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Documents of the Second Vatican Council
Nostra Aetate: Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions
The sixteen official documents—constitutions, decrees, and declarations—of the Second Vatican Council are now available from Liturgical Press in the most popular and widely used inclusive-language edition translated by Irish Dominican Austin Flannery (+October 21, 2008).
As the worldwide Church continues to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Council (1962–65), there is a great need in college classrooms and parish faith formation groups—as well as for individuals—to again have access to these documents in contemporary English. As Flannery wrote in his introduction to the 1996 edition, “The translation of the texts of the Vatican documents in the present volume differs from that in the previous publication in two respects. It has been very considerably revised and, in place, corrected. It is also, to a very large extent, in inclusive language.
“I say ‘to a very large extent,’ because we have used inclusive language in passages about men and women but not, however, in passages about God, except where the use of the masculine pronoun was easily avoidable.”
As the worldwide Church continues to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the Council (1962–65), there is a great need in college classrooms and parish faith formation groups—as well as for individuals—to again have access to these documents in contemporary English. As Flannery wrote in his introduction to the 1996 edition, “The translation of the texts of the Vatican documents in the present volume differs from that in the previous publication in two respects. It has been very considerably revised and, in place, corrected. It is also, to a very large extent, in inclusive language.
“I say ‘to a very large extent,’ because we have used inclusive language in passages about men and women but not, however, in passages about God, except where the use of the masculine pronoun was easily avoidable.”
5 pages, ebook
First published October 28, 1965
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About the author
Second Vatican Council
52 books18 followersThe Second Vatican Council (Latin: Concilium Oecumenicum Vaticanum Secundum, informally known as Vatican II) addressed relations between the Roman Catholic Church and the modern world. It was the twenty-first ecumenical council of the Catholic Church and the second to be held at Saint Peter's Basilica in the Vatican. The council, through the Holy See, formally opened under the pontificate of Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and closed under Pope Paul VI on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on 8th December 1965.
Several changes resulted from the council, including the renewal of consecrated life with a revised charism, ecumenical efforts towards dialogue with other religions, and the call to holiness for everyone including the laity, according to Pope Paul VI "the most characteristic and ultimate purpose of the teachings of the Council".
According to Pope Benedict XVI, the most important and essential message of the council is "the Paschal Mystery as the center of what it is to be Christian and therefore of the Christian life, the Christian year, the Christian seasons". Other changes which followed the council included the widespread use of vernacular languages in the Mass instead of Latin, the subtle disuse of ornate clerical regalia, the revision of Eucharistic prayers, the abbreviation of the liturgical calendar, the ability to celebrate the Mass versus populum (with the officiant facing the congregation), as well as ad orientem (facing the "East" and the Crucifix), and modern aesthetic changes encompassing contemporary Catholic liturgical music and artwork, many of which remain divisive among the Catholic faithful.
Several changes resulted from the council, including the renewal of consecrated life with a revised charism, ecumenical efforts towards dialogue with other religions, and the call to holiness for everyone including the laity, according to Pope Paul VI "the most characteristic and ultimate purpose of the teachings of the Council".
According to Pope Benedict XVI, the most important and essential message of the council is "the Paschal Mystery as the center of what it is to be Christian and therefore of the Christian life, the Christian year, the Christian seasons". Other changes which followed the council included the widespread use of vernacular languages in the Mass instead of Latin, the subtle disuse of ornate clerical regalia, the revision of Eucharistic prayers, the abbreviation of the liturgical calendar, the ability to celebrate the Mass versus populum (with the officiant facing the congregation), as well as ad orientem (facing the "East" and the Crucifix), and modern aesthetic changes encompassing contemporary Catholic liturgical music and artwork, many of which remain divisive among the Catholic faithful.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 20, 2016
Big things come in small packages. NOSTRA AETATE, Latin for “In Our Time”, is only 5 paragraphs which must be a record for Papal writings. Most of the best commentaries on it, which are also well-worth reading, are longer than it is. It’s the shortest document to come out of Vatican II and yet considering its innocuous sounding title, “Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions,” it has had a somewhat tumultuous history from the very beginning.
This article in America magazine describes its rocky genesis surmounting objections to Catholic-Jewish reconciliation, primarily due to misinterpretation and fear. Whereas the document was promulgated to correct past injustices and initiate spiritual renewal; it was viewed (by some) as a political power ploy. The author, Thomas Stransky, of this excellent article concludes: The all-embracing, positive character of NOSTRA AETATE as a whole marks its commanding import in Catholic history. For NOSTRA AETATE helped open the church to living dialogues with other communities of faith—respecting each one’s identity, ritual and conduct. This dialogue begins with “what human beings have in common and what promotes fellowship” (No. 1)—not merely human efforts, but God’s mysterious initiatives, through us, in a shared history.
NOSTRA AETATE suggested it and Pope Francis has been calling for it repeatedly: ‘Living dialogue’: ‘The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.’
Especially relevant IN OUR TIME though it is almost as old as me! Read it here.
This article in America magazine describes its rocky genesis surmounting objections to Catholic-Jewish reconciliation, primarily due to misinterpretation and fear. Whereas the document was promulgated to correct past injustices and initiate spiritual renewal; it was viewed (by some) as a political power ploy. The author, Thomas Stransky, of this excellent article concludes: The all-embracing, positive character of NOSTRA AETATE as a whole marks its commanding import in Catholic history. For NOSTRA AETATE helped open the church to living dialogues with other communities of faith—respecting each one’s identity, ritual and conduct. This dialogue begins with “what human beings have in common and what promotes fellowship” (No. 1)—not merely human efforts, but God’s mysterious initiatives, through us, in a shared history.
NOSTRA AETATE suggested it and Pope Francis has been calling for it repeatedly: ‘Living dialogue’: ‘The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men.’
Especially relevant IN OUR TIME though it is almost as old as me! Read it here.
August 17, 2020
This was very short, but very excellent. I think it is especially relevant to the current climate of conservative American Catholicism. Being conservative is not the issue, it is culture that is prevalent in America (as in other nations of course) where so many misconceptions and sometimes outright lies are perpetrated. This following quotation I think is brilliant and in essence sums it up, while at the same time pointing out the errors that I have seen so often lately in both regard to Muslim immigrants and the perception of black culture after the tragic death of George Floyd:
"The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men,(14) so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.(15)"
This small but powerful document from Vatican II has given me hope in a world of madness that the Catholic culture - while still problematic in its expression - is not beyond redemption and that the leadership in the Church are making headway in dialogue, accuracy, and charitableness.
"The Church reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimination against men or harassment of them because of their race, color, condition of life, or religion. On the contrary, following in the footsteps of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul, this sacred synod ardently implores the Christian faithful to "maintain good fellowship among the nations" (1 Peter 2:12), and, if possible, to live for their part in peace with all men,(14) so that they may truly be sons of the Father who is in heaven.(15)"
This small but powerful document from Vatican II has given me hope in a world of madness that the Catholic culture - while still problematic in its expression - is not beyond redemption and that the leadership in the Church are making headway in dialogue, accuracy, and charitableness.
November 1, 2023
Ok this was so short I feel bad even counting is as a book but whatever
Short document, packs a punch. Excited to take a class on it next year :)
Short document, packs a punch. Excited to take a class on it next year :)
November 6, 2020
Nostra Aetate is very short but maybe most important document of Vatican 2. It is must read if one want to understand "spirit of Vatican 2". While there is nothing wrong in the text itself, in fact I agree with almost everything I would like to see more of condemnation of pagan practices. Also council fathers didn't aknowledge that Islam is pure imitation of christianity and 1400 years of violent muslim conquest of christian lands is simply brushed off in one sentence like it never happened to be replaced with superficial similarities.
I complitly agree with part about relationship with Jews.
I complitly agree with part about relationship with Jews.
April 10, 2024
En una época de buenismo, la iglesia romana buscó tender puentes con otros credos, y "Nostra Aetate" fue el producto de este impulso. De cierto modo, la iglesia, al rechazar la diferencia entre amigos y enemigos, renunció a "lo político" y buscó la amistad con el ser humano. El meollo es que fue por medio de destacar las semejanzas verosímiles y dejar de lado y soslayar detalles que consideraron nimios. Eso producto de una malinterpretación de los credos con los cuales iba a dialogar. No dudo que tuviera el documento un efecto salutífero, que, sin embargo, no fue seguido en general por gran parte de los representantes de otros credos, que para colmo no cuenta con una organización vertical y universal como la iglesia romana, lo cual limitó los buenos deseos de los padres conciliares.
