From 1962 to 1965, in perhaps the most important religious event of the twentieth century, the Second Vatican Council met to plot a course for the future of the Roman Catholic Church. After thousands of speeches, resolutions, and votes, the Council issued sixteen official documents on topics ranging from divine revelation to relations with non-Christians. But the meaning of the Second Vatican Council has been fiercely contested since before it was even over, and the years since its completion have seen a battle for the soul of the Church waged through the interpretation of Council documents. The Reception of Vatican II looks at the sixteen conciliar documents through the lens of those battles. Paying close attention to reforms and new developments, the essays in this volume show how the Council has been received and interpreted over the course of the more than fifty years since it concluded. The contributors to this volume represent various schools of thought but are united by a commitment to restoring the view that Vatican II should be interpreted and implemented in line with Church Tradition. The central problem facing Catholic theology today, these essays argue, is a misreading of the Council that posits a sharp break with previous Church teaching. In order to combat this reductive way of interpreting the Council, these essays provide a thorough, instructive overview of the debates it inspired.

About the Author
Matthew L. Lamb is Cardinal Maida Chair of Theology at Ave Maria University. Matthew Levering is James N. and Mary D. Perry, Jr. Chair of Theology at Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, IL.

Reviews
A truly impressive ensemble, the writers collaborate to create this follow-up to an earlier collection also edited by Lamb and Levering- this time with emphasis on the reception history of the Council. The volume's greatest strength is its chapters' individual focus on the sixteen major documents- one chapter for each document- the four constitutions, nine decrees, and three declarations. * Christopher A. Stephenson, Religious Studies Review *
The Reception of Vatican II serves as a very helpful collection of essays for anyone who wishes to learn of the impact of the texts of Vatican II on theological thought in the last fifty years, and especially as this is construed in official Church documents. It promises to be an essential text for anyone wishing to build off post-conciliar theological work and make further steps in appropriating the teachings of Vatican II in Catholic theology. * Sean Robertson, Reading Religion *
With The Reception of Vatican II, Matthew Lamb and Matthew Levering have succeeded in publishing a worthy sequel to the important Vatican II: Renewal within Tradition. The editors have gathered a remarkable group of Catholic theologians and produced a volume that fills a significant lacuna. With consistent scholarly competence, fine-tuned theological acumen, and in a gracefully accessible style, the authors narrate the reception of each one of the sixteen documents of the Second Vatican Council. The Reception of Vatican II is a significant and, indeed, overdue addition to the growing library on the last ecumenical council. I warmly recommend a close study of this most instructive volume. * Reinhard HA1/4tter, Duke University Divinity School a *



Book Information
ISBN 9780190625801
Author Matthew L. Lamb
Format Paperback
Page Count 488
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 686g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 163mm * 30mm