THE FAMILY AT THE VATICAN COUNCIL II: AN AREA OF URGENCY

Abstract

The Second Vatican Council has been described as the greatest religious event of the 20th century. Reading from the intention of the convener, Pope John XXIII, and the intention and pastoral tone employed by the Council expressed in the 16 documents that resulted from the Council, it is said that the Church was here examining herself ad Intra and Ad Extra. In both dimensions, the Council set out to present its doctrine positively and constructively, and not merely in the interest of apologetics or to formulate rules of conduct. Ad Intra, the Church was answering the question “quid dicis de te ipso?-what do you say of yourself? In answering this question, she had to answer other related questions such as: what do you say of the role of the Church in the world? What do you say of the missionary activities of the Church? What do you say of the members of the Church? What do you say about the Family?