Table of Contents:
  • Part I. The Constitutions:
  • The dogmatic constitution on the church, Lumen Gentium:
  • 1. Nature, mission, and structure of the church / Avery Dulles
  • 2. The universal call to holiness / BenoĆ®t-Dominique de La Soujeole
  • The dogmatic constitution on divine revelation, Dei Verbum:
  • 3. Revelation and its transmission / Francis Martin
  • 4. Inspiration and interpretation / Denis Farkasfalvy
  • The constitution on the sacred liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium:
  • 5. Theology of the liturgy / Pamela E. J. Jackson
  • 6. The sacraments of the church / Romanus Cessario
  • The pastoral constitution onthe church in the modern world, Gaudium et Spes:
  • 7. Doctrinal perspectives on the church in the modern world / J. Brian Benestad
  • 8. Pastoral perspectives on the church in the modern world / Matthew Levering
  • Part II. The Decrees:
  • 9. The decree on the bishops' pastoral office in the church, Christus Dominus / Brian Ferme
  • 10. The decree on the ministry and life of priests, Presbyterorum Ordinis / Guy Mansini and Lawrence J. Welch
  • 11. The decree on priestly formation, Optatam Totius / Anthony A. Akinwale
  • 12. The decree on the appropriate renewal of religious life, Perfectae Caritatis / M. Prudence Allen and M. Judith O'Brien
  • 13. The decree on the apostolate of the laity, Apostolicam Actuositatem / Robert W. Oliver
  • 14. The decree on the church's missionary activity, Ad Gentes / Francis George
  • 15. The decree on ecumenism, Unitatis Redintegratio / Charles Morerod
  • 16. The decree on the Eastern Catholic churches, Orientalium Ecclesiarum / Khaled Anatolios
  • 17. The decree on the instruments of social communication, Inter Mirifica / Richard John Neuhaus
  • Part III. The Declarations:
  • 18. The declaration on religious freedom, Dignitatis Humanae / F. Russell Hittinger
  • 19. The declaration on Christian education, Gravissimum Educationis / Don J. Briel
  • 20. The declaration on the relationship of the church to non-Christian religions, Nostra Aetate / Arthur Kennedy
  • Commentary:
  • 20. Anamnesis, Epiclesis, Prolepsis: categories for reading the Second Vatican Council as "renewal within tradition" / Geoffrey Wainwright
  • Concluding Reflections:
  • 22. The challenges of reform and renewal within Catholic tradition / Matthew L. Lamb