Vatican II and Ecclesiology: Ressourcement as Living Appeal to Tradition

Abstract

When wishing to undertake a study of the Second Vatican Council that will allow us to face both the present and the future with hope, it seems particularly important to come back to its theological and spiritual positions, the two being intimately linked with one another. These are key positions for the Church – and each Christian – to be able to be faithful in the present day in fulfilling the mission which the Lord entrusts to her in the world, but faithful also to the future towards which she is moving. The history of people who turn towards God can never be a static history. Keeping the Council alive presupposes that one places oneself within the spiritual attitude which allows a right relationship with and a right understanding of its tradition, in order to continue to ‘do the work of tradition’ in each time and place. The spiritual and theological attitude of the Council was characterized by several elements: an openness to the unknown – which was possible thanks to a new awareness of history which necessitated creativity – and dialogue. If the Council was able both to take hold of new questions and to pass fresh eyes over old ones, it is thanks to the return to the classical sources of Christianity and theology. Biblical and patristic studies played a key role in ecclesiastical renewal. During the Council, Tradition was understood to be a living thing which may only be drawn on in a living way. Thus any form of ressourcement must always be a return to a source of life, for which a real work of the intelligence is absolutely necessary so that one may employ an ecclesial discernment and discover the spiritual path for today. The Council wanted a renewal which consisted of going from a conservative attitude towards an attitude which was not progressive but missionary. In other words, it invites us to take up the mantle of tradition and to be creative; this presupposes a discernment of the signs of the times. Therefore, we must undertake, as the Fathers of the Council did, a ressourcement into the living tradition, which helps us to envisage the present in a creative way, answering the challenges which arise as our fathers in the faith did. This is indeed the dynamic in which Pope Francis places himself, by refusing a centralized and unique voice, to answer the challenges with which the Catholic Church is faced .‘Seeing, judging, acting’, such is the method which must inspire every local Church, as Pope Francis highlights. Each member must feel involved. For this, a faith-filled reading of reality is needed, that is to say a scrutiny of the signs of the times in the light of the Holy Spirit in order to place oneself at the service of the Kingdom proclaimed by Jesus Christ so that all may have life in abundance (Jn 10,10). Thus Vatican II must remain a compass for theologians since it offers a position to adopt when faced with new questions, in the service of the Church’s mission, in an open and free dialogue.