The Catholic Sanctuary and the Second Vatican Council
By Michael Davies · Published by TAN Books
Overview
In this important pocket‑size booklet, Michael Davies argues that Vatican II and the post‑conciliar reforms did not mandate the moving of the Tabernacle, re‑arranging seating, or celebrating Mass versus populum. He supports his claim with direct quotations from the conciliar documents and later legislation, offering reliable teaching for those concerned by modernist changes in sanctuary design.
- Gives a thorough review of relevant Vatican II texts regarding liturgy and sanctuary reform
- Clarifies that the Council itself did not order key architectural changes
- Compares modern sanctuary destruction with the Protestant Reformers’ removal of altars
- Serves as an educational resource for traditional‑minded Catholics and parish advocates
- Compact 55‑page booklet, affordable and easy to distribute
Intended Audience
For Catholics concerned about liturgical and architectural changes in their parishes, as well as catechists, priests, and laity who want to ground their understanding of the sanctuary in conciliar teaching.
Key Themes
- The true teaching of Vatican II on the sanctuary
- Continuity between tradition and conciliar texts
- Resistance to unsanctioned liturgical reform
- Theological and historical critique of modernist alterations
- Defense of the altar and the Tabernacle’s central place
- Author:
- Michael Davies
- Imprint:
- TAN Books
- Pages:
- 55
- Publication Date:
- 2/1/1997
- Product Format:
- Booklet
- Height:
- 6.00
- Width:
- 3.75
1 Review
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A perfect booklet for our times
I bought one, and enjoyed it so much I purchased 40 more to distribute in the wreckovated churches in my diocese. I’ve already had positive feedback from parishioners who have picked one up, scratched their heads, and wondered “why do things look like THIS?” The booklet is a perfect tool: it uses Vatican II’s own words to analyze what its ideal ought to have been- leaving the reader to read between the lines and realize the ideal wasn’t met (whether inadvertent or otherwise…). But one! You won’t regret it.
