writings by post-Vatican II Popes and Bishop Barron on various topics addressed in the documents. The Afterward is worth a read as it gives a synopsis if the documents and provides historical references for what led up to Vatican II and what has occurred in the decades following. This definitely is a great collection for Catholics to own and read over to grow and understand more about our Church and Faith!
August 3, 2025
It is a little inappropriate to write a book review of an Ecumenical Council. All Catholics should read these documents. For me some were more impactful than others, yet all of them give Catholics a blueprint for how to confront modernity. **spoilers** theological liberalism is not the answer, neither is a regressive traditionalism. I will probably write more about this in a more appropriate space, but as it stands, these documents are incredible and you should read them.
April 22, 2024
The Word On Fire publications are some of the best books I own. They are gorgeous, and filled with amazing commentary, photos, and more. I love this book, and the content itself is, well, its reputation precedes it for a reason.
March 5, 2025
Pretty much confirmed my thinking that it wasn't so much the council but our 'interpretation' that has made the church today struggle. Was easier to read than I expected except the typeset is a little small for my old eyes. On to the second book in this series.
June 10, 2023
Finally got around to reading the constitutions of it council, glad I did.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews