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VATICAN //

AND

YOUTH



1967

First Printing

Copyright ! 1967

Youth Department / USCC



VATICAN II

AND

YOUTH

Youth Department

U. S. Catholic Conference

1312 Massachusetts Ave., N. W.

Washington, D. C. 20005

Document translations reprinted from:

U. S. Catholic Conference Pamphlet Editions



Contents
1

Constitution on the Church in the Modem World

1 youth in a changing society

2 cultural education of youth

3 children's response to parents

3 training for marriage

3 need for both parents

4 vocation guidance in the home

5

children without families

5 the family as a teacher

6 use of leisure time

7 civic formation of youth

7 cooperation an aim of education

8 Declaration on Christian Education

8 education for maturity

9 formation of moral values

9 various means of education



10 Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity

1 0 youth to youth apostolate

1 1 communication between generations

1 2 apostolic formation of youth

13 response of youth

14 Decree on the Bishops' Pastorai Office in the Church

14 special care for youth

1 5 Decree on the Media of Social Communication

15 proper use of communication media

16 responsible public authority

1 6 protection of youth

17 Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church

17 education of mission youth

18 Decree on Priestly Life and Ministry

18 priests and youth

18 Council Closing Messages

19 the society of the future

20 the strength and charm of youth





CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH
IN THE MODERN WORLD

(Part 1, Introductory Statement, 7)

A change in attitudes and in human
structures frequently calls accepted values

into question, especially among young

people,who havegrown impatient on more

than one occasion, and indeed become

rebels in their distress. Aware of their own

influence in the life of society, they want a

part in it sooner. This frequently causes

parents and educators to experience

greater difficulties day by day in discharg-

ing their tasks. The institutions, laws and

modes of thinking and feeling as handed

down from previous generations do not

always seem to be well adapted to the con-

temporary state of affairs; hence arises an

upheaval in the mannerand even thenorms

of behavior.

Finally, these new conditions have

their impact on religion. On the one hand,

a more critical ability to distinguish re-

ligion from a magical view of the world

and from the superstitions which still cir-

culate purifies it and exacts day by day a

more personal and explicit adherence to

faith. As a result many persons are achiev-

ing a more vivid sense of God. On the other

youth

in a

changing

society

1



hand, growingnumbers of people are aban-

doning religion in practice. Unlike former

days, the denial of God or of religion, or the

abandonment of them, are no longer un-

usual and individual occurrences. For to-

day it is not rare for such things to be pre-

sented as requirements of scientific pro-

gress or of a certain new humanism. In

numerous places these views are voiced

not only in the teachings of philosophers,

but on every side they influence literature,

the arts, the interpretation of the humani-

ties and of history and civil laws them-

selves. As a consequence, many people are

shaken.

(Part I, Chapter II, 31

)

Individual men, in order to discharge

with greater exactness the obligations of

their conscience toward themselves and

the various groups to which they belong,

cultural must be carefully educated to a higher de-

educatlon gree of culture through the use of the im-

of mense resources available today to the hu-

youth man race. Above all the education of youth

from every social background has to be

undertaken, so that there can be produced

notonlymen and women of refined talents,

but those great-souled persons who are so

desperately required by our times.

2



(Part II, Chapter I, 48)

As living members of the family, chil-

dren contribute in theirownway to making

their parents holy. For they will respond to

the kindness of their parents with senti-

ments of gratitude, with love and trust.

They will stand by them as children should

when hardships overtake theirparents and

old age brings its loneliness.

(Part II, Chapter 1, 49)

Especially in the heart of their own fami-

lies, young people should be aptly and sea-

sonably instructed in the dignity, duty and

work of married love. Trained thus in the

cultivation of chastity, they will be able at a

suitable age to enter a marriage of their

own after an honorable courtship.

(Part II, Chapter I, 52)

The family is a kind of school of deeper

humanity. But if it is to achieve the full

flowering of its life and mission, it needs

the kindly communion of minds and the

joint deliberation of spouses, as well as the

painstaking cooperation of parents in the

education of their children. The active pre-

sence of the father is highly beneficial to

their formation. The children, especially

children's

response

to

parents

training

for

marriage

need

for

both

parents

3



the younger among them, need the care of

theirmother athome. This domestic role of

hers must be safely preserved, though the

legitimate social progress of women should

not be underrated on that account.

