Quotes from John W. O'Malley

Vatican II, however, moved beyond behavior modification to motivation and inspiration, and for that reason conscience, a subject that like holiness was never mentioned in previous councils, emerged as an important theme at Vatican II.

unlike previous councils that had to deal with one or two specific heresies, this council had to face a more comprehensive problem: the very foundations of faith had been shaken and put into mortal jeopardy. Rationalism, materialism, religious indifference, and, most generally, denial of the spiritual dimension of human life figured large in the problems to be dealt with.

Vatican II thus became, I repeat, a meeting in which the church explored and articulated anew its identity, recalled and developed its most precious values, and proclaimed to the world its sublime vision for humanity.