La declaración es polémica no tanto por su ánimo conciliador sino por haber aparentemente apagado el sustento bíblico y eclesiástico del "antijudaísmo". Claro, la Biblia y el magisterio previo no pudieron ser borrados por un plumazo de un Papa bienintencionado, y frente a las tensiones respecto del carácter judeo-cristiano de Occidente, resulta "Nostra Aetate" una obra infundada.
Estos documentos ("Nostra Aetate y Dignitatis Humanae), vistos desde una perspectiva hodierna, pueden ser aplaudidos por el hombre (pos)moderno, pero también han servido por un lado para horadar la concreción pretérita de varios proyectos promovidos o sostenidos por la iglesia romana, a la par que han conllevado a la iglesia romana a auparse al tren de la modernidad, frente a la cual se nota desfasada, anacrónica, cuando no, netamente reaccionaria. El ataque de varios periódicos al "Dignitas infinita" muestra la desazón de la Iglesia en su intento por ser fermento en un mundo que la rechaza. Cuando se pretendió una innovación, ésta no llegó y para colmo dejó a sus acérrimos fieles errabundos e insatisfechos.
En mi opinión, "Nostra Aetate" como el resto de los documentos del Concilio Vaticano II, pueden considerarse textos sustentados en buenos deseos, con efectos desastrosos y que causan desasosiego al notar la contradicción con la realidad.
La declaración es polémica no tanto por su ánimo conciliador sino por haber aparentemente apagado el sustento bíblico y eclesiástico del "antijudaísmo". Claro, la Biblia y el magisterio previo no pudieron ser borrados por un plumazo de un Papa bienintencionado, y frente a las tensiones respecto del carácter judeo-cristiano de Occidente, resulta "Nostra Aetate" una obra infundada.
Estos documentos ("Nostra Aetate y Dignitatis Humanae), vistos desde una perspectiva hodierna, pueden ser aplaudidos por el hombre (pos)moderno, pero también han servido por un lado para horadar la concreción pretérita de varios proyectos promovidos o sostenidos por la iglesia romana, a la par que han conllevado a la iglesia romana a auparse al tren de la modernidad, frente a la cual se nota desfasada, anacrónica, cuando no, netamente reaccionaria. El ataque de varios periódicos al "Dignitas infinita" muestra la desazón de la Iglesia en su intento por ser fermento en un mundo que la rechaza. Cuando se pretendió una innovación, ésta no llegó y para colmo dejó a sus acérrimos fieles errabundos e insatisfechos.
En mi opinión, "Nostra Aetate" como el resto de los documentos del Concilio Vaticano II, pueden considerarse textos sustentados en buenos deseos, con efectos desastrosos y que causan desasosiego al notar la contradicción con la realidad.
June 9, 2022
Horrível: Tenta, ecumenicamente, adoçar a relação da verdadeira Fé para com as outras heréticas e infiéis; contra a doutrina ensinada pelos Pais da Igreja e a Sagrada Escritura. Essa declaração é um dos motivos de tantos católicos odiarem o Concílio Vaticano II —com razão.
April 7, 2023
The document would be better if it articulated how the non-Christian religious are false, while still containing elements of truth. Sometimes it sounds like the document is praising false religions themselves.
October 16, 2017
Kebenaran tidak hanya datang dalam Kristus, jadilah beriman dengan kemanusiaan, karena manusia adalah citra Allah.
February 2, 2018
An important declaration of the Catholic position regarding non-Christian people of faith.
