Today’s saint, St. Charles Borromeo ^[1], was one of the main proponents of the Council of Trent, which did much to reform the Church during the 16th century. In his honor, I’d like to have a quiz related to the last three Councils of the Church.

Each of the following statements come from the Council of Trent, Vatican I or Vatican II. Can you guess which Council each statement comes from? (Scroll down for answers)

1. But the college or body of bishops has no authority unless it is understood together with the Roman Pontiff, the successor of Peter as its head.
2. In virtue of his office, that is as Vicar of Christ and pastor of the whole Church, the Roman Pontiff has full, supreme and universal power over the Church. And he is always free to exercise this power.
3. The Roman Pontiff, as the successor of Peter, is the perpetual and visible principle and foundation of unity of both the bishops and of the faithful.
4. In accordance with the centuries-old tradition of the Latin rite, the Latin language is to be retained by clerics in the divine office.
5. In the Latin Church the pipe organ is to be held in high esteem, for it is the traditional musical instrument which adds a wonderful splendor to the Church’s ceremonies and powerfully lifts up man’s mind to God and to higher things.
6. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites.
7. The task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church.
8. Since everything asserted by the inspired authors or sacred writers must be held to be asserted by the Holy Spirit, it follows that the books of Scripture must be acknowledged as teaching solidly, faithfully and without error that truth which God wanted put into sacred, writings for the sake of salvation.

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And the answers are…

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Surprise! They all come from Vatican II! Remember that the next time someone (either “progressive” or traditionalist) tells you that Vatican II “changed everything”. As Pope Benedict often teaches, Vatican II must be interpreted in the light of the full Catholic Tradition, of which it is a part.

Below are the documents for each of the above statements.

1) Lumen Gentium 22

2) Lumen Gentium 22

3) Lumen Gentium 23

4) Sacrosanctum Concilium 101.1

5) Sacrosanctum Concilium 120

6) Sacrosanctum Concilium 36.1

7) Dei Verbum 10

8 )Dei Verbum 11