Children should be so educated that as

adults they can follow their vocation, in-

cludinga religious one, with amature sense
vocation

responsibility and can choose their state
guidance Qf ijfg. jf marry, they can thereby es-

in the tablish their family in favorable moral,

home social and economic conditions. Parents or

guardians should by prudent advice pro-

vide guidance to their young with respect

to founding a family, and the young ought

to listen gladly. At the same time no pres-

sure, direct or indirect, should be put on

the young to make them enter marriage or

choose a specific partner.

Thus the family, in which the various

generations come together and help one

another grow wiser and harmonize per-

sonal rights with the other requirements

of social life, is the foundation of society.

All those, therefore, who exercise influ-

ence over communities and social groups

should work effectively for the welfare of

marriage and the family. Public authority

should regard it as a sacred duty to recog-

nize, protect and promote their authentic

nature, to shield public morality and to fa-

4



vor the prosperity of home life. The right

of parents to beget and educate their

children in the bosom of the family must

be safeguarded. Children too who unhap-

pily lack the blessing of a family should be

protected by prudent legislation and vari-

ous undertakings and assisted by the

help they need.

(Part II, Chapter II, 61

)

Today it is more difficult to form h syn-

thesis of the various disciplines of know-

ledge and the arts than itwas formerly. For

while the mass and the diversity of cultural

factors are increasing, there is a decrease

in each man’s faculty of perceiving and uni-

fying these things, so that the image of

“universal man” is being lost sight of more

and more. Nevertheless it remains each

man’s duty to preserve an understanding

of the whole human person in which the

values of intellect, will, conscience and fra-

ternity are pre-eminent. These values are

all rooted in God the Creator and have been

wonderfully restored and elevated in

Christ.

The family is, as it were, the primary

mother and nurse of this education. There,

the children, in an atmosphere of love,

more easily learn the correct order of

children

without

families

the family

as a

teacher

5



use

of

leisure

time

things, while proper forms of human cul-

ture impress themselves in an almost un-

conscious manner upon the mind of the

developing adolescent.

Opportunities for the same education

are to be found also in the societies of today,

due especially to the increased circulation

of books and to the new means of cultural

and social communication which can foster

a universal culture. With the more or less

universal reduction of working hours, the

leisure time of most men has increased.

May this leisure be used properly to relax,

to fortify the health of soul and body

through spontaneous study and activity,

through tourism which refines man’s char-

acterand enricheshim with understanding

of others, through sports activity which

helps to preserve an equilibrium of spirit

even in the community, and to establish

fraternal relations among men of all condi-

tions, nations and races. Let Christians co-

operate so that the cultural manifestations

and collective activity characteristic of our

time may be imbued with a human and a

Christian spirit.

All these leisure activities however can-

not bring man to a full cultural develop-

ment unless there is at the same time a

profound inquiry into the meaning of cul-

ture and science for the human person.

6



(Part II, Chapter IV, 75)

Greatcare must be taken with regard to

civicand political formation, which is of the

utmost necessity today for the population

as a whole, and especially for youth, so that

all citizens can play their part in the life of

the political community. Those who are

suited or can become suited should pre-

parethemselves for the difficult, but at the

same time, the very noble art of politics,

and should seek to practice this art without

regard for their own interests or for mate-

rial advantages. With integrity and wis-

dom, they must take action against any

form of injustice and tyranny, against ar-

bitrary domination by an individual or a

political party, and any intolerance. They

should dedicate themselves to the service

of all with sincerity and fairness, indeed,

with the charity and fortitude demanded

by political life.

(Part II, Chapter V, 89)

Therefore, to encourage and stimulate

cooperation among men, the Church must

be clearly present in the midst of the com-

munity of nations, both through her offi-

cial channels and through the full and sin-

cere collaboration of all Christians—

a

collaboration motivated solely by the de-

sire to be of service to all.

civic

formation

of

youth

cooporation

an aim

of

oducation

7



education

for

maturity

This will come about more effectively if

the faithful themselves, conscious of their

responsibility as men and as Christians,

will exert their influence in their own mi-

lieu to arouse a ready willingness to co-

operate with the international community.

