1. Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium), "Light of All Nations" "The Church is a mystery, or sacrament, the whole People of God, in whose service the hierarchy is placed. The authority of [the] pope and bishops is to be exercised as a service. . . " Summary In other words, the hierarchy is to serve the people; the people are not here to serve the hierarchy. Hierarchy refers to priests and bishops who make decisions and lead.

2. Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelations (Dei Verbum), "Word of God" "The Word of God is communicated through Sacred Scripture, sacred tradition, and the teaching authority of the Church, all linked together and directed by the Holy Spirit." Summary Catholics do not agree with the principle that "if it is not in the Bible, I do not believe in it." It was tradition that determined what got accepted into the Bible and what did not. Tradition is all about how God has been revealed to us and continues to be revealed to us.

3. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium), "The Most Holy Council" "The Church proclaims the Gospel not only in word but also in sacrament, or by sacred signs. Since the whole People of God is involved in this worship, the signs must be intelligible." Summary Let?s celebrate the Mass in the language of the people (instead of Latin) so that they can understand it. Let?s allow people to participate and to see and hear all the signs and symbols of the Mass so that they can fully benefit from God?s grace.

4. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes), "Joy and Hope" "The Church must read the signs of the times and interpret them in the light of the Gospel. The Church does not exist alongside or apart from the world; the church is part of the world, and its mission is to serve the whole human family in order to make the human race?s history more human." Summary The church has always watched the modern world carefully and commented according to the message of the Gospel. But it is the job of the church to be in service to the world, not in domination over the world. The church is the servant, not the boss.

5. Decree on the Instruments of Social Communication (Inter Mirifica), "Among the Marvels" "The Church must be vigilant toward the media because of the ever-present danger of their abuse, but must also use the media where opportune." Summary The press, radio, television, and similar media are called instruments of social communication. They are astonishing inventions and have extraordinary bearing on the human spirit. But when they are used to cause damage to a society, the church must take a stand against such use.

6. Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintergratio), "Restoration of Unity" "Christian unity is a matter of restoration, not of a return to Rome; other Christian communities are churches within the Body of Christ; and both sides were to blame for the divisions of the Church." Summary Both sides were to blame for the divisions that ruptured the church at the time of the Reformation. Christians have much in common. Let?s study together, talk together, worship together, and cooperate in social actions together. In other words, let?s not try so hard to keep Catholics and Protestants apart.

7. Decree on Eastern Catholic Churches, (Orientalium Ecclesiarum)"The Eastern Churches", "The Eastern Catholic, or "Uniate," churches can be a bridge to the Orthodox East. The integrity of Eastern traditions of liturgy, spirituality, and discipline is to be restored." Summary Eastern and Western rites of the Roman Catholic church are equal, and the Roman Catholic church is inviting Eastern Orthodox churches (those separated from the pope) to share the Eucharist with them. In other words, when it would not be possible to celebrate the Eucharist in one?s own Catholic church, it would be okay to do so in the Orthodox church.

8. Decree on the Bishops? Pastoral Office in the Church (Christus Dominus), "Christ the Lord" "Bishops are the pastors of their own local [dioceses], and beyond that collaborate with other bishops through episcopal conferences and with the pope and all other bishops through the episcopal college. [Their] authority is always for service." Summary This decree is a kind of job description of a bishop. The bishop?s role is one of preaching, ministry, and service, and he must seek to encourage communication and integration among all the people in his diocese, and along with the pope and other bishops, among all the people in the church.

9. Decree on Priestly Formation (Optatam Totius), "Great Variety" "There must be a closer connection between seminary training and the pastoral situation." Summary Not only is it important for priests to have spiritual and theological training, but they must also learn who the people are in the places where they will serve and what their conditions and needs are.

10. Decree on the Appropriate Renewal of the Religious Life (Perfectae Caritatis), "Perfect Love" "The renewal of religious life (a life lived according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience) must be based on the Gospel, the original purposes of the community, and the changed conditions of the times." Summary In other words, nuns, brothers, and priests in religious orders need to remember what Jesus had in mind, what the founder of their order had in mind, and what today?s culture is all about.

11. Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity (Apostolicam Actuositatem), "Apostolic Activity" "The laity participates in the mission of the Church, but especially in the temporal order." Summary Lay people of the church are full members of the church, not just "second-rate" members. The laity have the power and the duty to use everyday life experiences as opportunities to spread the Gospel message. This means young people, too, have the ability and the responsibility to be ministers to one another and to spread the faith.

12. Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priest (Presbyterorum Ordinis), "Ordaining Priests" "Priests are members of a presbytery in union with a bishop, and with him serve the building up of Christ?s body." Summary In other words, priests are to stick together and remember that their job is to build up the spiritual quality of the faith community.

13. Decree on the Church?s Missionary Activity (Ad Gentes), "To The People" "The Gospel is to be preached also and always to non-Christians, but not as a culturally alien reality. Evangelization is an obligation for every member of the Church." Summary Wherever missionaries travel, they are to preserve the people?s own culture as they spread the Gospel message; they are not to impose their own culture and way of life. Also, everyone in the church is a missionary. Being a missionary-proclaiming the Gospel-is a basic duty of the people of God. In other words, everyone should be spreading the faith by the way they live.

14. Declaration on Christian Education (Gravissimum Educationis), "The Seriousness of Education" "Education must be broadly humane and up-to-date, with a concern for personal maturity and social responsibility." Summary Education of young people occurs in the home, the school, and the church. Education must be broad-encompassing advances of science, social responsibility, and personal maturity.

15. Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian Religions (Nostra Aetate), "In Our Age" "God speaks also through other religions, so we should engage in dialogue and other collaborative efforst with them. The Jews have a special relationship to the Church. They cannot be blamed as a people for the death of Jesus." Summary Let?s not put down anyone else?s faith! Let?s respect one another, even if we do not share the same beliefs.

16. Declaration on Religious Freedom (Dignitatis Humanae), "Of Human Dignity" "No one is to be forced in any way to embrace the Christian or the Catholic faith. This principle is rooted in human dignity and the freedom of the act of faith." Summary No one is to be punished for being a non-Christian, and the Christian faith should not be forced on anyone.