We’ve all heard many people argue that the Second Vatican Council changed a lot of things. But did it really?
Now before you spam my comment box that it did indeed, I would like to point out that yes, some things did change. That is not the purpose of this series. The purpose of this series is to correct those who constantly insist that “Vatican 2 did away with that”.
I have found that many traditionalists have not read the documents. This is not a statement saying that all traditionalists have not read the documents. Just an opinionated statement in which many have not read them. I for one have not read the documents.
Since many traditionalists haven’t read the documents, we generally have a difficult time refuting some of the claims, having not read the documents or even portions of them. Well, go read them, and start implementing these documents the way they were meant to.
First and foremost, let’s look at Sacrosanctum Concillium (Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy) on what it has to say on preaching the faith (emphasis mine):
9. The sacred liturgy does not exhaust the entire activity of the Church. Before men can come to the liturgy they must be called to faith and to conversion: “How then are they to call upon him in whom they have not yet believed? But how are they to believe him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear if no one preaches? And how are men to preach unless they be sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15).
Therefore the Church announces the good tidings of salvation to those who do not believe, so that all men may know the true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent, and may be converted from their ways, doing penance. To believers also the Church must ever preach faith and penance, she must prepare them for the sacraments, teach them to observe all that Christ has commanded, and invite them to all the works of charity, piety, and the apostolate. For all these works make it clear that Christ’s faithful, though not of this world, are to be the light of the world and to glorify the Father before men.
Notice what that says? The Church is to announce the good tidings of salvation that Jesus Christ has given us through His sacrifice. And in announcing that, those who are not Catholic can convert and repent of their past sins by doing penance and joining the Church. Those of us who are Catholic must be preached to about faith and penance as well, as we still must atone for our past transgressions. The Church must prepare us to receive the Sacraments, as well as to teach us ALL THAT CHRIST HAS COMMANDED.
How many times have you been ridiculed for teaching what Jesus taught? I know I have often. You may have even been told that the Second Vatican Council did away with it. Its not important anymore. Well, in case you have noticed, it is still just as important and needed today as it was through out the entirety of the Church. This was most definitely a continuation of what the Church has always taught, what Christ has taught.
But wait, what does this have to do with the Liturgy? Because the Liturgy in which we celebrate the Mass is the foundation of our faith. In knowing the true God and Jesus Christ, we witness Him in the Eucharist, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. We convert away from our old selves, and turn our gaze upon our mighty and ever lasting God.
In the Mass, during the homily, Father teaches us how to live our lives according to that of what God wants. Ultimately, the Liturgy is where we meet Christ, and in Christ, He changes us. When we receive Him in the Eucharist during Communion, we are in Him, and He is in us. It is a perfect communion where Heaven and Earth collide. We are one with Him.
Professing our faith has every bit to do with the Liturgy, because in our Liturgy, we demonstrate what we believe. Through reverence, we show those that would observe us, that we truly believe that Christ is present in the Eucharist, that God is present in our Churches, and the Holy Ghost is there.
Where the Catholic Church is, there you will find God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, the Holy Ghost, Our Mother Mary and all the angels and saints. Where the Catholic Church is, there is home.
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