Page Updated 09/19/2006

The Melkite Church at the Council

Discourses and Memoranda of Patriarch Maximos IV

and of the Hierarchs of His Church

at the Second Vatican Council

 

Introduction by Archimandrite Robert F. Taft

 

Table of Contents

Click on the hyperlink to read online - or Click on "Download" for the text version of the document

Introduction

Preface - Download

Chapter 1 – Preparation for the Council  Download

        A. At the stage of the Ante-preparatory Commission

Note on Reconciliation with the Orthodox

Questions to be Submitted to the Council

Calling upon Non-Roman Collaborators

        B. At the Stage of the Preparatory Commissions

For a Permanent Roman Organization on Ecumenical Matters

The Language of the Council Organization and Internal Regulation of the Council Invitation of Non-Catholics to the Council Remarks concerning a New Formula for the Profession of Faith

        C. Patriarchal Letter on the Eve of the Council

Chapter 2 – Divine Revelation - Download

        Sources of Revelation

        The Absence of Eastern Theology

        Growth and Progress of the Living Tradition in the Church

        Scripture and Tradition in the Eastern Perspective

Chapter 3 – The Liturgy - Download

        Various Aspects of Liturgical Reform

        For the Use of Living Languages in the Liturgy

        Concelebration and Communion under Both Species

        Setting the Date for Pascha

Chapter 4 – The Mystery of the Church  - Download

        The Unilateral Aspect of Roman Ecclesiology

        The Absence of Eastern Theology

        The Church and the Churches

The Call to Holiness in the Church

        Mary and the Church

Chapter 5 – The Constitution on the Church - Download

        Priority for the Question of the Episcopate

        Episcopal Collegiality

        The Pope and the Origin of the Bishops' Powers

        The Divine Constitution of the Church

        Five Declarations of Principle

        What Eastern Theology Says

        Primacy and Infallibility

Chapter 6 – The Patriarchs in the Church - Download

        The Rank of the Patriarchs at the Council

        Memorandum on the Rank of the Patriarchs in the Church

        For an Amelioration of the Conciliar Schema

        The Patriarchate and the Cardinalate

        Latin Patriarchs of the East

        Final Declarations on the Patriarchate

        "Patriarch-Cardinal"

Chapter 7 – The Episcopate and the Roman Curia - Download

        The Pope, the Roman Curia, and the Episcopate

        For a "Synod of Bishops" around the Pope

        Episcopal Conferences

        Episcopal "Faculties" or Pontifical "Reservations"?

        Dividing Dioceses

        Internationalization of the Roman Curia

        Reform of the Holy Office

        Ecclesiastical Censures and the Holy Office

        Restoring the Free Election of Bishops in the Eastern Church

        Memorandum on the Interpretation of a Conciliar Decree

Chapter 8 – Formation and Life of the Clergy - Download

        The Formation of Priests

        The Diaconate

        Priesthood and Celibacy2

        Fair Remuneration for Priests

Chapter 9 – The Religious Life - Download

Chapter 10 – The Laity - Download

        The Apostolate of the Laity

        Concrete Examples of Lay Apostolate

        The Place of Non-Christians and of Women in the People of God

Chapter 11 – The Eastern Catholic Churches - Download

        The "Rites" in the Church

        Observations of the Synod on the First Conciliar Schema

        Observations of the Synod on the Second Conciliar Schema

        The Rite of Easterners Desiring Union with Rome

        The Multiplicity of Catholic Jurisdictions in the Catholic Near East

        Hierarchies for Eastern Immigrants

        Public Discussion of the Conciliar Schema

Chapter 12 - Ecumenism - Download

        The Requirements for Union

The Importance of the Secretariat for Christian Unity and Christians of the East The Ecumenical Movement

"Communicatio in Sacris"

Chapter 13 – The Missionary Church -  Download

        The Missions and the Roman Pontiff

        For an East That Is Again Missionary

        Mission in Eastern Theology

Chapter 14 – The Church and Other Religions -  Download

        The Jewish Problem at the Council and the Arab Reactions

Chapter 15 – Marriage and the Family -  Download

        Indissolubility of Marriage

        Birth Control

        Mixed Marriages

Chapter 16 – The sacraments of the Church -  Download

        The Minister of the Sacrament of Confirmation

        The Sacrament of Penance

        Penitential Discipline of the Church

        Indulgences

        Mass Stipends

        Non-Catholic Ministers and their Admission to Holy Orders

Chapter 17 - Catholic Education - Download

        The Infallible Magisterium

        Thomism

        Catholic Schools

Chapter 18 – Codification of Canon Law - Download

        Against the Drawing up of Single Code for East and West

Chapter 19 – The Church and the Modern World - Download

        For a New Presentation of Morals

        The Profound Causes of Atheism

        The Serving Church

        The Church of the Poor

        The Church and Human Rights

        Condemnation of War

 


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