Sacrosanctum Concilium

Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, was one of the most significant measures enacted by the Second Vatican Council. It was approved by the assembled bishops by a vote of 2,147 to 4 and promulgated by Pope Paul VI on December 4, 1963. (The full text in English is available through the Holy See's website.)

As is customary with Catholic documents, the name of this Constitution, "Sacred Council" in Latin, is taken from the first line of the document.

Mother Church earnestly desires that all the faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a redeemed people (1 Pet. 2:9; cf. 2:4-5), is their right and duty by reason of their baptism. In the restoration and promotion of the sacred liturgy, this full and active participation by all the people is the aim to be considered before all else; for it is the primary and indispensable source from which the faithful are to derive the true Christian spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must zealously strive to achieve it, by means of the necessary instruction, in all their pastoral work. (SC 14)

Contents

The numbers given correspond to section numbers within the text.

1. Introduction (1-4)
2. General Principles for the Restoration and Promotion of the Sacred Liturgy (5-46)
   1. The Nature of the Sacred Liturgy and Its Importance in the Church's Life (5-13)
   2. The Promotion of Liturgical Instruction and Active Participation (14-20)
   3. The Reform of the Sacred Liturgy (21-46)
      1. General Norms (22-25)
      2. Norms Drawn from the Hierarchic and Communal Nature of the Liturgy (26-32)
      3. Norms Based Upon the Didactic and Pastoral Nature of the Liturgy (33-36)
      4. Norms for Adapting the Liturgy to the Culture and Traditions of Peoples (37-40)
      5. Promotion of Liturgical Life in Diocese and Parish (41-42)
      6. The Promotion of Pastoral-Liturgical Action (43-46)
3. The Most Sacred Mystery of the Eucharist (47-58)
4. The Other Sacraments and the Sacramentals (59-82)
5. The Divine Office (83-101)
6. The Liturgical Year (102-111)
7. Sacred Music (112-121)
8. Sacred Art and Sacred Furnishings (122-130)
9. Appendix: A Declaration of the Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican on Revision of the Calendar