The Church in the Making: Lumen Gentium, Christus Dominus, Orientalium Ecclesiarum

Rediscovering Vatican II

by Richard R. Gaillardetz

Despite the great changes that Vatican II brought to the Church, few people grasp the council's teachings, or are aware of the debates that have taken place in the past four decades regarding the council's authentic reception and implementation To respond to this pressing pastoral reality, distinguished theologian and professor Richard R. Gaillardetz focuses on three of the council's 1) The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), 2) The Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church (Christus Dominus), and 3) The Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches (Orientalium Ecclesiarum). In clear and accessible terms, the author outlines the history of these documents, and presents their central themes. This is followed by comprehensive and balanced analysis of how these texts have been implemented in the church. He concludes with some of his own proposals for furthering the vision of the Second Vatican Council. †

Genres: Theology

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2006

About the author

Richard R. Gaillardetz, Ph.D. (Theology, University of Notre Dame, 1991; M.A., Systematic Theology, Notre Dame, 1990; M.A., Biblical Theology, St. Mary’s University, 1984; B.A., Humanities, University of Texas, Austin, 1981) is the Joseph Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology and Chair of the Theology Department in the Morrissey College of Arts and Sciences at Boston College. Previously, he was Margaret and Thomas Murray and James J. Bacik Professor Catholic Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Toledo (Ohio), and he has held multiple posts with the Catholic Theological Society of America, including President 2013–14. In 2018 he received the Yves Congar Award for Theological Excellence at Barry University.