Letters

Vatican II (letter)

Francis Vrijmoed

Contents - Jun 2007 - Buy a copy now Editorial: Sacred music: an integral part of worship - Michael Gilchrist New Missal translation: light at the end of the tunnel - Michael Gilchrist News: The Church Around the World Obituary: A tribute to natural family planning pioneer, Dr John Billings, RIP - Msgr Peter J. Elliott Tsunami: Salesians help Solomon Islanders New Zealand Catholic college's intellectually challenging RE program - Bernard Moran Verbicide: 'Happy' or 'Blessed'? How faith can be drained of meaning - Arthur Ballingall Youth ministry active in the Melbourne archdiocese - Barry Coldrey Sigrid Undset: Revived interest in a remarkable Norwegian Catholic novelist - Michael Daniel The Caroline Chisholm Library: Melbourne's hidden treasure - John Young Obituary: Bill Daly RIP: fearless defender of Catholic orthodoxy in Australia - Fr James Tierney Letters: Vatican II (letter) - Francis Vrijmoed Letters: Parish amalgamations (letter) - Eilenn A. Gomm SFO Letters: Judas rethink (letters) - John Schmid Poetry: A Glimpse of My Glory - Maureen Bidess Events: Archbishop Chaput in Australia - Melbourne 4 July 2007 Books: IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST: Writings in the Western Tradition, by Lucy Beckett - Francis Phillips (reviewer) Books: EDITH STEIN, WOMAN OF PRAYER: Her Life and Ideals, by Joanne Mosley - Tim Cannon (reviewer) DOES YOUR PARISH STOCK AD2000? Books: THE SONG OF BERNADETTE, by Franz Werfel - Michael E. Daniel (reviewer) Books: AD2000 Books Reflection: Pentecost, the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist - Fr Dennis Byrnes

With reference to Dr Frank Mobb's article on ecumenical councils in which he states that Vatican II declared no dogmas at all, so never exercised infallibility, allow me to make the following comment.

Of the 16 documents produced by Vatican II, only two, 'On Divine Revelation' and 'On the Church', are classified as dogmatic constitutions.

The constitution, 'On Divine Revelation', contains in its Prologue the following paragraph: 'Following in the footsteps of the Council of Trent and of Vatican I, this present Council (i.e., Vatican II) wishes to set forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and its transmission, so that by hearing the message of salvation the whole world may believe, by believing it may hope, and by hoping it may love' (emphasis mine).

Here it is clear that the Council did not want to give a new definition of faith, but merely intended to foster a deeper insight into the mysteries of Our Lord's message of salvation.

As the full text of this constitution was submitted to the Council fathers on 18 November 1965, accepted by them with 2344 votes in favour (placet) and six votes not in favour (non placet), and subsequently promulgated on the same day by Pope Paul VI, there cannot be any doubt that the contents of this constitution - where the truth of our salvation is concerned - has to be regarded as infallible teaching of the living Magisterium of the Catholic Church who, in this case, spoke through the ecumenical council of Vatican II.

FRANCIS VRIJMOED
Hong Kong, China

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 20 No 5 (June 2007), p. 15