Why Is Vatican Ii So Significant In The Modern Church? :: essays research papers fc

Why is Vatican II so Significant in the Modern Church?INTRODUCTION VATICAN IIVatican II was the 21st ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholicchurch, which became the symbol of the churchs openness to the modern world.The council was announced by Pope John twenty-three on January 25, 1959, and held 178meetings in the autumn of each of four successive years. The first gathering wason October 11, 1962, and the last on December 8, 1965. Of 2908 bishops and differents eligible to attend, 2540 from all split of the world participated in theopening meeting. The U.S. delegation of 241 members was second in size only tothat of Italy. Asian and African bishops played a prominent role in thecouncils deliberations. Only Communist nations were sparsely represented, theresult of government pressures. The average attendance at the meetings was 2200.ESSAY     Vatican II, as we can clearly see from the above information, was a verylarge and important meeting in the Ro man Catholic Church. Vatican II has alteredthe Roman Catholic Church more that any other council that took roam. It hasgreat significance as it made the church more reasonable and realistic. TheChurch, after the council, was much more down-to-earth and open-minded.     One of Vatican IIs diversenesss that took place was that Mass becamevernacular. This change was very important because it made people feel more at apersonal level when mass was held seeing as though the priest was speaking theirlanguage. It made them feel more at home and increased their understanding andability to respond.     Another very major and important change that took place due to VaticanII was the relationship with the Church and the world. "The Church is a humanorganization steered by the Holy Spirit and composed of the gifts and talents ofits members. It is acknowledged that at this fourth dimension the Church community has notyet reached its highest potentia l and is faced with the limitations and of humanshortcomings and temporal constrictions. With an understanding of its abilitiesand its boundaries, the Church seeks to work with the world community to come nestled to the life to which God calls the world." As this quote from one of theDocuments in Vatican II states, the Church need have a relationship with the"outside world" as the Church itself is comprised of humans. And that theChurch having a good relationship with the outside world is necessary for theChurch to reach its highest potential.     These are some of the changes that took place in Vatican II and naming