Dec. 4, 1963 - Vatican II's Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum
Concilium)
(Source: Vatican website —
www.vatican.va)
(7) "Christ is always present in His Church, especially in her liturgical celebrations. He is present in the sacrifice of the Mass, not only in the person of His minister, but especially under the Eucharistic species. By His power He is present in the sacraments, so that when a man baptizes it is really Christ Himself who baptizes. He is present in His word, since it is He Himself who speaks when the holy scriptures are read in the Church. He is present, lastly, when the Church prays and sings, for He promised: 'Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them' (Matt. 18:20)."
(12) "The spiritual life, however,
is not limited solely to participation in the liturgy. The Christian is
indeed called to pray with his brethren, but he must also enter into his
chamber to pray to the Father in secret; yet more, according to the teaching
of the Apostle, he should pray without ceasing...
(13) Popular devotions of
the Christian people are to be highly commended, provided they accord with
the laws and norms of the Church, above all when they are ordered by the
Apostolic See."
(48) "The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators; on the contrary, through a good understanding of the rites and prayers they should take part in the sacred action conscious of what they are doing, with devotion and full collaboration. They should be instructed by God's word and be nourished at the table of the Lord's body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn also to offer themselves."
(74) "In addition to the separate rites for anointing of the sick and for viaticum, a continuous rite shall be prepared according to which the sick man is anointed after he has made his confession and before he receives viaticum."
Nov. 21, 1964 - Vatican II's Dogmatic Constitution on the Church (Lumen Gentium)
(Source: Vatican website —
www.vatican.va)
(11) "Taking part in the Eucharistic sacrifice, which is the fount and apex of the whole Christian life, they offer the Divine Victim to God, and offer themselves along with It... Strengthened in Holy Communion by the Body of Christ, they then manifest in a concrete way that unity of the people of God which is suitably signified and wondrously brought about by this most august sacrament."
Dec. 7, 1965 - Vatican II's Decree on the
Ministry and Life of Priests (Presbyterorum Ordinis)
(Source: Vatican website —
www.vatican.va)
(18) "...As a help towards
faithful fulfillment of their ministry, priests should love to talk daily
with Christ, the Lord, in their visit to the most Blessed Sacrament, and in
their personal devotion to it... By this spirit they themselves, and with
them the people entrusted in their care, will unite themselves with Christ,
the Mediator of the New Testament, and be able to, as adopted sons, cry
'Abba! Father!' (Rom 8:15)."