Vatican II

 Pope John's Opening Speech to the Council

 THE ECUMENICAL COUNCILS OF THE CHURCH

 THE ORIGIN AND REASON FOR THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL

 PRINCIPLE DUTY OF THE COUNCIL: THE DEFENSE AND ADVANCEMENT OF TRUTH

 HOW TO REPRESS ERRORS

 THE UNITY OF THE CHRISTIAN AND HUMAN FAMILY MUST BE PROMOTED

 DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH - Lumen gentium

 CHAPTER I THE MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH

 CHAPTER II THE PEOPLE OF GOD

 CHAPTER lII THE CHURCH IS HIERARCHICAL

 CHAPTER IV THE LAITY

 CHAPTER V: THE CALL TO HOLINESS

 CHAPTER VI RELIGIOUS

 CHAPTER VII THE PILGRIM CHURCH

 CHAPTER VIII OUR LADY

 I. INTRODUCTION

 II. THE FUNCTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE PLAN OF SALVATION

 III. THE BLESSED VIRGIN AND THE CHURCH

 IV. THE CULT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE CHURCH

 V. MARY, SIGN OF TRUE HOPE AND COMFORT FOR THE PILGRIM PEOPLE OF GOD

 APPENDIX ANNOUNCEMENT MADE BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL AT THE ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY THIRD GENERAL CONGREGATION 16 NOVEMBER, 1964

 PASTORAL CONSTITUTION: ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD - Gaudium et spes

 PREFACE

 INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT THE SITUATION OF MEN IN THE MODERN WORLD

 PART I THE CHURCH AND MAN'S CALLING

 CHAPTER I THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON

 CHAPTER II THE COMMUNITY OF MANKIND

 CHAPTER III MAN'S ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

 CHAPTER IV THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD

 PART II SOME PROBLEMS OF SPECIAL URGENCY

 CHAPTER I FOSTERING THE NOBILITY OF MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY

 CHAPTER II THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURE

 SECTION 1 The Circumstances of Culture in the World Today

 SECTION 2 Some Principles for the Proper Development of Culture

 SECTION 3 Some More Urgent Duties of Christians in Regard to Culture

 CHAPTER III ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL LIFE

 SECTION 1 Economic Development

 SECTION 2 Certain Principles Governing Socio-Economic Life as a Whole

 CHAPTER IV THE LIFE OF THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY

 CHAPTER V THE FOSTERING OF PEACE AND THE PROMOTION OF A COMMUNITY OF NATIONS

 SECTION 1 The Avoidance of War

 SECTlON II Setting Up An International Community

 DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION - Dei verbum

 PREFACE

 CHAPTER I - REVELATION ITSELF

 CHAPTER II - HANDING ON DIVINE REVELATION

 CHAPTER III - SACRED SCRIPTURE, ITS INSPIRATION AND DIVINE INTERPRETATION

 CHAPTER IV - THE OLD TESTAMENT

 CHAPTER V - THE NEW TESTAMENT

 CHAPTER VI - SACRED SCRIPTURE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

 DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE OF LAY PEOPLE - Apostolicam Actuositatem

 CHAPTER I THE VOCATION OF LAY PEOPLE TO THE APOSTOLATE

 FOUNDATIONS OF THE LAY APOSTOLATE

 THE SPIRITUALITY OF LAY PEOPLE

 CHAPTER II

 OBJECTIVES

 THE APOSTOLATE OF EVANGELIZATION AND SANCTIFICATION

 THE RENEWAL OF THE TEMPORAL ORDER

 CHARITABLE WORKS AND SOCIAL AID

 CHAPTER III

 THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF THE APOSTOLATE

 CHURCH COMMUNITIES

 THE FAMILY

 YOUNG PEOPLE

 APOSTOLATE OF LIKE TOWARDS LIKE

 THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELS

 CHAPTER IV

 THE DIFFERENT FORMS OF THE APOSTOLATE

 INDIVIDUAL APOSTOLATE

 INDIVIDUAL APOSTOLATE IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES

 GROUP APOSTOLATE

 VARIOUS TYPES OF GROUP APOSTOLATE

 CATHOLIC ACTION

 SPECIAL COMMENDATION

 CHAPTER V

 THE ORDER TO BE OBSERVED

 RELATIONS WITH THE HIERARCHY

 RELATIONS WITH THE CLERGY AND WITH RELIGIOUS

 SPECIAL COUNCILS

 COOPERATION WITH OTHER CHRISTIANS AND NON-CHRISTIANS

 CHAPTER VI

 TRAINING FOR THE APOSTOLATE

 THE NEED FOR TRAINING

 PRINCIPLES OF TRAINING

 THOSE WHO TRAIN OTHERS FOR THE APOSTOLATE

 FIELDS CALLING FOR SPECIALIZED TRAINING

 AIDS TO TRAINING

 EXHORTATION

 THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY - Sacrosanctum Concilium

