First published 2013
The Second Vatican Council sits at the center of modern Catholic controversy. From 1962 to 1965, church leaders gathered to reshape Catholic practice and belief. Now theologians on both sides claim the council either abandoned tradition or failed to go far enough. Chaput presents the four core constitutions that emerged from these debates: documents on liturgy, church structure, divine revelation, and the church's role in the modern world. Critics argue over whether these texts represent continuity or rupture with Catholic teaching. Popes from John XXIII through Benedict XVI defended the council as guided by the Holy Spirit, while condemning misinterpretations of its work. Chaput provides readers direct access to these foundational documents through clear translation and Benedict XVI's introductory essay. The book reveals how four key areas of Catholic life were transformed and why these changes continue to divide believers today.
Genres: history, religion, non-fiction, christianity, church-history, academic, catholic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Setting: Catholic, Vatican
Period: 1962-1965, Modern
300 pages · Paperback · Ignatius Press