Changes

The '''Second Vatican Council''' was a massive gathering of the clerical leaders of the [[Catholic Church]] in the 1960s to consider and enact some of the most far-reaching changes in the history of the Church.  Formally, it was the 21st ecumenical council of the Church, announced in 1959, opened in 1962 and closed in 1965.<ref>http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm Documents of Vatican II (vatican.va)]</ref>  Informally, it was one of the fundamental changes in culture that occurred during the 1960s.  It was the first council in nearly a century, and the prior council (the [[First Vatican Council]]) had been cut short by war.

The '''Second Vatican Council''' was a massive gathering of the clerical leaders of the [[Catholic Church]] in the 1960s to consider and enact some of the most far-reaching changes in the history of the Church.  Formally, it was the 21st ecumenical council of the Church, announced in 1959, opened in 1962 and closed in 1965.<ref>[http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/index.htm Documents of Vatican II (vatican.va)]</ref>  Informally, it was one of the fundamental changes in culture that occurred during the 1960s.  It was the first council in nearly a century, and the prior council (the [[First Vatican Council]]) had been cut short by war.

The Council converted the format of the [[Mass]] (liturgy), the central part of the Catholic Church, to more of a popular format.  For example, the priest began facing the congregation rather than facing an altar with his back to the people.

The Council converted the format of the [[Mass]] (liturgy), the central part of the Catholic Church, to more of a popular format.  For example, the priest began facing the congregation rather than facing an altar with his back to the people.