The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1956-09-21

to take IAN equally enthusia
the rest of the year as we'll
This 10 the report that the
lsfe Are h b ishop Edwin ".
o'Hsrs, Bishop OF Kansas City.
81. Joseph, was bringing 10 the
international Congress OF Pas
forsl Liturgy here. While he
was making final rsvisions on
the address in . Milan hotel
room, ne had heart attack and
died.
He was preparing to give the
report, titled THE Restored Holy
Week in the United States of
America" as head of the 100
member American delegation to
the congress.
His paper was based chiefly on
reports he received from SO
American bishops. His account of
how the Holy Week reforms were
carried out in the United States
ended with specific recommenda-
tions, as summarized from the
reports sent him by the US. bish-
ops.
One recommends 7 on was
that the vernsevIsr English in
the United Stafes) be used
more extensively in Holy Week
services. Another asked 1hsf
the present three-hour Eueha-
risfic fast regulation for after
noon and evening Masses be
extended 10 morning Masses ss
well.
Archbishop O'Hara wrote that
the reports he received from the
SO us. bishops clearly indicate"
that the first observance of the
restored Holy Week rites in the
United States was an "oyerwhelm-
ing success so far as general en-
thusiasm and enormous increases
in attendance, and in the recep-
ton of Holy Communion, are con-
cerned."
AT the same time, Archbishop
O'Hara's report emphasized that
increased attendance at Holy
Week services ''is only the first
step" He quoted one bishop as
saying:
physical presence is not
enough. After our people are
there, they must be helped along
the road to a more intelligent un-
derstanding of the liturgy and a
more complete participation in
the same The new Ordo Of
fers almost unlimited possibili-
ties in this direction"
Elsewhere in the report.
Archbishop o'Hars suggested
that great deal of education
of clergy and faithful alike is
needed" IL the Easter Vigil "is
10 take its rightfuI place IS the
principal service in the whole
Church year"
A great many of the reports
sent to Archbishop O'Hara by his
fellow members of the American
hierarchy said, in connection
with participation by the laity,
that a greater use of the vernac-
ular would be most desirable"
He said only few reports indi-
Gated opposition to an extended
use of the vernacular. One bish-
op wrote:
Most of our priests think that
a more liberal use of English
should be permitted in all the
of Holy Week. They
would not want any change in
the language of the Mass itself
but they are convinced that the
use of English in other Holy
Week ceremonies, especially in
the Easter Vigil, would help the
people spiritually and would en-
able them to participate to a
greater extent in the liturgy"
Summing up the recommenda-
tons of the American Bishops on
the use of the vernacular in the
Holy Week rites, Archbishop
0'Hara wrote:
Renewal of the baptismai vows
in the vernacular at the Easter
Vigil has had the startling effect
Of transforming the congregation
from spectators to participants.
People lose contact with the cere-
mony in long readings In Latin.
ALI extended responses calling
for the participation of the peo-
pie should be in the vernacular.
This suggestion includes Palm
professional hymn, the
Iitanies, the improperia, and the
Iouzaxn - H. Will 81 x,,tsoL tho