Vatican I and Vatican II - by Kristin M Colberg (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Vatican I and Vatican II represent two of the three ecumenical councils in modern times, yet relatively few studies have sought to understand their relation to one another. In fact, the councils are often positioned as mutually exclusive so that one must choose either Vatican I's or Vatican II's presentations of church and ecclesial authority. Failing to understand the relationship between these councils inhibits the church's self-understanding and risks misinterpreting key aspects of its own tradition; further, it limits the church's ability to teach effectively on topics of concern to modern women and men, such as authority, freedom, and ecclesiology. Vatican I and Vatican II: Councils in the Living Tradition uses the questions of what, why, and how the councils taught to frame and demonstrate significant points of continuity, complementarity, and difference between them. It argues that only by seeing both Vatican I and Vatican II as communicating vital dimensions of the Christian faith can the church's living tradition be fully appreciated and speak meaningfully to modern Christian women and men.?

Review Quotes

"Colberg deserves our praise for courageously tackling a key issue in contemporary ecclesiology."Theologische Revue

"The volume is very clearly written and accessible. It will be of particular value to advanced undergraduate and graduate students seeking a more nuanced grasp of the relationship between these two councils."Richard Gaillardetz, Worship

"Both well informed and accessible, this is a much-needed treatment of a vital topic in Catholic theology."J. P. Blosser, Benedictine College, Choice Connect

Professor Kristin M. Colberg's Vatican I and Vatican II marks a major advance in this particular type of scholarship on Vatican I."
Newman Studies Journal

"Colberg deserves our praise for courageously tackling a key issue in contemporary ecclesiology."
Theologische Revue

"Colberg masterfully deconstructs the widely held assumption that the Second Vatican Council turned its back on the First Vatican Council. By asking `what, ' `how, ' and `why' they taught about issues of authority, infallibility, and collegiality, Colberg reveals the common concerns and shared commitments of these two very different ecclesial events. The result is a compelling chapter in the story of a living tradition-a century-long struggle to discover what it means to be church in the modern world. This is an invaluable contribution to the ongoing reception of both Vatican councils."Edward P. Hahnenberg, PhD, Author of A Concise Guide to the Documents of Vatican II

"The book is meticulously researched; there are persuasive arguments; and it is certainly a resource for scholars of the councils. I would hesitate to suggest using it with adult study groups, but graduate students could get a lot out of it."Marie Conn, Catholic Books Review