Catholic Renewal

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Catholic Renewal comprises changes in the Roman Catholic Church in XX century, which can be classified in three major domains: (1) aproach towards Bible (from Latin Vulgate to comprehensive translations of critical editions of texts in original languages), (2) liturgical practices (from liturgy in Latin to Mass in contemporary language with active engagement of lay faithful) and (3) role of faith in christian life (from sometimes very formal and legal approach towards church to emphasis on catechumenate and acknowledging individual need for the experience of Divinity).

Biblical renewal started with Pius XII's 1943 encyclical Divino Afflante Spiritu since which Catholic translations of the Bible are based directly on the texts found in manuscripts in the original languages. Later documents (of which Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation published as a result of the Second Vatican Council can be considered to be of special importance) were encouraging to provide versions of the Bible in the "mother tongues" of the faithful, and urging both clergy and laity to continue to make Bible study a central part of their lives.

Liturgical renewal has been launched by the Second Vatican Council, emphasizing that "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" (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy).

Other Second Vatican Council documents, like the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, can be considered as the background for catechumenate renewal which was introduced in many Catholic particular churches in many forms soon after the Council (of which Neocatechumenate is probably best known), and for charismatic renewal which started in 1967.