Special care must be given, in both reli-

gious and civic education, to the formation

of youth in this regard.

DECLARATION ON CHRISTIAN
EDUCATION

(
1

)

Therefore children, and young peo-

ple must be helped, with the aid of the

latest advances in psychology and the

arts and science of teaching, to develop

harmoniously their physical, moral and

intellectual endowments so that they may

gradually acquire a mature sense of re-

sponsibility in striving endlessly to form

their own lives properly and in pursuing

true freedom as they surmount the vicis-

situdes of life with courage and constancy.

Let them be given also, as they advance

in years, a positive and prudent sexual

education. Moreover they should be so

trained to take their part in social life

8



that properly instructed in the necessary

and opportune skills they can become

actively involved in various commun-

ity organizations, open to discourse with

others and willing to do their best to pro-

mote the common good.

This Sacred Synod likewise declares

thatchildren and youngpeople have a right

to be motivated to appraise moral values

with a right conscience, to embrace them

with a personal adherence, together with a

deeper knowledge and love of God. Conse-

quently it earnestly entreats all those who

hold a position of public authority or who

are in charge of education to see to it that

youth is never deprived of this sacred

right. It further exhorts the sons of the

Church to give their attention with gen-

erosity to the entire field of education
,
hav-

ing especially in mind theneed of extending

very soon the benefits of a suitable educa-

tion and training to everyone in all parts

of the world.

(
4

)

In fulfilling its educational role, the

Church, eager to employ all suitable aids,

is concerned especially about those which

are her very own. Foremost among these

is catechetical instruction, which enlight-

ens and strengthens the faith, nourishes

formation

ofmoral

values

various

means

of

education

9



youth

to

youth

opostolote

life according to the spirit of Christ, leads

to intelligent and active participation in

the liturgical mystery and gives motiva-

tion for apostolic activity. The Church

esteems highly and seeks to penetrate and

ennoble with her own spirit also other aids

which belong to the general heritage of

man and which are of great influence in

forming souls and moldingmen, such as the

media of communication, various groups

for mental and physical development,

youth associations, and, in particular,

schools.

DECREE ON THE APOSTOLATE
OF THE LAITY

(Chapter III, 12)

Young persons exert very important in-

fluence inmodern society. There hasbeen a

very great change in the circumstances of

their lives, their mental attitudes, and

their relationships with their own families.

Frequently they move too quickly into a

new social and economic status. While

their social and even their political impor-

tance is growing from day to day, they

seem to be unable to cope adequately with

the task of assuming new responsibilities.

10



Their heightened influence in society

demands of them a proportionate apostolic

activity, and their natural qualities also

dispose them for this activity. As the

awareness of their own personality ma-

tures, impelledby azest for life and a ready

eagerness they assume their own respon-

sibility, and wish to play their part in social

and cultural life. If this zeal is imbued with

the spirit of Christ and animated by obedi-

ence and love for the shepherds of the

Church, it can be expected to be very fruit-

ful. They themselves must become the

firstand immediate apostles of youth exer-

cising their apostolate among themselves

and through themselves, taking into ac-

countthe social environment in which they

live.

Adults should strive to establish a

friendly dialogue with the young which

will permit both groups, overcoming the

age barrier, to get to know each other and

to share with one another the special bene-

fits each group has. Adults should stimu-

late young persons first by good example

to take part in the apostolate, and, if the

opportunity presents itself, by offering

them prudent advice and effective assis-

tance. Young people should cultivate to-

ward adults respect and trust, and al-

though they are naturally attracted to

communi-

cation

between

generations

11



novelties, they should duly appreciate

praiseworthy traditions.

Children too, have their own apostolic

activity. According to their capacities they

are true living witnesses of Christ among

their companions.

(Chapter VI, 30)

The training for the apostolate must

startwith the children’s earliest education.

In a special way, however, adolescents and

young persons should be initiated into the
apostolic apostolate and imbued with this spirit.
formation This formation must be perfected through-

of out their whole life in keeping with the de-

youth mands of new duties which are assumed.

It is evident, therefore, that those charged

with providing a Christian education are

held to training for the apostolate.

