November 9, 2012

What was in the news on Nov. 9, 1962?

An announcement of when the first session of the Council will end, and how the debates were recorded

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 Nov. 9, 1962, issue of The Criterion:

  • Council Fathers study changes in the Mass
    • “VATICAN CITY—Discussion of possible changes in the Mass highlighted the 11th, 12th and 13th general meetings of the ecumenical council. Following the 13th meeting, it was announced that His Holiness Pope John XXIII has said the first session of the council will end December 8.”
  • Spur to Unity: ‘World Mass’ suggested by missionary bishop
  • Pope sets date: Council’s 1st session ends Dec. 8
  • Pope chooses unusual rite for Mass on anniversary
  • Annual ‘Information Day’ slated for non-Catholics
  • Long-range expansion announced for Woods
  • The Atlantic Community: Just what are we committed to defend?
  • Exclusion of religion in colleges criticized
  • Clarifies role of council
  • Couple to work at Uganda mission
  • Believes world resources enough to end poverty
  • Politics in the council? Yes, if the term is understood
  • Lay apostolate evokes some intriguing questions for council
  • Observers pray for the council
  • Lingua Latina mortua? It’s very much alive
  • Latin knowledge undesirable
    • “VATICAN CITY—Vatican engineers in charge of tape recording council proceedings are said to have been selected on the strength of their knowing as little Latin as possible. ‘Deaf mutes would be best for this job,’ quipped one Vatican official. The reason is that the operators are not supposed to eavesdrop on the debates. To make sure the council record is complete, a team of 43 seminarians specially trained in Latin shorthand by a German specialist works in shifts to take down every word said in the debates.”
  • Outlines place of women in emerging role of laity
  • U.S. bishops set up council study groups
  • Books of the Hour: Doctor Spock on morals
  • Authors will write council film script
  • Annual fall workshop set for Catholic women
  • Charity, understanding called keys to unity
  • Turkey dinner, shoot scheduled
  • Urges stress on values, not liturgical changes
  • ‘Unity, not uniformity’: Eastern Rite relations ‘key’ to Orthodox return
  • Two Orthodox observers trailed by Russ ‘shadow’ Cardinal still hopeful for Orthodox observers
  • Students, parents visit Marian
  • Pope can tune in
    • “VATICAN CITY—His holiness Pope John XXIII can listen to council debates by turning on a speaker located right on his desk. The pope revealed the existence of the speaker, but told a recent visitor that he wasn’t making much use of it. Pointing to a stack of papers on his desk, the pope said, ‘How can I keep track of all these reports they want me to read?’”

(Read all of these stories from our Nov. 9, 1962, issue by logging on to our special archives.) †

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