How has Vatican II helped the Church

[TrueLight]

I don’t know if this would be considered to be a part of Vatican II, but this decree definitely came out right before Vatican II officially closed.

Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity

I’m not sure of what existed before, but I think it is important to stress that we laity have a role to play in sharing our faith and doing work for God’s kingdom.

An excerpt:

. The Church was founded for the purpose of spreading the kingdom of Christ throughout the earth for the glory of God the Father, to enable all men to share in His saving redemption,(1) and that through them the whole world might enter into a relationship with Christ. All activity of the Mystical Body directed to the attainment of this goal is called the apostolate, which the Church carries on in various ways through all her members. For the Christian vocation by its very nature is also a vocation to the apostolate. No part of the structure of a living body is merely passive but has a share in the functions as well as life of the body: so, too, in the body of Christ, which is the Church, “the whole body . . . in keeping with the proper activity of each part, derives its increase from its own internal development” (Eph. 4:16).

A very good thing which came out of Vatican II.

 

[YoungCatholic21]

The Novus Ordo, Vernacular, has made it easier for many people to understand the position of the laity and of the clergy. E.g., no more “acolyte” but “altar server.” It’s in the vernacular, which makes catechesis/Mass more easily and quickly absorbed.

It’s allowed not only men, but women to be lectors/Extraordinary ministers/cantors etc. It’s not a bad thing these, for priests now have more time on their hands to do other things.

That’s the apparent help it’s given us. In the grand scheme of things, rather in the Church’s efficiency in its organization, however it amounts…to really not much.

The attendance of Catholics has not increased, but decreased.
The number of priests/seminarians/religious have dropped dramatically.
The Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist has suffered sacrilege and irreverence a plenty.
The liturgy of the mass suffered much from incorrect and ineffective translation.

The true help it has offered us is that it has made Catholics everywhere decide how pious they want to be, and how far they are willing to walk with God.

Seize the opportunity, brothers/sisters in Christ! Increase daily the fire of God’s love in your hearts! So that you may remember well, as the apostles did, the words of the Psalmist: “For the zeal of your house hath eaten me up.” (Ps 69: 9)

Dei gratia, convertere! By the grace of God, convert! Turn BACK to God!