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The Second Vatican Council remains one of the most highly misunderstood events in the Catholic Church's history. Many talk about it, but few know what is written in the actual documents of the Council.
This is unfortunate, as the documents provide a blueprint for renewal in the Church that grows organically from the past. The documents reveal not a complete "break" with tradition, as many claim, but a much richer understanding of the Church's life.
For example, in Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Council's document on the liturgy, there are guidelines for how this renewal was meant to take place.
The document further explains that the renewal of the liturgy should be done with the theme of "noble simplicity."
The document also points out that the lay faithful need to be taught the beauty of the liturgy and their important role in the Mass.
The faithful need to know how to actively participate in the liturgy, both "internally and externally."
This requires a careful study of the history of the liturgy, its biblical roots and how the faithful participate in the Mass when sitting in the pews.
Above all, if you truly want to understand Vatican II, start by reading the documents and discovering the rich renewal ushered by the Church that is still being implemented almost 60 years later.
