As we are preparing ourselves to celebrate the Jubilee in 2025, Pope Francis is inviting God’s people to rediscover the main documents of the Second Vatican Council, that are the Constitutions Sacrosanctum Concilium, De Verbum, Lumen Gentium, and Gaudium at Spes. Although sixty years have passed since the inauguration of this Council, their forward thinking makes them more relevant and contemporary despite the radical changes in our society and culture. The Church is also facing many challenges and crises that have not allowed her to be seen as St Paul describes her: “splendour, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind” (Eph 5:27).

But, it could be that the spots and wrinkles are a sign of maturity. Therefore, when the Church looks back to these documents, she is not simply an elderly woman looking through the diaries of her youth, but it is the look of a Mother and Teacher that still has much to offer because she is not stuck but has moved forward through winding roads that have matured her so that the ideals of her youth have taken shape and have continued to lead toward the main purpose, that of her love for her Bridegroom.

The first document that was published by the Council was the Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy Sacrosanctum Concilium. The need for reform and renewal in the Liturgy had been felt for some time; there were experimentations, research and studies that paved the way for this reform – the first reform was that of the Liturgy for Holy Week promulgated in 1955 by Pope Pius XII.

But the Council encouraged a broader reform, which was not motivated simply for the sake of reform itself but “to foster whatever can promote union among all who believe in Christ; to strengthen whatever can help to call the whole of mankind into the household of the Church” (par.1). And, because the Liturgy is the summit and source of the life of the Church, it was a natural choice for the work of the Council to commence with this obligation “for undertaking the reform and promotion of the liturgy” (par.1), and as a result the life of all God’s People.

Since this was the first to be promulgated, Sacrosanctum Concilium is different from the other documents in its style and format. Although it develops a profound theological line of thought, it is also made from a series of legislations, very practical and concrete points, as well as an indication of how the Liturgical reform should be accomplished. In the coming four weeks, we shall continue to explore different aspects that are found in this document.