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V.
T
PAGE 2 GEORGIA BULLETIN THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1964
END OF SESSION
Vatican II Decisions Make
Pope’s Role More Difficult
BY JOHN COGLEY
Religious News Service Special Correspondent
The Ecumenical Council al
most from the beginning has
been subjected to swift changes
in mood. At the end of the 1963
session, for example, the at
mosphere was pessimistic.
Many of the progressive bis
hops, periti and observers
shared the attitude of the Amer
ican newsmagazine which ask
ed, "What went wrong?” in an
account that suggested the
Council was being hopelessly
sabotaged by Curial stalemate
and Pope Paul’s unwillingness
to act.
The gloom was thick as but
ter in the closing hours of that
session after it became certain
that religious liberty and the
statement on the Jews would be
put off. There were all kinds
of rueful admissions that the
steam had gone out of the Coun
cil, which had seemed so prom
ising only a year earlier.
AGAIN, AT the end of this
year s session, there were dark
hours after the Council Presi
dents decision not to call even
for a preliminary vote on re
ligious liberty. In spite of a
record of progressive accom
plishment that would have
seemed stupendous only two
years ago, the third session
also appeared to be conclud
ing in a spirit of defeat. The
clear will of the Council Fath
ers was again being frustrated
by bureaucratic decision and
the tactics of stalemate on the
part of the Council’s Rome-bas
ed conservative managers. And,
again, the Pope refused to in
terfere.
It was a measure of the Fath
ers' annoyance that 1,400 of
them, led by American bishops,
appealed directly to Pope Paul,
asking him to contravene the
Presidents’ orders. This move
was made, it is useful to re
call, not by ybdthfu} enthusiasm
but by sober, matnre, cirdurri-
spect prelates, like the cautious
Archbishop of Chicago, Albert
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in his right mind would ever
describe as imprudent or’ rash.
The Holy Father, as all the
world soon learned, turned down
the request, although he assur
ed the unhappy Fathers that re
ligious liberty would be the first
topic under discussion in the
fourth and final session of the
Council.
ACTUALLY, ALL is not lost
— any more than the declara
tion on the Jews was lost after
it was carried over to the thi *d
session. The Fathers vot ?d
overwhelmingly for a strong »r
version of it a year later.
Many in fact will now acknow
ledge that they are happy the
original did not turn out to be
the official Council version.
What was lost, however, was
the unalloyed sense of accom
plishment which the progres
sive majority of the Fathers
might otherwise have enjoyed as
the third session was being
brought to a close. Had the Holy
Father complied with their re
quest to countermand the con
servatives' delaying tactics, the
third session might have come
to an end on a note of pro
gressive triumph.
That, though, was not to be.
Only hours before the closing
ceremonies, there was undis
guised bitterness among many
of the Fathers, and reports had
circulated that the Pope was
seen weeping over the divi
sions among them. To say the
least, the last-minute crisis
took some of the edge off a re
markable Council session,
which ended with the proclama
tion of three revolutionary de
crees.
POPE PAUL remains an enig
matic figure, who walks the
lonely road of the leader with
little comfort and less support.
Paul is not at this point a
popular pontiff, it must be ack
nowledged frankly. He does not
elicit either the kind of spon
taneous affection given to John
XXIII or the awed respect which
Pius XII demanded and received
without effort. The bishops
themselves, and certainly the
press , blow hot and cold on
him. Before his election, he
was unquestionably the favorite
of the progressives. Since his
coronation, he has not fulfill
ed all their hopes of what he
might be, however. Privately,
many of them talk about him as
a Hamlet,” a procrastina
tor, a Curialist-at-heart, and a
willing victim of conservative
scare-mongering. "Whoever
talks to the Holy Father last
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has his way,” is one common
explanation for his sometimes
puzzling decisions.
The conservatives, for their
part, are no more enthusiastic
about him. They know the Pope's
heart Is with the progressives
and are convinced that a more
decisive Pope would never have
permitted the Council to go as
far as it has down the road to
aggiornamento.
In a word, neither side In the
classic division of the Council
Fathers can claim the Pope for
itself. For he has given and he
has taken away from both sides.
Even when he has acted, he has
moved too slowly to impress
partisans of either persuasion.
While neither party feels total
ly abandoned by him, it is also
true that neither finds in him
an unambiguous champion.
THESE, then, may be the
darkest hours for Paul VI, as
he steers the barque of Peter
through the treacherous waters
of Consiliar passions and hon
est disagreements. But it may
also be true that he is precise
ly the kind of man the Church
needs at this time of ferment
and change. For it is clear that
the task he faces is to hold the
Catholic community together, to
make certain that the Pope re
mains the father of all, and
slowly to insure that there is a
viable transition from the old to
the new as the Church faces up
to the difficult implications of
Pope John's aggiornamento.
