The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1955-12-02

not be anticipated to the preced-
ing evening, Vespers on Thurs
day and Friday is omitted.
The decree instructs priests to
acquaint the faithful with the
meaning of the new changes.
/ The introduction to the decree
explains the reasons for changing
the liturgical rules.
1t points out that through many
centuries the Thursday, Friday
and Saturday liturgies were held
in the afternoons and evenings
to coincide as much as possible
with the actual time of the
events they commemorate. Begin
ming with the Middle Ages, the
celebrations of these liturgies
gradually advanced toward the
forenoon and morning hours, with
the result that they gradually be-
gan to lose their significance.
These services were still well
attended by the faithful so long
as Thursday, Friday and Saturday
were public holy days, but with
changing social conditions, Pope
Urban VIII felt obliged in l642
TO reduce the number Of holy
days, including Thursday, Friday
and Saturday of Holy Week.
With schools and businesses
open these days, the number OF
faithful able TO attend services
became ever smaller. Today, says
the decree, practically universal
experience teaches that these sol
emn liturgical functions are often
celebrated by priests in practical
ly deserted churches" :"
The motives and extent OF
ths changes specifying q return
70 afternoon and evening esIs-
hrations must be sought. not in
historical reasons, but "in rss-
sons OF . pastoral nature, that
10, TO bring the masses OF The
faithful back 10 the eommsm.
Grafton Of fhe holiesf mysteries
Of christs Passion and Death"
Father Antoneili's article said.
Bishops and liturgists have be-
seeched the Holy See for several
years to transfer the Thursday,
Friday and Saturday services to
the afternoon and evening hours.
II was as a result of these ap-
peals that His Holiness Pope Plus
XII in 1851 restored the Easter
Vigil liturgy and experimentally
permitted Bishops to celebrate it
on Saturday evening. After the
success of this experiment and
the worldwide introduction of
evening Masses in 1853, the Pope
decreed that the Pontifical Com
mission for Liturgical Reform un-
dertake study of the possibility
of reform of the liturgical rules
for the entire Holy Week and re-
port its findings.
The Commission reached the
conclusion that the time had
come TO change not only the rules
for Thursday, Friday and Satur-
day, but the entire Holy Week.
II worked out new Holy Week
Ordo which last july was approx
ed by the Cardinals commission.
II was then submitted to the Holy
Father who gave final approval.
| VATICAN CITY - (NC) - To
make it easier for all the faith.
full to participate in the greatest
mysteries of our Redemption is
the purpose of the reform of the
Holy Week liturgy, says Francis.
can Father Ferdinando Antonelli,
in an authoritative article ex.
planning details OF the history,
making measure.
He says the reform, which is OF
supreme importance in the litur-
gical field, constitutes from the
pastoral viewpoint a precious gift
of the Holy Father in his func.
tion as Supreme Shepherd.
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We find obstacles when we fr,
10 do right: they are not there 70