More than 60 years after the Second Vatican Council concluded in 1965, its teachings remain essential to Catholic renewal, says Glen Argan, author of Jesus Christ: The Heart of Vatican II.
At the heart of that renewal is not simply liturgical reform or changes to Church structures, but a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ that transforms how Catholics live their faith and serve others, says Argan, longtime editor of the Western Catholic Reporter, the newspaper of the Edmonton Archdiocese.
The book grew out of a series of articles on Vatican II that Argan wrote for the WCR. Archbishop Joseph MacNeil, then retired, encouraged him to compile them into a book. The project soon expanded into a deeper exploration of the council’s teachings.
“I thought I could go much deeper into the council’s teachings that I had in the series of articles, so I attempted to do that with Jesus Christ: The Heart of Vatican II,” Argan said.
Although Vatican II brought significant practical changes, Argan believes its central message remains spiritual.
“The central core of Catholic renewal is the renewal that comes through a closer relationship with Jesus,” he said. “I believe that is the heart of Vatican II, and it is a renewal every generation must take up for itself.”
That relationship requires more than knowing about Jesus. It means encountering him through Scripture, prayer, the sacraments and service to those who suffer.
“My book is not a how-to manual on encountering Jesus,” Argan said. “The ways we can meet Jesus are as unique as each person. Yet one thing is fundamental – giving praise and thanks to God.”
A roadside encounter made this understanding of holiness tangible. After praying for a deeper understanding of holiness, Argan came upon a woman who had collapsed beside the street.
“I could not mistake the significance of her presence. It was a call to act, to see Jesus in this woman and give her whatever help she needed,” he recalled.
The experience reinforced the connection between faith and action. “My identity as a churchgoing, praying Catholic means nothing if I do not reach out,” Argan said.
That conviction informs his work with Sanctuary of Peace, an ecumenical ministry serving people experiencing homelessness in Edmonton. Supported by United, Anglican, Lutheran and Roman Catholic churches, the ministry distributes lunches on Sunday mornings, with approximately 60 churches and other organizations contributing throughout the year.
“It is a living sign of how Christians are united in seeing Christ in the poor,” Argan said.
His involvement in the Edmonton Mennonite-Roman Catholic Dialogue Group has further deepened his appreciation for Christian unity and challenged him to reconsider questions of nonviolence and self-defence.
These experiences reflect Vatican II’s vision of solidarity with humanity, Argan said, rather than an emphasis on divisions between religious groups.
As Gaudium et Spes (The Church in the Modern World), the last of the four constitutions promulgated by the council, declares: “The joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the people of our time, especially those who are poor or afflicted, are the joys and hopes, the grief and anguish of the followers of Christ as well.”
Argan encourages parishes to put that vision into practice through outreach to people experiencing poverty, reconciliation with Indigenous communities affected by residential schools, contemplative prayer, Scripture study and greater lay participation in parish renewal.
Ultimately, he hopes Catholics will move beyond longstanding disputes about liturgical changes and rediscover the council’s deeper purpose.
His advice to readers is straightforward: “First, study and pray frequently with the Gospels, Pauline letters and the Psalms. Second, pray for guidance in applying the Gospel in the events of your daily life.”
For Catholics today, Vatican II remains a continuing mission: to encounter Christ and recognize him in others.
Jesus Christ: The Heart of Vatican II is online through Indigo, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Friesen Press Bookstore. It is also available at the Newman Theological College bookstore and St. John of God Books & Church Supplies. For more information, visit Glen Argan’s website glenargan.com.
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