 INTRODUCTION

 CHAPTER I

 I. THE NATURE OF THE SACRED LITURGY AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH

 II. THE PROMOTION OF LITURGICAL INSTRUCTION AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION

 III THE REFORM OF THE SACRED LITURGY

 A. General Norms

 B. Norms Drawn from the Hierarchic and Communal Nature of the Liturgy

 C. Norms Based on the Educative and Pastoral Nature of the Liturgy.

 D. NORMS FOR ADAPTING THE LITURGY TO THE TEMPERAMENT AND TRADITIONS OF PEOPLES

 E. PROMOTION OF THE LITURGICAL LIFE IN DIOCESE AND PARISH

 F. PROMOTION OF PASTORAL LITURGICAL ACTION

 CHAPTER II

 THE MOST SACRED MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST

 DECREES

 CHAPTER III

 THE OTHER SACRAMENTS AND THE SACRAMENTALS

 THE DIVINE OFFICE

 CHAPTER V

 THE LITURGICAL YEAR

 CHAPTER VI

 SACRED MUSIC

 CHAPTER VII

 SACRED ART AND SACRED FURNISHINGS

 APPENDIX A DECLARATION OF THE SECOND VATICAN ECUMENICAL COUNCIL ON REVISION OF THE CALENDAR

 GUIDELINES ON RELIGIOUS RELATIONS WITH THE JEWS (N.4)

 I. DIALOGUE

 II. LITURGY

 III. TEACHING AND EDUCATION

 IV. JOINT SOCIAL ACTION

 CONCLUSION

 FOOTNOTES

 DECLARATION ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM - Dignitatis humanae

 DECREE ON THE PASTORAL OFFICE OF BISHOPS IN THE CHURCH - Christus Dominus

 INTRODUCTION

 CHAPTER I

 THE BISHOPS IN THEIR RELATION TO THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