What looks like indecisive
ness may be, rather, leader
ship of a high order. What ap
pears to be Hamletic uncer
tainty may be, instead, the cau
tion of an ecclesiastical states
man who knows only too well the
dangers lurking in "uncondi
tional surrenders” and "total
victories.”
Time alone will show whether
Pope Paul has the stamp of gen
ius that only a few now suspect
is his. In the meantime, he is
inevitably subject to misunder
standing, misinterpretation, and
that special misery of the fath
er who has to head a family of
divided children.
SO FAR, his record is quiet
ly excellent. The Vatican Coun
cil has had its ups and downs
of course. The will of the ma
jority from time to time has
been frustrated, but what has
actually come out of the Coun
cil, formally and officially, has
been ail that the progressive
majority might have desired,
and considerably more than
they dared to hope for two years
ago.
With die exception of the slap
dash communications decree
promulgated in the last ses
sion, the pronouncements have
been forward-looking and pro
found. And the progressives
have only themselves to blame
for letting the mediocre com
munications decree slip by
them. They did not bother their
heads with it by and large.
Some did not even read it before
they voted on it, they will now
admit.
The three pronouncements
issuing from the diird session,
along with the liturgical consti
tution of the second, will change
the face of Catholicism,
THE LITURGICAL document
APPROVEDTEXT FOR THE ORDINARY
PARTS OF THE MASS PERTAINING
TO THE PEOPLE
provides for a renewal of spir
it at the most profound level.
The historic De Ecclesia (on the
Church) answers the most basic
Self-Understanding. De Oecu-
menismo (on Ecumenism) re
presents a reaching-out on the
part of the Church Catholic to
all men of Christian faith. Fin
ally, the decree on the Orien
tal Churches, in the same spirit,
is a healing document whose ul
timate significance may be his
toric.
These accomplishments, it
must be acknowledged, were all
brought to fruition under the
pontificate of the present Pope,
It is doubtful that had Pope John
lived, even he, for all his char
ismatic gifts, would have had
any better record.
Pope John, it is painful to re
call, was not only the object of
vast affection but also of sus
picion and disdain in the Church,
It is no secret in Rome that
many highly - placed Vatican
prelates felt that his policies
were disastrous and utterly
doomed to failure. A few even
spoke of revolt against them,
blaming their shortsigthedness
not on the saintly old pontiff
himself but on the men around
him, who were portrayed in the
right-wing clericalist press as
villains leading the Church as
tray.
THERE IS no talk of this kind
now, under Pope Paul. John once
expressed surprise that a Cur
ial prelate refused to carry out
his bidding. ”1 never believed
anyone would ever say no to the
Pope,” he was quoted as say
ing. Pope Paul made the mis
take of asking the Fathers to en
dorse the schema on the mis
sions a few years later. By a
large vote they turned him down,
A few weeks later, almost half
the bishops of the Council asked
him to withdraw the Council
Presidents' order to defer Re
ligious Liberty completely to
the next session, and he turned
them down.
It is doubtful though that he
was quite as surprised by the
action of the bishops in saying
no to the Pope as John had been,
by the refusal he got. For, with
the proclamation of collegiality,
the relationship between Pope
and bishops has subtly changed.
There is more actual equality
now, though the supremacy of
the Roman Pontiff remains un
challenged, In the future there
is sure to be more give-and-
take and consequently more ten
sion, more compromise. The
Holy Father will be a less re
mote, less awesome figure as
the excessive papalism of re
cent history fades away.
Pope Paul is the first pon
tiff of this new era. If he is
more criticized than his pre
decessors, the change may re
flect nothing more than the fact
that he has caught on so well
t o the developments in the
Church.
His authority is no\bit . smal
ler than that of his predeces
sors. The changes are to be
found in the matter of its ex
ercise, which will be less ”ab-
solutistic,” less "papalistic,”
There are hints of this in the
tentative, “conversational”
tone of his first encyclical.
In the meantime, as these
changes are brought about, the
Pop 's role is a difficult one—
and an exceedingly lonely one.
Kyrie
Priest:
People:
Priest:
People:
Priest:
People:
Priest:
People:
Priest:
Gloria
For Use in Popular Missals, Missal Inserts,
Prayerbooks, Cards, Leaflets, etc.
The Liturgy of the Word of God
Entrance Rite
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, Have mercy.
Priest: Glory to God in the highest.
People: And on earth peace to men of good will. •
We praise you. We bless you. We worship you We
glorify you. * * 7 e
We give you thanks for your great glory •
Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father almighty. •
Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son. •
Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father •
You, who take away the sins of the world’ •
have mercy on us. •
You, who take away the sins of the world •
receive our prayer. • *
You, who sit at the right hand of the Father •
have mercy on us. •
For you alone are holy. *
You alone are Lord. •
You alone, O Jesus Christ, are most high, •
+ W Amen e H ° Iy Spilit ’ in the gIory of God tbe Father.
