Vatican II: Vatican II

When the bishops of the Catholic world gathered in Rome in 1962 for the Second Vatican Council, they initiated a process of change which would restyle the way Catholics worshipped and celebrated liturgy,

Keys to the Council identifies twenty key conciliar passages, central texts that help us appreciate the Vision of the council fathers. Each chapter places the given passage in its larger historical context, explores its fundamental meaning and significance, and finally considers its larger significance for the life of the church today.

Describes the Church on the eve of the council, gives an easy-to-read version of the opening speech of John XXIII and other speeches, provides a chronology of major events in Vatican II's unfolding story, lists all previous church councils, and offers biographies of key players at Vatican II as well as a summary of each document.

Huebsch provides paraphrase texts in sense lines of the nine decrees and three declarations of the council.