THE HISTORICAL AND SOCIAL CONTEXT:
The Second Vatican Council represented a complete severance of the previous customary ways that defined Church life since the post- Tridentine times that subscribed to ideas developed and entrenched during the Counter Reformation period (McBrien, 2008). The Council did not emerge completely out of the darkness, but could be attributed to 70 years of “social teaching and lay involvement” (Shreiter, 1999, p. 160) that had begun to be implemented in the lead up to the Second Vatican Council. Despite this gradual flourishing of sympathy for the outside world, McBrien describes Vatican Council II as a “period of caesaura” (2008, p. 163) that could be likened to the schism that was forged during the transition from Judaeo Christianity to Gentile Christianity. The cultural revolution that was occurring in the secular world at the time, which espoused liberal ideals, greater racial tolerance and included the feminist movement further complicated the strategic intent of the council (Fiske, 1985).
Major events in the Church and historical events leading up to the Second Vatican Council:
· Council of Jerusalem (approx. ac50): This council was inaugurated by Paul and officiated the transition from Judeo Christianity to Gentile Christianity (McBrien, 2008).
· The Council of Trent (1545): This council was held in reaction to the Protestant Reformation that was occurring in Europe at the time (Shreiter, 1999).
· Vatican I (1869): This council was convened in response to the liberal outlook that was unleashed through the ideals of the period of Enlightenment (Shreiter, 1999).
· Encyclical Rerum novarum (1891): This encyclical instituted social justice as a central tenet of Catholic teaching and reflected the gradual transition in Church thinking (Shreiter, 1999).
· Second World War: Europe had never before seen such carnage and was still reeling from the horrific events of the “the final solution” that had occurred under Nazi Germany. This was coupled with the looming threat of nuclear warfare (Lawler, Salzman & Burke-Sullivan, year).
· Cultural Revolution: Liberal ideals were becoming firmly entrenched in society and there was a greater concern for individual human rights, a push for the empowerment of women and greater racial tolerance in an increasingly globalised society (Fiske, 1985).
REFLECTION: What is significant about the historical context that we are working in currently? How does this affect the way our students connect with the Church?
Major events in the Church and historical events leading up to the Second Vatican Council:
· Council of Jerusalem (approx. ac50): This council was inaugurated by Paul and officiated the transition from Judeo Christianity to Gentile Christianity (McBrien, 2008).
· The Council of Trent (1545): This council was held in reaction to the Protestant Reformation that was occurring in Europe at the time (Shreiter, 1999).
· Vatican I (1869): This council was convened in response to the liberal outlook that was unleashed through the ideals of the period of Enlightenment (Shreiter, 1999).
· Encyclical Rerum novarum (1891): This encyclical instituted social justice as a central tenet of Catholic teaching and reflected the gradual transition in Church thinking (Shreiter, 1999).
· Second World War: Europe had never before seen such carnage and was still reeling from the horrific events of the “the final solution” that had occurred under Nazi Germany. This was coupled with the looming threat of nuclear warfare (Lawler, Salzman & Burke-Sullivan, year).
· Cultural Revolution: Liberal ideals were becoming firmly entrenched in society and there was a greater concern for individual human rights, a push for the empowerment of women and greater racial tolerance in an increasingly globalised society (Fiske, 1985).
REFLECTION: What is significant about the historical context that we are working in currently? How does this affect the way our students connect with the Church?