The Prayer (Collect)
Priest: Dominus vobiscum.
People: Et cum spiritu tuo.
Priest: Oremus...
. per omnia saecula saeculorum.
People: Amen.
The Word of God
■ -*' 1 *** ;r.r •>.
i' j dia - »</.*. -... -w. --.,y „ i „„ . ,
Epistle
Server (at low Mass) concludes: Thanks be to God.
Gospel
Deacon (or Priest):
People:
H dead *° me 3g3in gl ° ry t0 '’ Udge the Iiving and the
And of his kingdom there will be no end. •
A "I !u^ l - e ' e in lhe Holy Spirit ' ,he Lord and Giver
who proceeds from the Father and the Son. •
W gbHf!ed h6 * r With thC Fath6r 3nd the Son is adored and
and who spoke through the prophets. •
And one holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. •
I confess one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. •
And I await the resurrection of the dead. •
-pAnd the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Liturgy of the Eucharist
The Preparation of the Gifts
Offertory
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Priest: Let us pray.
Prayer over the Gifts (Secret)
Priest: ... per omnia saecula saeculorum.
People: Amen.
Preface
Priest:
People:
Priest:
People:
Priest:
People:
Sanctus
People:
The Eucharistic Prayer
Dominus vobiscum.
Et cum spiritu tuo.
Sursum corda.
Habemus ad Dominum.
Gratias agamus Domino Deo nostro.
Dignum et iustum est.
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts. •
Heaven and earth are filled with your glorv *
Hosanna in the highest. • 3 K y '
he w Ho comes in the name of the Lord. •
Hosanna in the highest.
Conclusion of. Canon
Priest: ... per omnia saecula saeculorum.
People: Amen.
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Deacon (or Priest): +A readingfrom the holy Gospel according
Peo P le: Glory to you, O Lord.
Server (at low Mass) concludes: Praise to you, O Christ.
Creed
Priest: I believe in one God.
People: Th «^lheralmighty, maker of heaven and earth, •
and of all things visible and invisible. •
And I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ •
the only-begotten Son of God.
Born of the Father before all ages. •
God of God, Light of Light, true God of true God. •
Begotten, not made. •
of one substance with the Father. •
By whom all things were made. •
W hea f v°en“- me " a " d f ° r ° Ur salva,ion ca ™ down from
A Mar h y: by ,he s P‘rit of the Virgin
and was made man. •
He was also crucified for us •
suffered under Pontius Pilate, and was buried. •
An Scr™tu'res *5 ird day rose again ' wording to the
"lhe Fa n th*e d r. i -" , ° hCaVe " a " d !its at »" right hand of
The Eucharistic Banquet
TW Lords Prayer >*> R , n
'** ‘ivaaiawttssMi'ini.
People: Our Father, who art in heaven, •
hallowed be thy name; •
thy kingdom come; •
thy will be done on earth aa it is in heaven. •
Give us this day our daily bread; •
and forgive us our trespassea •
aa we forgive those who trespaaa against us; •
and lead us not into temptation, •
but deliver us from evil. •
Amen.
DREXEL High's Tattler staff recently entertained members of
St. Joseph High's Hawk staff, exchanging ideas on journalism.
The visitors, with their advisor, Sister Ann Peter, CSJ, were
taken on a tour of Drexel, This was followed by a discussion
period, conducted by Tattler editor George Terrell.
Frayer far Peace
Prieat: ... per omnia saecula saeculorum.
People: Amen.
Priest: Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum.
People: Et cum spiritu tuo.
Agnus Del
People: Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, •
have mercy on us. •
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, •
have mercy on us. •
Lamb of God, who take away the sins of the world, •
grant us peace.
Gn Requiem Masses: . . grant them rest. . . grant them rest
grant them eternal rest.)
Communion of the Faithful
Priest: Behold the Lamb of God. •
behold him who takes away the sins of the world.
People (three times): Lord, I am not worthy that you should come
under my roof. •
Speak but the word and my soul will be healed.
Priest: The Body of Christ.
Communicant: Amen.
Postcommunion Prayer
Priest: Dominus vobiscum.
People: Et cum spiritu tuo.
Priest: Oremus ...
• • • per omnia saecula saeculorum.
People: Amen.
Dismissal
Priest: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
Deacon (or Priest): Go, the Mass is ended
People: Thanks be to God
(In-Requiem Masses
Blessing
Priest:
People:
May they rest in peace. People: Amen.)
you ' ,he Fa,htr ' and lhe Son
Amen.