Another book about Vatican II. Is that necessary? Is it even meaningfully possible given how many pages of commentary have been generated about the Second Vatican Council over the years? Few, if any, topics within Catholicism have generated more. A new book about Vatican II can accordingly be met with some skepticism about its ability to contribute something new and useful rather than simply repeating well-worn debates about the meaning and implementation of the Council. Such skepticism is particularly apt for a short volume, given the breath and complexity of the issues addressed by the Second Vatican Council.

Essential Vatican II is a short volume that seeks to broadly describe the Council’s fundamental debates and key products. While the potential reader could rightly be skeptical as a result, such skepticism would be misplaced. This is a small book which makes a large contribution to understanding of and ongoing engagement with the history, teaching, and legacy of Vatican II within Catholicism and the larger world.   

Essential Vatican II makes an interesting and valuable contribution to the literature by providing an accessible and thoughtful introduction to the history of Vatican II debates and teaching on liturgy; scripture; the Church itself; the role of bishops, priests, deacons, and others in religious life; ecumenism and religious dialogue; evangelization and religious freedom; and the role of laity. For each topic, the book summarizes the history of debate within the Council, the documentary products of the Council, and some of the history of ongoing discussion since. This alone makes the book very valuable for readers looking for substantive, comprehensive, but succinct introduction to the theological and social history of the Council. It introduces the breadth of the Council’s scope in a fashion accessible to most readers. Even for the more informed thinkers about Vatican II, the book provides a quick reference on key issues, history, and resolution. At times, both the expert and the neophyte need a summary, not magnum opus. Essential Vatican II fits just that niche.

 It would not do this slim volume justice to characterize it as simply a historical summary, however. The essays it contains consistently place the spirit and work of the Council within the living tradition of the Church and connect them to the issues of the current age. It nicely reminds the reader that the key debates of Vatican II are ongoing not only as academic disputes between theologians and clerics, but as essential and lived questions in the life of the Church. Accordingly, this book should inspire any thoughtful Catholic to engage more deeply and more actively with these questions in their own life and the life of the church. Additionally, the book draws significant connections to the call synodality issued by Pope Francis. Essential Vatican II reminds us that both the Second Vatican Council and the Synod on Synodality are invitations to dialogue. The book ends by calling all Catholics not to shy away from significant controversies, but to engage in open dialogue about them in order to animate the universal Church. It ends by reminding all that there is always more that unites and divides. In this respect, it is a timely and powerful work.

Another book about Vatican II? Yes please, when it is a work is thoughtful and useful as Essential Vatican II.