 I. THE ROLE OF THE BISHOPS IN THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH

 II. BISHOPS AND THE APOSTOLIC SEE

 CHAPTER II

 BISHOPS IN RELATION TO THEIR OWN CHURCHES OR DIOCESES

 I. DIOCESAN BISHOPS

 II DIOCESAN BOUNDARIES

 III. THOSE WHO COOPERATE WITH THE DIOCESAN BISHOP IN HIS PASTORAL TASK

 A. Coadjutor and auxiliary bishops

 B. The diocesan curia and councils

 C. The diocesan clergy

 D. Religious

 CHAPTER III

 CONCERNING THE COOPERATION OF BISHOPS FOR THE COMMON GOD OF MANY CHURCHES

 I. SYNODS, COUNCILS AND ESPECIALLY EPISCOPAL CONFERENCES

 II. THE BOUNDARIES OF ECCLESIASTICAL PROVINCES AND THE ERECTION OF ECCLESIASTICAL REGIONS

 III. BISHOPS DISCHARGING AND INTER-DIOCESAN FUNCTION

 GENERAL DIRECTIVE

 DECREE ON THE MEANS OF SOCIAL COMMUNICATION - Inter mirifica

 CHAPTER I

 CHAPTER II

 CONCLUSIONS

 DECREE ON ECUMENISM - Unitatis Redintegratio

 Introduction

 CHAPTER I CATHOLIC PRINCIPLES ON ECUMENISM

 CHAPTER II THE PRACTICE OF ECUMENISM

 CHAPTER III CHURCHES AND ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES SEPARATED FROM THE ROMAN APOSTOLIC SEE

 I. The Special Consideration of the Eastern Churches

 II. Separated Churches and Ecclesial Communities in the West

 DECREE ON THE CATHOLIC CHURCHES OF THE EASTERN RITE - Orientalium Ecclesiarum

 Preamble

 THE INDIVIDUAL CHURCHES OR RITES

 PRESERVATION OF THE SPIRITUAL HERITAGE OF THE EASTERN CHURCHES

 EASTERN RITE PATRIARCHS

 THE DISCIPLINE OF THE SACRAMENTS

 DIVINE WORSHIP

 RELATIONS WITH THE BRETHREN OF THE SEPARATED CHURCHES

 CONCLUSION

 DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Gravissimum Educationis

 Introduction

 1. The Meaning of the Universal Right to an Education

 2. Christian Education

 3. The Authors of Education

 4. Various Aids to Christian Education

 5. The Importance of Schools

 6. The Duties and Rights of Parents

 7. Moral and Religious Education in all Schools

 8. Catholic Schools

 9. Different Types of Catholic Schools

 10. Catholic Colleges and Universities

 11. Faculties of Sacred Sciences

 12. Coordination to be Fostered in Scholastic Matters

 Conclusion

 DECREE ON THE MISSION ACTIVITY OF THE CHURCH - Ad Gentes

 PREFACE

 CHAPTER I - PRINCIPLES OF DOCTRINE

 CHAPTER II MISSION WORK ITSELF

 ARTICLE 1: Christian Witness

 ARTICLE 2: Preaching the Gospel and Gathering together the People of God

 ARTICLE 3: Forming the Christian Community

 CHAPTER III - PARTICULAR CHURCHES

 CHAPTER IV MISSIONARIES

 CHAPTER V PLANNING MISSIONARY ACTIVITY

 CHAPTER VI COOPERATION

 CONCLUSION

 DECREE ON THE MINISTRY AND LIFE OF PRIESTS -- Presbyterorum ordinis

 PREFACE

 CHAPTER I - THE PRIESTHOOD IN THE MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH

 CHAPTER II - The Ministry of Priests

 SECTION I - Priests' Functions

 SECTION 2 - Priests' Relationships with Others

 SECTION 3 - The Distribution of Priests, and Vocations to the Priesthood

 CHAPTER III - The Life of Priests

 SECTION 1 - The Vocation of Priests to the Life of Perfection

 SECTION 2 - Special Spiritual Requirements in the Life of a Priest

 SECTION THREE - Aids to the Life of Priests

 CONCLUSION AND EXHORTATION

 DECREE ON PRIESTLY TRAINING - Optatam Totius

 I THE PROGRAM OF PRIESTLY TRAINING TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY EACH COUNTRY

 II THE URGENT FOSTERING OF PRIESTLY VOCATIONS

 III. THE SETTING UP OF MAJOR SEMINARIES

 IV. THE CAREFUL DEVELOPMENT 0F THE SPIRITUAL TRAINING

 V THE REVISION OF ECCLESIASTICAL STUDIES

 VI. THE PROMOTION OF STRICTLY PASTORAL TRAINING

 VII. TRAINING TO BE ACHIEVED AFTER THE COURSE OF STUDIES

 CONCLUSION

 Second Vatican Council II Closing Speeches and Messages

 COUNCIL CLOSING SPEECH DECEMBER 8, 1965

 COUNCIL CLOSING MESSAGES DECEMBER 8, 1965

 BY POPE PAUL TO COUNCIL FATHERS

 TO RULERS

 TO MEN OF THOUGHT AND SCIENCE

 TO ARTISTS

 TO WOMEN

 TO THE POOR, THE SICK AND THE SUFFERING

 TO WORKERS

 TO YOUTH

 APOSTOLIC BRIEF IN SPIRITU SANCTO' FOR THE CLOSING OF THE COUNCIL - DECEMBER 8, 1965

 ADAPTATION AND RENEWAL OF RELIGIOUS LIFE - Perfectae caritatis

 DECLARATION ON THE RELATION OF THE CHURCH TO NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS - Nostra aetate

CHAPTER I THE VOCATION OF LAY PEOPLE TO THE APOSTOLATE

PARTICIPATION OF LAITY IN THE CHURCH'S MISSION

2. The Church was founded to spread the kingdom of Christ over all the earth for the glory of God the Father, to make all men partakers in redemption and salvation,[4] and through them to establish the right relationship of the entire world to Christ.

Every activity of the mystical Body with this in view goes by the mane of "apostolate"; the Church exercises it through all its members, though in various ways. In fact, the Christian vocation is, of its nature a vocation to the apostolate as well. In the organism of a living body no member plays a purely passive part, sharing in the life of the body it shares at the same time in its activity. The same is true for the Body of Christ, the Church: "the whole Body achieves full growth in dependence on the full functioning of each part" (Eph. 4:16). Between the members of this body there exists, further, such a unity and solidarity (cf. Eph. 4:16) that a member who does not work at the growth of the body to the extent of his possibilities must be con-sidered useless both to the Church and himself.

In the Church there is diversity of ministry but unity of mission. To the apostles and their successors Christ has entrusted the office of teaching, sanctifying and governing in his name and by his power. But the laity are made to share in the priestly, prophetical and kingly office of Christ; they have therefore, in the Church and in the world, their own assignment in the mission of the whole People of God.[5] In the concrete, their apostolate is exercised when they work at the evangelization and sanctification of men; it is exercised too when they endeavour to have the Gospel spirit permeate and improve the temporal order, going about it in a way that bears clear witness to Christ and helps forward the salvation of men.

The characteristic of the lay state being a life led in the midst of the world and of secular affairs, laymen are called by God to make of their apostolate, through the vigour of their Christian spirit, a leaven in the world.