Bogoslovska smotra, Vol. 76 No. 1, 2006.
Preliminary communication
Second Vatican Council for the Youth of Christianity
Giuseppe Alberigo
; Institut for Religious Sciences, Bologna, Italy
Abstract
A complete evaluation of the results of the Council requires a complicated analysis that needs to be implemented at several levels. One of the approaches can acceptably be realised through facing the circumstances surrounding preparations far the Council (January 1959 - October 1962) and the circumstances surrounding its conclusion in December 1965. Despite widespread secularisation - at least in the West-the announcement of John XXIII attracted public attention and interest that had not been seen until then. Nevertheless, regardless of how penetrating his announcement was, at the same time it was very weak and so led to questions of a future Council.
What sort of Council did Pope John wish to convene? He did not hesitate to call the Council its absolutely traditional title, a conference of bishops. However, this was not in contradiction to the fact that the Council desired an Episcopal transition, that is, a Council that would introduce the Church into a new phase upon its way. In that regard the Council acquired a special significance, as a far greater »happening« of the Spirit rather than a place to create and formulate standards, as conferences prior to it had been far centuries.
The Council was to have been »a ray of heavenly sunlight«, where Pope John spoke on several occasions and that he used to portray as a »new Pentecost«. This was an »exalted« way to point out excellence(ies) in laymam's terms of historical events and extraordinary perspectives that it opened up. That is why it was necessary for the Church to be faced with particular deep renewal so that it could tell the world and with the same strength and immediacy that the first Pentecost had, show the message of the Gospel to all people. In addition, reminiscence of Pentecost brought the acts of the Spirit into the fore and not the acts of popes or the Church or, infact, Councils themselves.
Keywords
Second Vatican Council; John XXIII; adapting to time; currentness; feeling of faith; awareness of history
Hrčak ID:
24189
URI
Publication date:
1.8.2006.
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