In the family, parents have the task of

training theirchildren from childhood on to

recognize God’s love for all men. By ex-

ample especially they should teach them

little by little to be solicitous for the mate-

rial and spiritual needs of their neighbor.

The whole family and its common life, then,

should be a sort of apprenticeship for the

apostolate.

Children mustbetaught, too, that trans-

cending the family circle, they may open

their minds to the community both eccle-

12



siastical and secular. They should be taken

into the local community of the parish in

such a way that they will acquire an aware-

ness of being living and active members of

the People of God. Priests should keep in

mind the formation for the apostolate in

their catechetics, their ministry of the

Word, their direction of souls, and in their

other pastoral ministrations.

Schools, colleges, and other Catholic

educational institutions also have the

duty to foster a Catholic sense and apos-

tolic activity in young persons. If this

formation is lacking either because young

people do not attend these schools or be-

cause of any other reason, all the more

should parents, pastors of souls, and apos-

tolic organizations attend to it. Teachers

and educators, on the other hand, who

carry on an excellent form of the aposto-

late of the laity by their vocation and of-

fice, should be equipped with the neces-

sary learning and pedagogical skill to

impart such education effectively.

(Exhortation, 33)

The most holy Council, then, earnestly

entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer

gladly, generously, and promptly the voice

of Christ giving them a more pressing invi-

tation in this hour, and the inspiration of

response

of

youth

13



the Holy Spirit. Younger persons should

feel that this call has been directed to them

especially and they should respond to it

eagerly and generously. Through this holy

Synod, the Lord Himself renews His invi-

tation to all the laity to be joined more

closely to Him every day, considering His

interests also their own (Phil. 2:5), to asso-

ciate themselves with Him in His salvific

mission. Once again He sends them into

every town and place where He Himself

is about to come (cf. Luke 10:1) so that they

may show that they are His co-workers in

the various forms and modes of the one

apostolate of the Church, which must be

constantly adapted to the new needs of our

times, ever abounding in the work of the

Lord, knowing that their labor is not in

vain in the Lord (cf. 1 Cor. 15:58).

DECREE ON THE BISHOPS'
PASTORAL OFFICE IN THE
CHURCH

(Chapter II, 30)

special In fulfilling their office as shepherd,

care pastors should take pains to know their

for own flock. Sincethey are the servants of all

yeuth
sheep, they should encourage a full

Christian life among the individual faithful

14



and also in families, in associations espe-

cially dedicated to the apostolate, and

in the whole parish community. Therefore,

they should visit homes and schools to the

extent that their pastoral work demands.

They should pay especial attention to ado-

lescents and youth.

DECREE ON THE MEDIA OF
SOCIAL COMMUNICATION

(Chapter I, 10)

Those who make use of the media of

communications, especially the young,

should take steps to accustom themselves

to moderation and self-control in their re-

gard. They should, moreover, endeavor to

deepen their understanding of what they

see, hear or read. They should discuss

these matters with their teachers and ex-

perts, and learn to pass sound judgments

on them. Parents should remember that

they have a most serious duty to guard

carefully lest shows, publications and

other things of this sort, which may be

morally harmful, enter their homes or

affect their children under other circum-

stances.

proper

use

ofcommu-

nication

media

15



(Chapter 1,12)

The public authority, in these matters,

is bound by special responsibilities in view

of the common good, to which these media

are ordered. The same authority has, in

virtue of its office, the duty of protecting

and safeguarding true and just freedom of
responsible information, a freedom that is totally nec-

pubUc essary for the welfare of contemporary

eutbority society, especially when it is a question

of freedom of the press. It ought also to

encourage spiritual values, culture and the

fine arts and guarantee the rights of those

who wish to use the media. Moreover,

public authority has the duty of helping

those projects which, though they are cer-

tainly most beneficial for young people,

cannot otherwise be undertaken.

Lastly, the same public authority, which

legitimately concerns itself with the health

ofthe citizenry, is obliged, through the pro-

mulgation and careful enforcement of laws

,

protection to exercise a fitting and careful watch lest

of grave damage befall public morals and the

youth welfare of society through the base use of

these media. Such vigilance in no wise re-

stricts the freedom of individuals or

groups, especially where there is a lack of

adequate precaution on the part of those

who are professionally engaged in using

these media.

