Despite the great changes that Vatican II brought to the Church, few people grasp the council's teachings, or are aware of the debates that have taken place in the past four decades regarding the council's authentic reception and implementation To respond to this pressing pastoral reality, distinguished theologian and professor Richard R. Gaillardetz focuses on three of the council's 1) The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), 2) The Decree on the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church (Christus Dominus), and 3) The Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches (Orientalium Ecclesiarum). In clear and accessible terms, the author outlines the history of these documents, and presents their central themes. This is followed by comprehensive and balanced analysis of how these texts have been implemented in the church. He concludes with some of his own proposals for furthering the vision of the Second Vatican Council. †

In commemoration of the 40th anniversary of Vatican II, Paulist Press has created a groundbreaking 8-book series, Rediscovering Vatican II, that places the Council in dialogue with today's church and her people and focuses on what today's Catholics need to know, not just historically. The first volume, Ecumenism and Interreligious Unitatis Redintegratio, Nostra Aetate, looks at the relationship of the Catholic Church with other Christian churches and other great religions. Cardinal Cassidy devotes part one of his book to Unitatis Redintegratio, the decree on Restoring Christian Unity, which brought the Catholic Church into the modern ecumenical movement. And in part two, Nostra Aetate (the Declaration on Interreligious Dialogue), he looks at the relationship of the Catholic Church with other world religions. This work, and indeed the entire series, which is the only one of its kind at this level and organization, will prove valuable for religious educators, theologians, church historians (of all faiths, especially Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), undergraduate and graduate students, as well as readers who have heard much about Vatican II, but who have never sat down to understand certain aspects of it. †

Gaudium et Spes was one of the key documents to come out of Vatican II. It created a new chapter in conciliar history because for the first time a general council sought to tackle a wide range of problems that affected the life of human rights, society, marriage and the family, culture, politics, economics, international relations, and war and peace. This decree corresponded more closely than any other to Pope John XXIII's desire that Vatican II's approach be pastoral, and because of that it may be considered the "crown jewel" of the council. In this book Norman Tanner, the foremost authority on the decree, traces its evolution from its beginnings to its eventual promulgation at the end of the council in December 1965. He reviews its reception by the Catholic Church and other Christian churches, and its possible future influence. Included as well is a discussion of the controversial decree on the mass media, Inter Mirifica. ―Gives everyday Catholics a look at the inner workings of the council ―those who have heard about Vatican II, but never really known what its significance for them and their Church is will read this book with interest. ―for the first time tells the story of this decree both at the council and subsequently ―a useful teaching tool in colleges, seminaries, church circles, and for individuals †