Q’s from the Pews: Documents of Vatican II: August 24, 2025

(Snippets –Vol 4/9)

Sacrosanctum Concilium: The Constitution on the Liturgy has four goals: “(1) to impart an ever increasing vigor to the Christian life of the faithful; (2) to adapt more suitably to the needs of our own times those institutions which (can) change; (3) to promote union among all who believe in Christ, and (4) to call the whole of mankind into the household of the Church.”

The Liturgy of the Mass through the Eucharist is the “source and summit of Christian life.” The council sought to “restore the Liturgy” to this “sacramental meaning.” The Eucharist, by “promoting unity and vigor of Christians,” would “call the whole of mankind to the Church.” Since Vatican I, the faithful had made the Mass a private matter, or saw it only the action of the Priest. Vatican II sought to “restore” the Liturgy of the Mass by emphasizing our encountering Christ through His Mystical Body. The Council taught that the entire Mystical Body of Christ (priest and people) must actively participate in the sacrificial re-presentation of the Eucharist to ensure all “derived graces” from the Mass. Active participation is fostered by : 1) Increased understanding of the rites by encouraging appropriate use of native languages, 2) Increased number and amount of Scripture readings to open up the one story of revelation, 3) Conscious understanding of the sacred actions occurring during the Mass, and 4) Devotion through responses, and sacred silence.

In SC 116, The Church acknowledges Gregorian chant as specially suited to the Roman Liturgy: therefore, other things being equal, it should be given pride of place in liturgical services. But other kinds of sacred music, especially polyphony, are by no means excluded from liturgical celebrations, so long as they accord with the spirit of the liturgical action. Send any questions to: dre@saintcolumbachurch.org