16



Special care should be taken to safe-

guard young people from printed matter

and performances which may be harmful

at their age.

DECREE ON THE MISSION AC-
TIVITY OF THE CHURCH

(Chapter II, 1 2)

Let Christians labor and collaborate

with others in rightly regulating the af-

fairs of social and economic life. With spe-

cial care, letthem devote themselves to the

education of children and young people by

means of different kinds of schools, which

should be considered not only as the most

excellentmeans of forming and developing

Christian youth, but also as a valuable pub-

lic service, especially in the developing

nations, working toward the uplifting of

human dignity, and toward better living

conditions. Furthermore, let them take

part in the strivings of those peoples who,

waging war on famine, ignorance, and dis-

ease, are struggling to better their way of

life and to secure peace in the world. In

this activity, the faithful should be eager to

offer prudent aid to projects sponsored by

public and private organizations, by gov-

ernments, by various Christian communi-

ties, and even by non-Christian religions.

education

of

mission

youth

17



DECREE ON PRIESTLY LIFE
AND MINISTRY

priests

and

youth

(Chapter II, 6)

Although he has obligations toward all

men, a priest has the poor and the lowlier

entrusted to him in a special way. The Lord

Himself showed that He was united to

them, and the fact that the gospel was

preached to them is mentioned as a sign of

Messianic activity. With special diligence,

priests should look after youth as well as

married people and parents. It is desirable

that each of these groups join together in

friendly associations and thereby help one

another act more easily and adequately as

Christians in a condition of life which is

often demanding.

COUNCIL CLOSING MESSAGES

Lastly, it is to you, young men and wo-

men ofthe world, that the council wishes to

address its final message. For it is you who

are to receive the torch from the hands of

your elders and to live in the world at the

period of the most gigantic transformation

ever realized in its history. It is you who,

receiving the best of the example of the

18



teaching of your parents and your teach-

ers, are to form the society of tomorrow.

You will either save yourselves or you will

perish with it.

For four years the Church has been

working to rejuvenate her image in order

to respond the better to the design of her

Founder, the great Living One, the Christ

who is eternally young. At the term of this

imposing re-examination of life, she now

turns to you. It is for you, youth, especially

foryouthat the Churchnow comes through

her council to enkindle your light which

illuminates the future, your future. The

Church is anxious that this society that you

are going to build up should respect the

dignity, the liberty and the rights of indi-

viduals. These individuals are you.

The Church is particularly anxious that

this society should allow free expansion

to her treasure ever ancient and ever new,

namely faith, and that your souls may be

able to bask freely in its helpful light. She

has confidence that you will find such

strength and such joy that you will not be

tempted, as were some of your elders, to

yield to the seductions of egoistic or hedon-

istic philosophies or to those of despair and

annihilation, and that in the face of atheism,

aphenomenon of lassitude and old age, you

will know how to affirm your faith in life

the

society

of the

future

19



and in what gives meaning to life, that is

to say, the certitude of the existence of a

just and good God.

It is in the name of this God and His Son,

Jesus, that we exhort you to open your

hearts to the dimensions of the world, to

heed the appeal of your brothers, to place

your youthful energies at their service.

Fight against all egoism. Refuse to give

free course to the instincts of violence and

hatred which beget wars and all their train

of miseries. Be generous, pure, respectful

and sincere, and build in enthusiasm a bet-

ter world than your elders had.

The Church looks to you with confidence

and with love. Rich with a long past ever

living in her, and marching on toward hu-

man perfection in time and the ultimate
the strength

destinies of history and of life, the Church
and charm

jg real youth ofthe world. She possesses

of youth what constitutes the strength and the

charm of youth, that is to say, the ability to

rejoice with what is beginning, to give one-

self unreservedly, to renew one’s self and

to set out again for new conquests. Look

upon the Church andyou will find in her the

face of Christ, the genuine, humble and

wise Hero, the prophet of truth and love,

the companion and friend of youth. It is in

the^ame of Christ that we salute you, that

we exhort and bless you.

(Translation by NC News Service)
20