On the true "Spirit" of Vatican II

Great intervention by Bishop Victor Galeone:

Now then, what did Pope John intend by convoking the Second Vatican Council? He himself gives the answer in the sermon he preached at its opening session in October 1962. He pointed out that the Council was to be “predominately pastoral in character.” Its purpose was not to define any new doctrines, but rather to challenge all Catholics to a “renewed…adherence to all the teachings of the Church…as it still shines forth in the acts of the Council of Trent and the First Vatican Council…The substance of the ancient doctrine is one thing, and the way in which it is presented is another.”

After reminding us “that the truth of the Lord will remain forever,” he added that the opinions of men, often imbued with errors, “vanish as quickly as they arise…The Church has always opposed these errors. Frequently she has condemned them with the greatest severity. Nowadays however, the Spouse of Christ prefers to make use of the medicine of mercy rather than that of severity.”

So what is one to make of the “spirit” of Vatican II, which has given rise to so much confusion in the church? Is that what John XXIII intended? I feel the answer to that question may be found in an entry that he made in his diary while still in the minor seminary. In his journal, he stated that his favorite passage of the Imitation of Christ was chapter 23 from the third book, entitled, “Four things that bring great peace:

1. Strive to do the will of others rather than your own.

2. Prefer to have less rather than more.

3. Seek the lowest place and to be beneath all others.

4. Desire that God’s will may always be carried out in your life.

Behold such a one reaches the fullness of rest and peace.”

To the objection that these are pietistic sentiments of an immature seminarian, I would point out that on becoming bishop in 1925, he chose as his episcopal motto, Obedientia et Pax (“Obedience and Peace”) – a synthesis of that journal entry – which became his guiding light.

In my opinion, the real fruit of Vatican II has yet to be realized. The new Pentecost that we prayed for so ardently during the years preceding the council, and the New Evangelization that Pope John Paul II predicted for this century have yet to be seen. They will indeed be realized when we Catholics, of whatever theological persuasion, focus our eyes on the Lord Jesus, and follow not some nebulous “spirit” of Vatican II, but what the council documents actually contain.