Second Edition

Pope Benedict XVI

Joseph Ratzinger's report on the debates and struggles that made up each of the four sessions of Vatican II (1962-65), along with theological commentary.

Ad gentes, Dignitatis Humanae

Br. Jeffery Gros, FSC and Stephen B. Bevans, SVD

This volume summarizes Catholic approaches to mission, evangelization, and religious freedom in light of the text and debates of Vatican II's documents on the subjects (Ad Gentes and Dignitatis Humanae), traces the documents' reception in the forty ...

Perfectae Cartatis, Optatam Totius,

Maryanne Confoy

Examines the historical context, the key players and the implementation of the Vatican II documents on priesthood, training of priests, and religious life. It offers a contemporary vision for and critique of ecclesial ministries for the twenty-first...

Sacrosanctum Concilium

Rita Ferrone

This book tells the story of The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, presents and analyzes its main points, and describes how its agenda has fared on its sometimes tumultuous journey from the time of Vatican II up to the present.

Apostolicam actuositatem,Gravissimum

Dolores R. Leckey

This book tells the story of how the role of the laity as essential in the life of the church moved to "center stage" during the council, and how lay people were among those who made it happen.

Lumen Gentium,Christus Dominus, Orie

Richard R. Gaillardetz

The Church in the Making explores the teaching of three documents from the Second Vatican Council on the nature of the church, while also considering how that teaching has been implemented in the last four decades.

Dei Verbum

Rev. Ronald Witherup

This book describes the history of the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, its content, its importance, and how it has helped to direct the future of Roman Catholic biblical studies.

Gaudium et spes, Inter mirifica

Rev. Norman Tanner, S.J.

Traces the evolution, reception and likely future influence of Vatican II's "key decree," Gaudium et Spes, as well as the council's decree on the mass media, Inter Mirifica: its evolution during the council and subsequent influence.

Unitatis redintegratio, Nostra aetat

Cardinal Edward Idris Cassidy

An in-depth examination of the consequences for the relationship of the Catholic Church with other Christian churches and world religions as a result of the decisions made by the Second Vatican Council forty years ago, and presented in the documents...

Some Hermeneutical Principles

Rev. Dr. Ormond Rush

Proposes that a comprehensive interpretation of Vatican II encompasses a reconstruction of the "spirit" and the "letter" of the council as well as the post-conciliar reception of the council and its texts.

Sister Maureen Sullivan

An informative and accessible guide to everything you want to know about Vatican II.