April 6, 2012

What was in the news on April 6, 1962?

The possibility of changes in the Masses, and suggestions about the Index of Forbidden Books

Criterion logo from the 1960sBy Brandon A. Evans

This week, we continue to examine what was going on in the Church and the world 50 years ago as seen through the pages of The Criterion.

Here are some of the items found in the April 6, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • See possible changes in Mass to broaden lay participation
    • “VATICAN CITY—Possible changes in the Mass, and contemporary problems facing missionaries in Asia and Africa were among many questions studied by the fifth session of the Central Preparatory Commission of the ecumenical Council. … Among changes said to have been under consideration is that the Mass end at the ‘Ite Missa Est’ instead of with the reading of the Last Gospel, as at present. Other possibilities include the reorganization of the Lessons, Epistles and Gospels to give them greater significance in modern circumstances. … The press service of the preparatory commission … call attention to the goal that the largest possible number of Catholics be able to assist at Mass more fully and devoutly.”
  • Revision of the Index suggested to Council
    • “CHICAGO—What action should the coming Vatican Ecumenical Council take in regard to the Index of Forbidden Books? Specialists in literature, law and theology grapple with that question in a magazine symposium and come up with suggestions ranging from restarting the principles underlying the Index, through making it easier to get permission to read forbidden books, to dropping the list of titles entirely.”
  • Three St. Meinrad priests named to Peru Mission
  • Benedictine nuns to staff boys’ school in Colombia
  • Integration order faces ‘test’ in New Orleans
  • Bishops hit tactics of Polish Reds
  • Parishioners to take roles in Passion Play
  • Lutheran theologians spur German ecumenical spirit
  • Urges caution in assessing blame for ‘defections’ among Chinese
  • Interracial body sets symposium at Saint Meinrad
  • Priest in Russia: Why Reds ‘softened’ persecution
  • Priest’s study shows hike in Catholic scholarship
  • Act or face extinction, small farmers warned
  • Historic meeting: Scottish Church leader pays visit to Pope John
  • Bishop denounces drive to restore priest-workers
  • [Oldenburg] Franciscan nun dies at age 102
  • Holy Cross Sisters plan expansion
  • Indianapolis to get sixth K.C. Council

(Read all of these stories from our April 6, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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