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November 15, 2021Basically "we honor and are grateful for the truth expressed in all religions" and also "please stop being weirdos about Judaism and Islam." XD
January 20, 2026
The Second Ecumenical Vatican Council, as called so by Pope St. Paul VI in Ecclesiam Suam, his 1965 homily on the Immaculate Conception, and in other places, was a unique assembly because it called to mind the Church's response to the world around her after the horrors of two major world wars, the continuing cold war at the time, rapid decolonization, liberalization of morals, the propagation of various modern philosophies that had primarily to do with materialism, and other such issues that had to be taken care in a very explicit yet intelligible and pastoral way. His General Audience on the 12th Jan. 1966 expresses this character about the council which falls in-line with the intentional teaching of Ven. Pope Pius XII in Humani Generis and Blessed Pope Pius IX in his Syllabus about how we ought, as a whole, be able to receive these documents with patience and charity in obedience to the authorities who drafted them- whether these teachings come originally in an extraordinary or ordinary manner. Nostra Aetate is just one of these documents in this pastoral council which aims to talk about how we ought to approach different religions in relation without being indifferent towards the necessary salvific revelation of Jesus Christ, that being said within Lumen Gentium of course.
Taking inspiration from the thoughts of St. Justin Martyr (Apology), Clement of Alexandria (An Exhortation of the Heathen), St. Augustine of Hippo (Exposition 3 of Psalm 32, Verse 22. Conclusion: pray for the Donatists), St. Optatus (Contra Donatist Bk. I & VI), St. Thomas (ST I-II, Q. 94), Pope St. Gregory VII (letter to the King of Mauritania) St. John Henry Newman (Apologia Pro Vita Sua), and many more within the tradition, have understood that truth within unbelievers, heathens, heretics, and infidels alike can exist and that those truths are worthy to be praised, not their errors. Whether it may be something such as the discovery of the natural law or receiving some bit of divine revelation that has been distorted, the council has desired to make provisions that dialogue with these groups made open and available for both human solidarity and the salvation of souls which is a divine reality.
It is understandable however that this document did not have the immediate clarity that was desired by the fathers of the council and so in the post-conciliar era, drafts and follow-ups to various Vatican II documents on the proper interpretation and implementation of this have taken place in-order to not seemingly do away with any Catholic truth but to instead re-affirm but also clarify what it was that was supposed to be said and made known. The consequences of this led to a era in which we're still recovering that led to particular incidences of doctrinal and liturgical abuses because of a laxed, uninformed, or rather ill-informed service that has been provided to the clerics and certified lay teachers of the Church. But now that we're in the 21st century and the Church has been able to do much in clarifying and re-affirming the necessary things of faith, we can be less scrupulous and shy about how we ought to approach this writing and others like it.
Cheers!
Taking inspiration from the thoughts of St. Justin Martyr (Apology), Clement of Alexandria (An Exhortation of the Heathen), St. Augustine of Hippo (Exposition 3 of Psalm 32, Verse 22. Conclusion: pray for the Donatists), St. Optatus (Contra Donatist Bk. I & VI), St. Thomas (ST I-II, Q. 94), Pope St. Gregory VII (letter to the King of Mauritania) St. John Henry Newman (Apologia Pro Vita Sua), and many more within the tradition, have understood that truth within unbelievers, heathens, heretics, and infidels alike can exist and that those truths are worthy to be praised, not their errors. Whether it may be something such as the discovery of the natural law or receiving some bit of divine revelation that has been distorted, the council has desired to make provisions that dialogue with these groups made open and available for both human solidarity and the salvation of souls which is a divine reality.
It is understandable however that this document did not have the immediate clarity that was desired by the fathers of the council and so in the post-conciliar era, drafts and follow-ups to various Vatican II documents on the proper interpretation and implementation of this have taken place in-order to not seemingly do away with any Catholic truth but to instead re-affirm but also clarify what it was that was supposed to be said and made known. The consequences of this led to a era in which we're still recovering that led to particular incidences of doctrinal and liturgical abuses because of a laxed, uninformed, or rather ill-informed service that has been provided to the clerics and certified lay teachers of the Church. But now that we're in the 21st century and the Church has been able to do much in clarifying and re-affirming the necessary things of faith, we can be less scrupulous and shy about how we ought to approach this writing and others like it.
Cheers!
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April 17, 2022Veľké pravdy, málo slov. Tak to má byť. Cirkevní otcovia II.V.K. správne zhodnotili situáciu, jasne a stručne objasňujú spoločné znaky hlavných náboženstiev a vyzýva veriacich, aby sme sa "milovali navzájom".
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews