These are the 16 documents approved by the Second Vatican Council, with their dates of promulgation and brief descriptions. The Latin name of a document generally is taken from the document's first line of text.
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Latin Name: Sacrosanctum Concilium
Date of Promulgation: 4 Dec 1963
Description: It ordered an extensive revision of worship so that people would have a clearer sense of their own involvement in the Mass and other rites.
Decree on the Instruments of Social Communication
Latin Name: Inter Mirifica
Date of Promulgation: 4 Dec 1963
Description: It called on members of the church, especially the laity, to instill "a human and Christian spirit" into newspapers, magazines, books, films, radio and television.
Dogmatic Constitution on the Church
Latin Name: Lumen Gentium
Date of Promulgation: 21 Nov 1964
Description: It presented the church as a mystery, as a communion of baptized believers, as the people of God, as the body of Christ and as a pilgrim moving toward fulfillment in heaven but marked on earth with "a sanctity that is real, although imperfect."
Decree on Ecumenism
Latin Name: Unitatis Redintegratio
Date of Promulgation: 21 Nov 1964
It said that ecumenism should be everyone's concern and that genuine ecumenism involves a continual personal and institutional renewal.
Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches
Latin Name: Orientalium Ecclesiarum
Date of Promulgation: 21 Nov 1964
It stated that variety within the church does not harm its unity and that Eastern Catholic churches should retain their own traditions.
Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office in the Church
Latin Name: Christus Dominus
Date of Promulgation: 28 Oct 1965
It said each bishop has full ordinary power in his own diocese and is expected to present Christian doctrine in ways adapted to the times. It urged conferences of bishops to exercise pastoral direction jointly.
Decree on Priestly Formation
Latin Name: Optatam Totius
Date of Promulgation: 28 Oct 1965
It recommended that seminaries pay attention to the spiritual, intellectual and disciplinary formation necessary to prepare priesthood students to become good pastors.
Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of the Religious Life
Latin Name: Perfectae Caritatis
Date of Promulgation: 28 Oct 1965
It provided guidelines for the personal and institutional renewal of the lives of nuns, brothers and priests belonging to religious orders.
Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
Latin Name: Nostra Aetate
Date of Promulgation: 28 Oct 1965
It said the Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in non-Christian religions, called for an end to anti-Semitism, and said any discrimination based on race, color, religion or condition of life is foreign to the mind of Christ.
Declaration on Christian Education
Latin Name: Gravissimum Educationis
Date of Promulgation: 28 Oct 1965
It affirmed the right of parents to choose the type of education they want for their children, upheld the importance of Catholic schools and defended freedom of inquiry in Catholic colleges and universities.
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Latin Name: Dei Verbum
Date of Promulgation: 18 Nov 1965
It said the church depends on Scripture and tradition as the one deposit of God's word and commended the use of modern scientific scholarship in studying Scripture.
Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity
Latin Name: Apostolicam Actuositatem
Date of Promulgation: 18 Nov 1965
It said the laity should influence their surroundings with Christ's teachings.
Declaration on Religious Freedom
Latin Name: Dignitatis Humanae
Date of Promulgation: 7 Dec 1965
It said that religious liberty is a right found in the dignity of each person and that no one should be forced to act in a way contrary to his or her own beliefs.
Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests
Latin Name: Presbyterorum Ordinis
Date of Promulgation: 7 Dec 1965
It said the primary duty of priests is to proclaim the Gospel to all, approved and encouraged celibacy as a gift and recommended fair salaries.
Decree on the Church's Missionary Activity
Latin Name: Ad Gentes
Date of Promulgation: 7 Dec 1965
It said missionary activity should help the social and economic welfare of people and not force anyone to accept the faith.
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World
Latin Name: Gaudium et Spes
Date of Promulgation: 7 Dec 1965
It said the church must talk to atheists, a continual campaign must be waged for peace, nuclear war is unthinkable and aid to underdeveloped nations is urgent. It said marriage was not just for procreation and urged science to find an acceptable means of birth regulation.
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